Wingatui local Capo Dell Impero will be vying for more Cups success when he heads to his home track on Saturday to contest the Waikouaiti Cup (2200m).
The six-year-old son of Ghibellines has two Cup victories to his name amongst his six career victories, including the Founders Cup (2000) and Cromwell Cup (2030m) two starts back.
The Group Three performer followed that up with a ninth-placed run in the Timaru Heritage Cup (1600m) last month and trainers Brian and Shane Anderton believe his run was better than the result portrays.
“There was nothing wrong with the run, he made some good ground up,” Shane Anderton said. “He has come through the race well, I am pretty happy with him at the moment.”
The Andertons are keen to add another Cup to the mantle of his connections, and believe he will be competitive on Saturday despite his 60kg impost.
“It was a very good win in the Cromwell Cup, if he brings that form on Saturday he will be hard to beat,” Anderton said. “He has got 60 kilos, but there is not much you can do about that. He is fit and ready to go.”
Capo Dell Impero is a +320 second favourite with horse racing bookmakers for Saturday’s feature behind the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Elegant Lady at +100.
The Andertons will have a strong contingent at Wingatui, including a two-pronged attack in the ODT Southern Mile Qualifier (1600m) with Burgie and Inflamed.
Burgie, the winner of last season’s ODT Southern Mile Final (1600m), hasn’t flattered so far this preparation, but her trainers said she looks a picture ahead of Saturday and are hoping that is reflected in her performance.
“She has just taken a while to come up this year. Being a mare, earlier along in the season she has been a bit in season,” Anderton said.
“We gave her a bit of work this week and she looks a million dollars. Hopefully she can bring her best form on Saturday.
“We will just see where we go. If we can qualify her for it (ODT Southern Mile Final) we will have a look at it, but she will be at the top end of the weights, so we might be looking at one of those nice races in the autumn.”
While the ODT Southern Mile Final is an option for Burgie, the Andertons are hopeful of qualifying stablemate Inflamed for the $200,000 feature in March.
“We have set her for this race,” Anderton said. “In her last start, the heavy track tripped her up and she got back further than we really wanted her to. I think if she brings her best form she will be very competitive.”
The stable has several other strong chances on Saturday, but Anderton highlighted Cherryville in the Cargill Contracting (1600m) and Patraine in the Cooke Howlison Hyundai (1400m) as their two better chances.
“Patraine ran on well at Gore the other day and if she can improve on that run she has got to be competitive,” he said.
“Cherryville got knocked over last start. He is going to be back on top of the ground this week, but I don’t think that will worry him too much.
“We have got some nice chances and if they can keep improving, they are instore for a nice autumn.”
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