Tough stayer Big Duke is likely to get a favourable wet track when he backs up in the Listed $175,000 Kendrick Racing Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Big Duke, above, is set to back up in the Caloundra Cup at the Sunshine Coast. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Kris Lees had given Big Duke the all clear to back up this week after finishing second to three year old Vow And Declare in last Saturday’s Group 3 $200,000 Lazy Yak Tattersall’s Cup (3000m) at Eagle Farm.
Big Duke has raced on good rated tracks at his four Queensland Winter Carnival runs and Lees said that the seven year will appreciate a bit of moisture in the in the Sunshine Course track that was rated a heavy 9 when acceptances were taken on Wednesday.
“He’s come through the run well and I expected him to get around 61kgs,” Lees told Racing Queensland News Desk.
“He ran second in a (Group 1) Tancred Stakes so he deserves to get that sort of weight in a Listed race.
“He’s crying out for a wet track as he doesn’t like it when the track is too firm.”
Big Duke has drawn barrier three in the fifteen horse Caloundra Cup field and will be ridden by the in-form Larry Cassidy who will be the fifth jockey in five starts for the gelding.
Blake Shinn was aboard Big Duke last week when runner up in the Tattersall’s Cup, John Allen rode him at his previous start when third in the Group 2 $400,000 Lexus Brisbane Cup (2400m) at Eagle Farm while Brenton Avdulla and Sam Clipperton split the riding duties at his two previous starts at Doomben for an eighth in the Group 2 $400,000 Bundaberg Rum P.J. O’Shea Stakes (2200m) and a thirteenth in the Group 1 $700,000 Doomben Cup (2000m).
Lees will also saddle up Saunter Boy who will jump from gate eleven with Jeff Lloyd in the saddle replacing Jason Collett who was aboard for the six year olds last start fifth in the Listed $150,000 Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on June 15.
Trainer Chris Waller will have three representatives in the Caloundra Cup with Tegan Harrison getting the ride on Mazaz who draw the best of the trio at barrier two, Ryan Maloney rides Exoteric (barrier 10) and Brad Stewart got the call up on Casterton (barrier 12).
Leading Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick, who is the major sponsor of the Caloundra Cup, will saddle up one runner in Mymming who has drawn barrier seven with Micheal Hellyer in the saddle.
Final field for the 2019 Caloundra Cup (2400m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x262200832 | BIG DUKE (IRE) | Kris Lees | Larry Cassidy | 3 | 60.5kg | 106 |
| 2 | 11512×7060 | EXOTERIC (GB) | Chris Waller | Ryan Maloney | 10 | 57kg | 99 |
| 3 | x64x407080 | CASTERTON (IRE) | Chris Waller | Brad Stewart | 12 | 55.5kg | 96 |
| 4 | 4811953×45 | SAUNTER BOY (FR) | Kris Lees | Jeff Lloyd | 11 | 55kg | 95 |
| 5 | 412×942230 | IGRAINE (GER) | Robert Priscott | Robbie Fradd | 5 | 54kg | 97 |
| 6 | 78×0567827 | SOPRESSA | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Matthew McGillivray | 1 | 54kg | 92 |
| 7 | 9640×02704 | MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) | Tony Haydon | Glen Boss | 6 | 54kg | 88 |
| 8 | 271×409503 | MAZAZ (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tegan Harrison | 2 | 54kg | 86 |
| 9 | 7×15126510 | RUBY GURU (NZ) | Michael Nolan | Dale Smith | 9 | 54kg | 81 |
| 10 | 2032×12125 | TRAVISTEE (NZ) | Paul Jenkins | Tiffani Brooker | 15 | 54kg | 78 |
| 11 | 52528×3966 | TERRA SANCTA (NZ) | Tony Pike | Jim Byrne | 13 | 54kg | 77 |
| 12 | 87×7118358 | MYMMING | Stuart Kendrick | Micheal Hellyer | 7 | 54kg | 75 |
| 13 | 633xL81003 | TUCANO (IRE) | Tony Haydon | Luke Tarrant | 4 | 54kg | 71 |
| 14 | 283×521133 | GALAXY GURU | Paul H Duncan | Mark Du Plessis | 14 | 54kg | 70 |
| 15 | 53×5186352 | HEART OF TOORAK | David Scanes | Ron Stewart | 8 | 54kg | 59 |
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