Cascadian on the quick back-up heads to Flemington Racecourse on Saturday as clear favourite to win the Group 1 $3 million Australian Cup (2000m) at Headquarters.
Cascadian on the back of an All-Star Mile second backs-up in the 2023 Australian Cup this weekend at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Godolphin stalwart was eye-catching again at The Valley last weekend running out of his skin for second to Mr Brightside in the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m).
The evergreen eight-year-old goes around now third-up and fit in Saturday’s Australian Cup field with Ben Melham continuing associations.
Money has been steady in Australian Cup betting at Ladbrokes for the James Cummings-trained favourite with Cascadian at a current quote of $3.70.
He is drawn somewhat awkwardly from barrier 11, but always finds a way to get himself into a decent enough position.
His form over the past year-and-a-half has been right up to this including a Group 1 All Aged Stakes success and a Group 2 Hill Stakes success at this distance in Sydney last October.
On the short back-up he has confidence and presents as a genuine winning hope for the punters here.
“He has done well. He pulled up beautifully from the All-Star Mile,” Cummings told Just Horse Racing this week.
“The Australian Cup looks a really intriguing race for him, third-up from a spell.”
There are three other runners under $10 for the win, but Cascadian is clear top elect with the next best being Nonconformist and Mo’unga both at Australian Cup odds of $9.
The Grahame Begg-trained Nonconformist is out in barrier 14 for hoop Jordan Childs.
The Rebel Raider six-year-old was back in winning form fresh last time out claiming the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) over the mile here by over two lengths.
He rises from 55kg to 59kg at weight-for-age in the Australian Cup field, but will appreciate the extra ground and presents fitter for his first-up success.
It has been a long time between drinks for the Annabel Neasham-trained Mo’unga with the five-year-old son of Savabeel not having won since beating Verry Elleegant home at Randwick in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) back in August of 2021.
With nearly two years since his last turf triumph it would be easy to write him off, but he has strung together and excellent top three record in Group 1 company since.
His last 2000m run was here back in November when beaten a quarter-length by Zaaki in the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m).
This prep Mo’unga has been knocking on the door again in his three lead-up runs including a third to Anamoe in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and third last weekend in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m).
He is on the quick back-up, fit, returns to Melbourne, and is at his right distance now so just needs to put it all together to shake off that perennial place-getter status.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies at $9.50 is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained flyer Right You Are chasing a sixth win on the trot.
The six-year-old son of So You Think rises notably in grade having won the Australian Cup Prelude at the track and trip on March 11.
He is in career best form and comes here having won a key lead up so cannot be ignored.
Also lining-up for the Maher/Eustace stable at a more generous quote of $15 is last start Group 2 Peter Young Stakes winning Frankel mare Steinem who rarely runs a bad race.
The Australian Cup is set to jump at 4:20pm (AEDT) as Flemington Race 7 on the nine-race program.
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