Last Chance aiming for three on the trot in ATC Trophy

Last year’s Rockhampton Newmarket winner, Last Chance, will be looking to make it three consecutive victories on Saturday when he lines up in the Listed ATC Trophy (1200m) at the Gold Coast.

The Shaun Dwyer-trained gelding has been a real money-spinner for connections, winning 16 of his 50 career starts and amassing just shy of $500,000 in prizemoney after being a $20,000 yearling purchase at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

On the back of tough victories at Doomben over the past month, the son of Tycoon Ruler will now look to take his form to the next level, as he faces his toughest test to date.

Mark Du Plessis has built a strong affiliation with the in-form sprinter, riding him twice for two victories, so he too is hopeful that they can continue on their winning ways.

“He’ll be meeting his match on Saturday, but Shaun’s done a perfect job with the horse,” the jockey told HorseBetting.

“He (Last Chance) came from up north, and you’d have to think the races he won up there were probably easier races than what he’s done in his last two starts. He’s drawn badly again on Saturday (barrier 13), but the only two times I’ve ridden him, he’s been drawn the same gate.”

The somewhat underrated gelding is often missed by the market, winning at an average starting price of $19.50 at his last two starts, and he won’t be too far off that price with online bookmakers on Saturday.

Having won with 52.5kg on his back two starts ago, Last Chance was asked to do it the hard way on April 23 when he rose to 59.5kg, so Du Plessis is hoping the drop back to 56kg on Saturday will be ideal for his mount.

“For sure it will be (an advantage to be back down in weight),” Du Plessis said.

“It’s going to be a hard race, but I think by that stage of the day, if the track is tricky, it’s only going to be who handles the track the best.

“As we know, he’s been around and there’s nothing to be sneezed at about a horse that’s won 16 races. He’s won one on the heavy and two on the soft, so he could do anything.

“He’s just a real workman like little horse who tries his best.”

Earlier in the day, Du Plessis will be reunited with the Chris Munce-trained two-year-old Allude in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic.

Allude is coming off a strong win at Eagle Farm on April 16 when defeating Al Pal’s Gal, who has since run well.

Although Allude has to defeat the very promising and unbeaten Nettuno, Du Plessis is of the belief that his runner has the stronger formlines heading into the 1200m affair.

“He won really well last start – the form has been really good with that horse of Matt Kropp’s (Al Pal’s Gal) coming out and running well again,” he said.

“I think the hardest one to beat is Tony’s (Nettuno). I still think Allude’s got better form than him going through Coolangatta; but, Nettuno has won very, very impressively in his only two starts.

“It’s drawn right next to me, so if it leads up, I’ll just sit on its hammer.”

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