The Group 1 98.3 FM Sale Cup ‘sideshow’ sees Run Like Jess pitted against Blazing Cartier in the Cup Night Match Race (650m) on Boxing Day.
And it promises to be a sensational showdown, with a $10,000 winner-take-all purse.
It will also be a battle between Lara trainers Rob Camilleri (Run Like Jess) and Rob Britton (Blazing Cartier).
Here’s what each trainer had to say in the lead-up to the two-dog tussle, which is Race 4 at 7.50pm.
Run Like Jess (Box 1)
“We haven’t had him all that long and we’re still trying to work him out… He has a few quirks and it’s a real learning curve… He’s produced two brilliant runs and two ordinary efforts for us… He’s got a lot of early pace and on his day can lead… And he’s shown he can match it with some decent dogs… Blazing Cartier will be a good benchmark as she’s a seasoned group race campaigner… If he can stay with her, we’ll be over the moon… We had our eyes on him for months and purchased him for $25,000 on the gamble that he might stay.” – Rob Camilleri
Blazing Cartier (Box 3)
“She’s not suited by a match race format, but I may as well be in a $10,000 race rather than sitting at home. My concern is she needs further and at 650 metres I have my doubts… He (Run Like Jess) should have more early brilliance than her, it’s a matter of whether she can pick him up… I’ve been happy with her until her trial at Sale and then the Cup heat… But she has handled big horseshoe tracks before, so I’m hoping she can find her form… I can see her being five lengths behind at some stage but whether she makes it up, who knows.” – Rob Britton
Here’s the tale of the tape…
Run Like Jess (Apr ’18 Fernando Bale x Paua To Avoid)
40 starts: 12-10-4
Stakes: $61,428
Finalist: G2 McKenna Memorial (595m) – Sandown; G3 Cranbourne Classic (520m); G3 Speed Star (600m) – The Meadows
Won 3 of past 6 starts
Sale 650m – 37.17sec PB
Blazing Cartier (Jun ’17 My Bro Fabio x Esparza)
65 starts: 16-15-10
Stakes: $144,165
Finalist: 6 x G1s
3rd – G1 Zoom Top (725m) – The Meadows
Pawnote: The Cup Night Match Race is part of the 2020/21 Gippsland Festival of Racing, featuring the G1 Sale Cup along with the G2 Warragul Cup (Jan 16) and G2 Cranbourne Cup (Feb 6).
Racing fans can enjoy live and comprehensive coverage of Sale Cup night with Troy Harley, James Van de Maat and Molly Haines via GRV’s Facebook Page and The Watchdog App from 7.40pm on Boxing Day.
