The 2015 Tattersall’s Cup at the Gold Coast in Saturday is an option for Danchai after he recorded a maiden race win Australia in the 2015 Ipswich Cup on Saturday.
Danchai (inside) held off a fast-finishing Banca Mo to win the 2015 Ipswich Cup this weekend. Photo by: Daniel Costello
Danchai was well-backed in the lead-up to the Ipswich Cup despite failing to record a race win since he made his Australian racing debut in March last year and he was settled in a lovely position by jockey Luke Tarrant in the early stages of the race.
The Authorized gelding looked as though he was going to be blocked for a run coming around the final turn, but the six-year-old picked up quickly when he found clear running and held off a fast-finishing Banca Mo in the final stages to record the biggest win of his racing career to date in the Ipswich Cup.
Tarrant admitted that he was worried when Danchai was held-up for a run at the 400 metre mark, but he was thrilled with the acceleration that the imported stayer shown when asked for an extra effort and he was delighted to record a feature race win for the Waller stable.
“I was grateful to get the ride and to win is something else,” Tarrant said.
“I was grateful to get the ride and to win is something else.
“These Sydney horses are just a different class.
“They can pick up and he was strong through the line.”
Danchai has been a slight frustrating horse for the Waller stable since he made his Australian racing debut at Kembla Grange on March 23 and he failed to fire when given an opportunity at Group level during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival.
The stable elected to lower their sights with Danchai this preparation and stable representative Andre Rabbett indicated that the grey is likely to remain in Queensland for the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast this weekend or the Queensland Cup (3200m) at the Sunshine Coast on July 4.
“He didn’t come up to expectations last preparation, but there’s been good signs this time and he’s returned to form,” Rabbett said.
“There was good prize money today in Queensland and we decided to run him here rather than Rosehill.
“I will have to speak with Chris to see exactly what we do.”
Tasmanian stayer Banca Mo returned to his best form with a fast-finishing second and he was only narrowly denied a second black-type win this preparation.
