Chris Waller has both Silverball and Beyond Thankful in the 2015 Premier’s Cup field and the leading Sydney trainer believes that he has a very strong hand in the Listed event at Rosehill Gardens this weekend.
Silverball has the chance to return to winning form in the 2015 Premier’s Cup at Rosehill Gardens this weekend. Photo by: Steve Hart
Beyond Thankful started his winter campaign with a win in the Toyota Material Handling Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick on May 23 and he failed to fire in both the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on June 7 and the Schweppes Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on June 13.
The Whipper gelding returned to a semblance of his best form with a second place finish behind Sir Mako in the Place Multi Handicap (1900m) at Rosehill Gardens on July 4 before he recorded tough wins in both the More Than Ready At Vinery Handicap (1900m) at Canterbury on July 25 and the Merrylands RSL Club Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15.
Silverball does not have the same levels of race fitness as Beyond Thankful, but he is the class horse in the field and he finished his autumn campaign with an impressive two and a half lengths win in the Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup (2000m) at Rosehill Gardens on May 9.
The Kahyasi gelding looked well short of peak fitness when he returned to racing with a sixth place finish behind Centre Pivot in the Canterbury Hurlstone RSL Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 15 and he is sure to have taken plenty of improvement from the run heading into the Premier’s Cup.
“I think they we are very well represented here,” Waller said.
“I guess there are a few in there that will stake their claims, but they have to improve.
“I think that Silverball is the benchmark for this kind of race and Beyond Thankful you can’t knock his form and he is a good horse.”
Godolphin-owned Magic Hurricane is currently available at 2015 Premier’s Cup odds of $3.20 with Ladbrokes and is a clear favourite from Ciaron Maher-trained Kapour ($4.20), Silverball ($4.40), Beyond Thankful ($5.50), Gai Waterhouse-trained Spurtonic ($7), imported stayer Disclaimer ($19), John Thompson-trained Jiayuguan ($21) and extreme outside Brigantin ($7).
