Trainer Gai Waterhouse is confident market leader The Offer will justify favouritism and comfortably win the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on day 2 of The Championships at Royal Randwick this weekend.
The Offer is one of two Gai Waterhouse-trained runners confirmed for the 2014 Sydney Cup. Photo: Steve Hart
Fresh off the back of a comfortable win in the heavy going of the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) last weekend, Waterhouse said she is expecting The Offer and stable mate Hippopus the cross the line in positions one and two.
“They will run first and second; you can back them” a confident Waterhouse told TVN.
“That’s exactly how the have been racing over the past few weeks.
“Both handle the going and are looking for longer.”
Securing an impressive total of five wins and five places from only 16 competitive starts to date, The Offer quickly laid claims to an exciting staying career when arriving in the care of Waterhouse at the conclusion of his 2012 preparation in Ireland, finishing second in the Blacktown Workers Club Maiden (1800m) before strolling home to win the Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m) by nearly four lengths on November 24th last year.
Returning to the track in typically strong form this time in, the Montjeu gelding was unlucky when blocked for a run and sixth in the Australian Turf Club Maiden (1400m) first-up, however quickly returned to form when finishing third in the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) and claiming the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) prior to his Chairman’s Handicap success last weekend.
Hippopus has also steadily built to the task this season; finishing fifth amongst classy company in the Pro-Ride Maiden (1600m) first-up before displaying a keen turn of foot to run an unlucky second in the Group 3 Neville Sellwood Stakes (2000m) on April 5th and overcoming early interference to place third in the Chairman’s Handicap last time out.
Having drawn the ideal barriers eight (The Offer) and four (Hippopus), the classy stable mates are a real chance of delivering on Waterhouse’s bold statement.
The Offer opened as and has maintained clear favouritism in betting markets for the 2014 Sydney Cup, currently featuring at $3.10 odds.
Offered far less of a chance, Hippopus is currently tied on the seventh line of betting at particularly generous $15.
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