Box five should not hinder fastest qualifier Bear’s Gold’s chances of success in Saturday night’s mouth-watering Group 2 Ladbrokes Cyril Rowe Bulli Gold Cup (472m), according to trainer Keith Hellmuth.
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The Victorian, who extended his terrific record to 21 wins and six minor placings from 34 starts with his storming come-from-behind win in last week’s heats, jumps from the squeeze box in the $40,000-to-the-winner final.
Bear’s Gold was slowly out of the boxes last week but produced a super late surge to power home by two-and-a-half lengths in a smart 26.21.
Hellmuth is philosophical about the box draw for the son of Cape Hawke and Rustic Reeta, who has one win from three previous starts wearing the yellow rug.
“My wife Lisa picked [the box] so we can’t complain,” Hellmuth said. “It’s not great but he never usually misses the start anywhere and is usually so reliable wherever he races.He tries his heart out with every race - you can take him anywhere and know he will have a go.”
The final looks a highly competitive affair with most of the field having decent claims. Last week’s Bathurst Gold Cup winner Falcon’s Fury looks well drawn in box two and was a sound 26.28 winner last week, while track specialist El Magnifico looks a danger from box three.
Recent Group 2 Gosford Gold Cup winner Barking Bad (box eight) looks a strong chance while Pedro Cerrano (box one), Winsome Mission (box four) Black Hole Sun (box six) and Nangar Rock (box seven) complete the field.
