Australian Racing: Bold Soul to take out Traralgon Cup

There are seven meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, with the bet365 Traralgon Cup the pick of the action on a busy day of racing.

They also race at Clare, Grafton Newcastle, Pinjarra, Sunshine Coast and Warrnambool.

Race 7 Traralgon

Bold Soul @ 4.40

Race 8 Warrnambool

Mr Lincoln @ 6.00

Bold selection goes for Cup glory

The bet365 Traralgon Cup comes up as the penultimate race on an eight-race program and the 1900m event is set to take place on a heavy 10 track, with Divus Romulus expected to jump as favourite.

Nick Ryan’s gelding has been in good form this year including when winning twice in March.

The most recent of those March wins saw him salute by half-a-length in a 2100m Benchmark 64 handicap held on the Lakeside track at Sandown.

The gelding has finished in the first four at Moonee Valley in both starts since returning from a spell, most recently when third over the Cox Plate distance.

Patrick Moloney is a positive jockey and his mount rates highly on his first start on a heavy surface.

He faces plenty of competition here, however, including from Alhambra Lad who has won three times on heavy tracks in the past.

Preference, though, is for BOLD SOUL, who is the winner of half of his 10 career starts.

The four-year-old has performed well at a higher level in the past, including when winning twice in Listed company earlier this year.

The gelding’s most recent success saw him come home over half-a-length clear of his rivals in the 2000m Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes at Morphettville in April.

While all five of the 4.40 pick’s victories have come on good going, he has performed well on his only previous outing on soft, when third on a soft 5 at Caulfield last December.

A solid fifth when contesting a 1620m event at Donald last month should have put him spot-on for this event and he looks capable of registering a second up success for Patrick & Michelle Payne.

Lincoln backed for Jericho Cup success

The 4600m Jericho Cup lays claim to being the longest race on the calendar, with the 2024 renewal set to take place as the penultimate race on Warrnambool’s nine-race card.

A soft 5 track is expected for the race, with Queen Takes King expected to feature prominently in the betting following an impressive Moonee Valley win.

That victory saw the mare come home six-and-a-half-lengths clear of her rivals in a 3800m Benchmark 78 handicap held on good going.

The eight-year-old showed improvement for the step up in distance that day, however, it remains to be seen whether she can repeat that effort on a wet track.

MR LINCOLN, a son of Americain is preferred on this occasion, having broken through for his fourth career win when successful at Ararat last time out.

The gelding contested a 4000m Benchmark 70 handicap that day and he came home nearly four lengths clear of his five rivals when racing on a good surface.

The 6.00 selection has shown a liking for wet tracks in the past, including when narrowly beaten on heavy going when contesting a 3150m Benchmark 75 handicap at Mount Gambier in September.

While Chris Ryan’s gelding takes a step into the unknown distance-wise, he shaped as if the extra distance would prove no issue last time out.

Conor Brassil rides for the first time and he looks up to steering the six-year-old to victory.