Sunshine Coast trainer Tony Haydon says he has done his bit to have his two runners ready but it’s a matter of whether the luck goes their way in Saturday’s Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m).
Haydon will chase his first stakes win with imports Master Zephyr and Tucano in the $175,000 Caloundra Cup but said the former Victorian stayers are in good shape for their latest test.
“Both horses are going as well as we can have them,” Haydon, who was the former long-time stable foreman for Peter Moody, said.
“I think both horses are in there with their chances.
“The bigger trainers like Kris Lees and Chris Waller have obviously got plenty of bullets to fire but my two are going well enough to have a go at the race on their home track.”
Master Zephyr is the better credentialled of the pair. The TAB has him as a $16 chance after his honest fourth in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) after a disappointing effort in the Brisbane Cup.
However, Haydon said Master Zephyr had excuses for the Brisbane Cup flop.
“He missed a run and got away on me a bit before the Brisbane Cup where he was a month between runs,” Haydon said.
“The horse hasn’t turned a hair and he has been sensational since I’ve had him, but we missed a run and he went from 2000(m) to 2400m and he’d done that well that he was too fresh in the Brisbane Cup.
“He was a lot better in the Ipswich Cup and fought on pretty well.”
Tucano is a $41 shot to overcome a class rise from a third in a Benchmark 78 at Ipswich last time out. The eight-year-old gave a start but closed well to be less than two lengths from the winner on that occasion.
Haydon said the track conditions would have a contrasting effect on the pair’s chances. Tucano will have no concerns with a wet track, but Master Zephyr is yet to win in soft ground.
The Sunshine Coast track was rated a heavy (9) at acceptance time.
“Both horses are going as good as they can but will probably depend on the weather,” Haydon said.
“One won’t mind it wet but the other one doesn’t want it too far into the soft range.”
Glenn Boss will ride Master Zephyr while Luke Tarrant will be aboard Tucano.