| What | Geraldton Gold Cup Day |
| Where | Geraldton Racecourse – 71 Eastward Rd, Geraldton WA 6530 |
| When | Sunday, April 16, 2023 |
| First Race | 1:30pm AWST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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The Geraldton Turf Club will host its annual Geraldton Cup Day this Sunday afternoon, with the $100,000 Geraldton Gold Cup being the feature event of the day. The track is currently rated a Good 4, and with no rain on the forecast for the area, we anticipate racing on a perfect surface for the entire program. The rail will go back into the True position for Geraldton Cup Day, with racing set to kick off at 1:30pm AWST.
Geraldton Cup Tip: Sluice Box
In the feature race of the day, we will be siding with the Ashley Maley-trained Sluice Box who is coming through the Listed Pinjarra Cup form line, finishing third behind Casino Seventeen and No Apology. This seven-year-old gelding jumped as the favourite in this race last year, before finishing a disappointing fifth, however, after recording a last start placing in higher grade, he appears to be coming into this year’s edition of the race in much better this form this time around. After drawing barrier seven last year and having to make a sustained run four and five wide from the 800m mark, this son of My Admiration boxed on to finish fifth. He has drawn barrier three this year, which should see him find a very nice spot in the middle of the field, one off the rail. If he is within three or four lengths of the leaders in the final 300m, Sluice Box will be charging at them late.
Geraldton Cup
Race 7 – 
#2 Sluice Box (3)
7yo Gelding | T: Ashley Maley | J: Troy Turner (58kg)
$10 with Bet365
Best Bet at Geraldton: Classic Encounter
Our best bet of the day at Geraldton will come up in the third race where the Adam Durrant-trained Classic Encounter will make her return to the racetrack after having a four-month spell with the benefit of three solid trials. This three-year-old filly was very good in her first racing preparation finishing second at her second start and then breaking her maiden as a long odds-on favourite at her very next start over 1400m at this track on October 9. This daughter of Pierro will be screwed down for her first-up start this campaign, as she has had the three trials, with the last one being over 1450m, which she won very easily. William Pike rode her for the first time in that most recent trial, and he has chosen to stick with her on Sunday, which is a massive positive for her followers. From barrier four, Classic Encounter should get the run of the race and settle in the one-one, before peeling off the leaders backs to run away from her rivals in the final 300m.
Best Bet
Race 3 – 
#11 Classic Encounter (4)
3yo Filly | T: Adam Durrant | J: William Pike (56.5kg)
$2.60 with Neds
Next Best at Geraldton: Ihts Closing Inn
The last race of the day will feature another one of our better bets on Sunday, with the Adam Durrant and William Pike combination looking to close out the afternoon with Ihts Closing Inn. This three-year-old filly has finished in the placings at five of her eight starts, while recording two wins this preparation with one of those coming two starts back at this track and trip on March 19. This daughter of Sessions wasn’t at her best last start, finishing sixth over 1618m, where she didn’t run on in the final 400m. William Pike will take the reins for the first time on this filly, and from barrier six we expect to see this girl settle mid-field before making her run in the final 600m. If Pike can get moving before the home turn and get Ihts Closing Inn into clear air, she will be finishing strong down the outside to play a prominent role in the finish.
Next Best
Race 8 – 
#10 Ihts Closing Inn (6)
3yo Filly | T: Adam Durrant | J: William Pike (54kg)
$2.90 with Ladbrokes
Best Value at Geraldton: Admiral Husson
We will be backing the Kevin Backshall-trained Admiral Husson in the first leg of the quaddie, where he looks to get a very easy lead in the RTG 70+ Handicap over 1200m, as he looks for his first win in the last 12 months. This seasoned galloper likes to race one way, which is with the handlebars down and going at his own speed out in front. With the son of Husson Lightning has drawn barrier two on Sunday and with no other speed influences in the race, he looks to get every chance to break through for that long-awaited win. Simone Altieri will have her second ride on this gelding, and if she can have Admiral Husson settled in a rhythm out in front, he will prove very hard to run down in the concluding stages.
Best Value
Race 5 – 
#8 Admiral Husson (2)
8yo Gelding | T: Kevin Backshall | J: Simone Altieri (54kg)
$26 with Betfair
Geraldton quaddie tips for Geraldton Gold Cup Day
Geraldton quadrella selections
Sunday, April 16, 2023
- 2-4-8-9
- 5-8-9
- 2-3-5-13
- 2-3-10
Investment: $144 for 100%
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