No less than the reigning Trots Country Cups Champion will front the gates at Carisbrook Raceway on Sunday, hunting a time-honoured crown.
Yankee Rockstar, winner of last year’s Stawell, Cranbourne and Kilmore cups, will kick off his 2016-17 campaign by contesting Sunday’s Central Highlands Shire Maryborough Gold Cup, a 2690m staying test that carries a $30,000 prize and Group 3 status.
It will be the first run by the Emma Stewart-trained five-year-old since he clinched the Kilmore Cup on March 19, and despite the spell veteran reinsman Gavin Lang said he expected a strong showing.
“(Yankee Rockstar)’s had two trials and performed pretty creditably in them,” Lang said.
“Some of the other guys are of course race hardened. As we’ve come to know, Emma (Stewart) and Clayton (Tonkin) have an uncanny knack of preparing their horses to win first-up at any level. It won’t be a surprise to see him in the finish.”
Such a result won’t be easily won even for a horse with the talent of this Rocknroll Hanover entire.
The 12-strong field boasts quality and quantity, including Nathan Purdon’s highly rated Ohoka Punter, who will be driven by Anthony Butt, and two-time winner of the Maryborough Cup Im Corzin Terror, who is first up since running a close second to Yankee Rockstar in the Cranbourne Cup.
Adam Kelly’s entrants Chilli Palmer and Five Star Anvil have both shown winning form, while Geoff Webster’s Bannockburn flyer Flaming Flutter is always knocking on the door.
Lang expects his main threat to come from the horse drawn directly on his inside.
“Ohoka Punter is probably the one to beat. His racing so far has been full of merit, having had two starts and been second in one and third in the other,” Lang said. “On his current form and his previous Grand Circuit performances, that holds you in pretty good stead.”
But Lang’s confidence hasn’t been dented. He said Yankee Rockstar had returned in “exceptional condition” and had the ability to overcome his tricky draw.
“He is drawn in the middle of the road with a bit of speed underneath him,” Lang said. “He holds his own out of the gate and I expect him to roll forward. He is a great racehorse, if he has to sit in the breeze so be it.
“It’s a great race. You only have to go back through the honour roll to see they are worthy winners and it will be no different this weekend.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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