Tucanchoo early favourite for Tattersall’s Cup

Veteran stayer Tucanchoo has been installed the early favourite for the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Mid Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Tucanchoo, above, has been installed the favourite for the Tattersall's Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

Tucanchoo, above, has been installed the favourite for the Tattersall’s Cup at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

The rising eight year old has drawn barrier seven in the eight horse Tattersall’s Cup field with Tommy Berry in the saddle again after the pair combined for a last start second in the $100,000 Kensei Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

The Team Hawkes trained Tucanchoo has been racing consistently of late with three placings from his last three starts with a third three starts in a 1400m Handicap at Flemington followed by a second over 1800m in a Rosehill Handicap on June 3.

The Hawkes Team is hoping Tucanchoo can go one better than last year when the Pentire gelding ran second to Index Linked in the 2016 Tattersall’s Cup which was run at Eagle Farm.

Ladbrokes.com.au have Tucanchoo as the $2.25 favourite for the Tattersall’s Cup just ahead of the Gold Coast trained Rudy at $3.50 and Ciaron Maher’s stayer Pemberley at $3.70.

Rudy has drawn barrier two with Tim Clark back in the saddle replacing Hugh Bowman who was aboard the Helen Page trained gelding last start for a fifth to Chocante in the Group 2 $300,000 Evergreen Turf Brisbane Cup (2200m) at Doomben on June 10.

Clark is no stranger to Rudy and was aboard him at his two previous starts at Doomben for a third to Sense Of Occasion in the Group 1 $650,000 Hardy Brothers Doomben Cup (2000m) followed by a second to Single Gaze in the Group 2 $200,000 Pages Event Equipment Hire P J O’Shea Stakes (2200m).

Corey Brown sticks with Pemberley who has drawn the outside barrier in the eight horse field and is coming off a last start third in the Brisbane Cup.

The remainder of the field are at double figure odds with Morendi and War Baby sharing the next line of betting at $18.

Morendi has drawn barrier six with Michael Cahill booked to ride while War Baby, with Larry Cassidy from gate four, is stepping up sharply in class after scoring a six and a half lengths win in the $100,000 BenchMark 80 Handicap over 2150m on Ipswich Cup Day last Saturday.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.