Proven stayer Escado breaks a long a run of outs with a win in the Group 3 $200,000 Carlton Draught Tattersall’s Cup (2400m) at the Gold Coast today.
Escado, red with green sleeves, breaks a long runs of outs with a win in the Tattersall’s Cup at The Gold Coast. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Escado hasn’t visited the winner’s stall since winning the 2013 Group 1 $500,000 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville but back on a soft track today over the 2400m proved to be the right combination.
Winning rider Ben Melham was aboard Escado in the South Australian Derby and was happy to be re-united with the five year old after not having been on his back since the pair finished seventh just over twelve months ago in the 2014 Listed $100,000 Port Adelaide Cup (2500m) at Morphettville.
The Matt Laurie trained Escado would have appreciated the soft track today with a wet track record of two wins from two runs on the heavy.
Melham had Escado travellinng smoothly just behind the two leadings and made sure he as in the clear when the field swung into the home straight.
Escado ($9) hit the front at the top of the straight and was able to maintain his lead to the winning post to hold off the fast finishing Shoreham ($8) by a neck with the gallant Epingle ($4.60 favourite) fighting hard to line for third.
The Casino Prince gelding looked to be getting back to his best when second to Index Linked in the Listed $175,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) at the Sunshine Coast two runs back and Melham said that was a good pointer for today’s race.
“I won the Derby on him in Adelaide as a three year old,” Melham said.
“I thought his run two runs ago was really good.”
“He didn’t have a lot of luck getting in from an awkward draw the other day. Today from a good alley he was able to get a good run just behind the speed. He is hard fit and run it right out to the line.”
Brenton Avdulla settled runner up Shoreham at the tail of the field and he made up plenty of ground over the concluding stages and Hugh Bowman tried to kept Epingle out of trouble with her big weight and after circling the field on the home she did a mighty job to keep giving her best in the straight under the 59kg.
Tattersall’s Cup Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | ESCADO | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham | – | 3 | 56.5kg | $9 |
| 2 | 5 | SHOREHAM | Gerald Ryan | Brenton Avdulla | 0.2L | 12 | 55.5kg | $8 |
| 3 | 1 | EPINGLE (NZ) | Michael Kent | Hugh Bowman | 1.2L | 2 | 59kg | $4.60F |
| 4 | 2 | BANCA MO | Bevan Laming | Michael Cahill | 1.4L | 6 | 58.5kg | $4.80 |
| 5 | 10 | MONACO DOLL (NZ) | Toby Edmonds | Tommy Berry | 2.2L | 8 | 54kg | $41 |
| 6 | 8 | MAJOR MAJOR | Bryce Heys | Kerrin McEvoy | 2.5L | 11 | 54kg | $17 |
| 7 | 4 | FAUST (NZ) | Kurt Goldman | Zac Purton | 5.8L | 9 | 56.5kg | $7 |
| 8 | 12 | BACHELOR ZEEL (NZ) | Frank Ritchie | Jason Taylor | 6.8L | 5 | 54kg | $31 |
| 9 | 6 | SUR (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Timothy Bell | 7.6L | 4 | 55.5kg | $10 |
| 10 | 9 | POP ’N’ SCOTCH | Liam Birchley | Jeff Lloyd | 13.1L | 7 | 54kg | $12 |
| 11 | 7 | ZOOMANIA (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Jim Byrne | 13.5L | 10 | 54kg | $15 |
| 12 | 11 | HOLLY HOLY (NZ) | Wayne Walters | Paul Hammersley | 26.3L | 1 | 54kg | $41 |
