Australian Racing: Captain to salute in Pinjarra Cup

There are seven race meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, with the Pinjarra Cup and the bet365 Bairnsdale Cup among the highlights.

The also race at Geelong, Goulburn, Hobart, Orange and Sunshine Coast.

Race 9 Pinjarra

Captain Pluto @ 2.70

Race 7 Bairnsdale

Claidheamh Mor @ 6.00

Race 6 Goulburn

Villasaurus @ 10.00

Pike to steer Captain Pluto to Cup success

The Pinjarra Cup, a 2300m Listed handicap contest comes up as the ninth race on a ten-race card.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with Michael Grantham’s Antique Miss expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The five-year-old is a dual winner so far in 2025, with the first of those wins coming in the Group 3 La Trice Classic over 1800m at Ascot.

The mare has since taken out the Detonator Stakes, a Listed contest over the same track and trip prior to placing second in the 2019m Listed Bunbury Cup earlier this month.

The daughter of Domesday has to prove her stamina over this distance, however, so the gelding CAPTAIN PLUTO, a winner over this distance in the past, is preferred.

Trained by Grant & Alana Williams, he returned to action with a victory in a 1400m Benchmark 72+ handicap at this venue last month.

A solid third-place finish when beaten just over two lengths in a similar contest over 1600m at Ascot followed, prior to success in the previously mentioned Listed Bunbury Cup a week later.

The 2.70 selection shaped as if a return to this distance for the first time in over a year would suit when winning on that occasion and barrier 10 shouldn’t provide any issues.

Top hoop William Pike, on board at Bunbury, is again in the saddle, with the pair looking capable of following up.

Mor to defy top-weight status

The bet365 Bairnsdale Cup, an open handicap event expected to take place on a heavy 8 surface, is the seventh race of the day at Bairnsdale.

The feature contest is expected to see Le Zebra have his supporters, having delivered a string of good, placed efforts earlier this season.

Those results include two third place finishes in January, with both of those efforts coming in metro Benchmark 84 handicap contests over this distance.

While beaten just over half-a-length at Flemington, the four-year-old lost out by nearly two lengths when racing on the Lakeside track at Sandown two weeks later.

Emma-Lee & David Browne’s representative arrives here fresh, having disappointed at Flemington over 2000m last month and he holds obvious claims.

The Gemma Rielly-trained CLAIDHEAMH MOR is the pick here, however, with the gelding having demonstrated good form in 2023.

The six-year-old recorded two wins from his final three starts that year, including on quick ground in the 1800m bet365 Coleraine Cup.

The 6.00 chance is a versatile type with regard to going, having won on heavy 9 going over 2100m when taking out at Sandown Benchmark 78 handicap earlier that year.

The son of Dundeel’s most recent victory saw him come home just under a length clear of his rivals in the 2000m Metcap Finance Victorian Country Cups Final over 2000m at Caulfield that November.

The selection has made just one start since that Caulfield triumph, returning lame when finishing eighth over 1700m in a Warrnambool handicap in April last year.

Carleen Hefel’s mount has gone well first up in the past, however, so he is taken to defy top weight on his seasonal reappearance.

Villasaurus to make it four at Goulburn

The sixth at Goulburn is the 1400m Country Championships Wild Card, a 1400m Class 5 set weights event set to take place on a soft 5 track.

The four-year-old VILLASAURUS takes the eye here, having performed won twice since breaking his maiden over this course and distance in January last year.

The most recent of those wins saw the gelding come home nearly three-and-a-half-lengths clear of his rivals in a 1400m Class 3 handicap at Rosehill at the start of November.

The 10.00 pick has finished third in both subsequent appearances, with the first of those coming when contesting a 1500m Class 3 handicap held on a heavy 8 surface at Rosehill the following month.

Trained by Donna Scott, the gelding returned from a break with a length third when contesting a similar race to this over 1400m at Wagga at the start of this month.

An inside alley is a positive in this event and he looks up to recording the fourth win of his career.