Godolphin galloper Complacent is a dual nominee at Moonee Valley Racecourse this Saturday with connections entering the last start Craven Plate winner for the Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2015 in case he misses out on a Cox Plate start.
If Complacent misses out on a Cox Plate run he will start in Saturday’s 2015 Moonee Valley Cup field instead. Photo: Steve Hart.
The $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) is the preferred assignment for the Authorized stallion, but Complacent is in danger of missing out on a run in the 14-starter field in the weight-for-age classic.
As a back-up the John O’Shea-trained galloper, last seen winning the Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) at Randwick on October 3, has also been nominated for the $250,000 Group 3 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) over more distance.
Complacent missed out on a run last Saturday failing to gain a start as one of the emergencies for the Caulfield Cup over the mile and a half, and is one of a bumper 33 Moonee Valley Gold Cup nominees this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
O’Shea also has Group 1 The BMW winner in the autumn Hartnell, who was last seen running sixth only 1.35 lengths off the winner Preferment in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 4, and Magic Hurricane nominated for the MV Cup.
Another Caulfield Cup emergency that didn’t get a shot at the classic last Saturday, six-year-old Magic Hurricane has won two of his past three starts including an impressive two length victory in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick from the start of the month.
The Metropolitan runner-up Beaten Up is also in the Moonee Valley Cup mix on Saturday, the Chris Waller-trained eight-year-old last seen running fifth only last weekend over 2400m at Randwick when carrying a hefty 60.5kg in black-type company.
It has been a long time between drinks for Waller’s veteran, Beaten Up not having won a race since the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane back in May of 2013.
The other nominees in Saturday’s showdown for Sydney’s premier trainer Waller are last start winner over 2400m at Caulfield Four Carat, former Group 1 Derby winner Hawkspur who ran third in The Bart Cummings last time out, recent black-type runner-up in Sydney Junoob, Libran and Opinion.
Some of the other highest-rated entries include the Darren Weir-trained veteran nine-year-old Dandino coming off a brave fourth to Preferment in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) when beaten under a length in the October 4 feature, his stablemate Taiyoo who has winning form at this track and distance, and Let’s Make Adeal.
The Nigel Blackiston-trained Red Ransom mare Let’s Make Adeal is yet to run at Moonee Valley but has a nice record over the distance (4-1-2-0), and she comes off a Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) win from Turnbull Stakes Day.
In The Bart Cummings the winning six-year-old had over a length to spare over runner-up Our Ivanhowe who franked the form crossing third behind Mongolian Khan in last weekend’s $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).
Also coming off nice lead-up form are the consistent Michael Moroney-trained import Araldo Junior who won the Benalla Gold Cup on October 2, Gai Waterhouse’s Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) third placed O’Reilly mare Bohemian Lily, fourth in that same October 10 lead-up Bondeiger who was second in last November’s Victoria Derby and the progressive Robert Hickmott-trained The United States who has nice form at Moonee Valley (4-1-1-1).
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2015 field is out on Wednesday so stay tuned.
In the meantime head to Ladbrokes.com.au who are offering Best Tote or SP + 20% on EVERY race on the Moonee Valley card this Saturday in Melbourne!
2015 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Nominations
Moonee Valley Racecourse – 24/10/2015
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | H. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15416×5067 | ALMOONQITH (USA) | H | 6 | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | – |
| 2 | 71311×901 | ARALDO JUNIOR (GER) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney | 89 |
| 3 | 0530×48425 | BEATEN UP (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 107 |
| 4 | 3x43028x48 | BIG MEMORY (FR) | G | 6 | Tony McEvoy | 101 |
| 5 | x2121x6923 | BOHEMIAN LILY (NZ) | M | 4 | Gai Waterhouse | 95 |
| 6 | x32303x840 | BOLD SNIPER (GB) | G | 6 | David Hayes & Tom Dabernig | – |
| 7 | 21172×0034 | BONDEIGER | H | 4 | Danny O’Brien | 98 |
| 8 | 21112×0131 | COMPLACENT | H | 5 | John O’Shea | 110 |
| 9 | x6624x0084 | DANDINO (GB) | H | 9 | Darren Weir | 105 |
| 10 | 3x34441x67 | DE LITTLE ENGINE | G | 5 | Danny O’Brien | 90 |
| 11 | 07130×4098 | DON DOREMO (NZ) | G | 5 | Robbie Laing | 88 |
| 12 | 00281×9717 | ESCADO | G | 6 | Matt Laurie | 102 |
| 13 | 0x88x00030 | ETHIOPIA | G | 7 | Pat Carey | – |
| 14 | 53282×7151 | FOUR CARAT (GER) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 80 |
| 15 | 67x2114x46 | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 5 | John O’Shea | 112 |
| 16 | 33075×0003 | HAWKSPUR | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 102 |
| 17 | 0084×75092 | JUNOOB (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller | 105 |
| 18 | 00×8612350 | KAPOUR (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | – |
| 19 | 57x214x081 | LET’S MAKE ADEAL | M | 6 | Nigel Blackiston | 105 |
| 20 | 5x91174x1x | LIBRAN (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 88 |
| 21 | 62x893x000 | LIKE A CAROUSEL | G | 6 | Ken Keys | 96 |
| 22 | 955×143121 | MAGIC HURRICANE (IRE) | G | 6 | John O’Shea | 107 |
| 23 | 34117064×6 | MAJOR MAJOR | G | 7 | Bryce Heys | 75 |
| 24 | 3142x5x367 | MANNDAWI (FR) | G | 6 | Ed Dunlop | 94 |
| 25 | 212146×074 | MAYGROVE | G | 5 | Murray Baker | 95 |
| 26 | 60x82Px008 | OPINION (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 105 |
| 27 | 7032571443 | OUR VOODOO PRINCE (GB) | G | 8 | Darren Weir | 93 |
| 28 | 24005102×8 | POP ’N’ SCOTCH | G | 5 | Liam Birchley | 78 |
| 29 | 0556x5x006 | PRECEDENCE (NZ) | G | 10 | James Cummings | 103 |
| 30 | 82123×8558 | PRINCE OF PENZANCE (NZ) | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 103 |
| 31 | x06300x005 | RENEW (IRE) | G | 6 | Archie Alexander | – |
| 32 | 1112×70875 | TAIYOO | G | 6 | Darren Weir | 104 |
| 33 | 4x3x0x1226 | THE UNITED STATES (IRE) | H | 6 | Robert Hickmott | 98 |
