Aqueduct eyes four-peat
Listed Carlton Draught Murray Bridge Gold Cup, $100,000, 1600m
The Michael Hickmott-trained Aqueduct (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) will look to add to his picket fence with a maiden stakes win here. The 4-year-old gelding is an on-pace horse and he will be stepping up to 1600 metres for the first time this campaign but he has drawn favourably in barrier four and gets into the race with the minimum weight.
Winning Partner (Dawn Approach {Ire}) is coming off the back of a strong win in the Listed Balaklava Cup where he stormed home to win by 1.4l. The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding will need the electric turn of foot again though after drawing a wide barrier and likely needing to settle back in the field.
Wings Of Pastrami (Supreme Class) is stepping back to 1600 metres which will be ideal for her. She finished second behind Aqueduct last start and arguably could have beaten him if she had an extra 100 metres. She gets an extra 200 metres this time and has good form over a mile having placed at Moonee Valley over the distance last campaign.
Japanese import Danon Roman (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) will have his first start for Michael Hickmott after being transferred from the Anthony Freedman stable. The 7-year-old gelding won over 1600 metres at Flemington back in June but hasn’t raced since August 1 and will have to carry the top-weight and start from a very wide barrier.
