Tulloch Lodge co-trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident that Cabeza de Vaca can continue his winning run in the Group 3 $150,000 Festival Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Cabeza de Vaca, above, is chasing his sixth win on the trot in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Cabeza de Vaca is the winner of his last five starts and Waterhouse said on her website that the six year old has showing no indication of tapering off.
“Cabeza De Vaca could not be heading into Saturday looking or feeling better. He is thriving this campaign and is going from strength to strength. He is most deserving of his place in Saturday’s Group 3 and if he performs like he did last start, he’ll be back in the Winner’s Circle come race day. Winning chance,” Waterhouse wrote.
Cabeza de Vaca has worked his way up through the classes and was spelled after recording a hat trick of wins with his victory in a 1900m BenchMark 78 Handicap at Canterbury on January 6.
The Northern Meteor gelding resumed from a spell for a first up win in the $100,000 Filante Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on October 28 and then made it five wins in a row by leading all of the way in the $100,000 November Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on November 18.
Cabeza de Vaca has drawn barrier seven in the ten horse Festival Stakes field and apprentice Rachel King has retained the mount after steering the gelding to his last two wins.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Cabeza de Vaca’s winning form has seen him installed as the short priced favourite and heads the Festival Stakes market order at $2.70 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
On the second line of betting is the well supported Irish import Mister Sea Wolf at $4.80 just ahead of the first of the two Godolphin runners Federal at $5.
The Chris Waller trained Mister Sea Wolf continues to firm in the betting and will jump from barrier four with Tim Clark in the saddle.