Tupac Amaru is currently available at the length 2014 The Metropolitan odds of $81, but Godolphin Racing Manager Jason Walsh believes that the tough stayer is a genuine each-way chance in the Group 1 event at Royal Randwick tomorrow if he can return to his best form.
Tupac Amaru finished second behind Criterion in the 2014 Australian Derby earlier this year. Photo by: Steve Hart
Tupac Amaru finished second behind Criterion in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Royal Randwick in April and was far from disgraced in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) the following weekend, but he has failed to fire in his three race starts since returning to the races.
Walsh told Racing Ahead yesterday that Godolphin had been disappointed by the form of Tupac Amaru during the 2014 Spring Racing Carnival, but remain hopeful that he can find his Australian Derby form when he returns to the same track and distance in The Metropolitan.
“He has disappointed us to date, but having run second in a Derby he has a very good record at the track and trip for tomorrow,” Walsh said.
“Fourth-up he is certainly fit enough to produce his best, but we all know how hard that step is from three-year-old to open company.
“He also ran in two Derby’s as a three-year-old so we asked him plenty of questions and it is fair to say that he would need to produce a sharp form reversal, but he is certainly capable of staying and staying strongly.
“Hopefully he can be very competitive and maybe be an each-way chance there tomorrow.”
Tupac Amaru will jump from barrier 13 with Sam Clipperton on his back in The Metropolitan this afternoon and Walsh admits that the wide barrier draw was not ideal for the Street Cry gelding.
Walsh said that trainer John O’Shea would have liked to see Tupac Amaru settled closer to the speed in The Metropolitan, but hopes that the gelding will be given the opportunity to show off his staying ability in the final stages of the race.
“We were hoping that he would draw a bit better than he did so we could get him a bit closer,” Walsh said.
“He has always been a very strong stayer, but he doesn’t really go through his gears and we will probably get a bit further back tomorrow than we would like to from that gate.
“If there is enough tempo and he can settle into a rhythm and get back to the sort of form that he showed us last season than he would certainly be a competitive chance.”
Spillway ($4.60) remains a narrow favourite in The Metropolitan betting market with Ladbrokes Australia from market mover Junoob ($4.80), La Amistad ($7.50) and Kingdoms ($9.50).
