Australian Racing: Mavendra to sparkle in Gold Cup

There are nine meetings scheduled to take place on Sunday, including at Geraldton where it is Gold Cup Day.

They also race at Alice Springs, Armidale, Ballarat, Gundagai, Hobart, Mornington, Naracoorte and Sunshine Coast.

Race 7 Geraldton

Manavendra @ 3.80

Race 9 Alice Springs

Hasseltoff @ 2.20

Race 8 Gundagai

Star Buyer @ 5.00

Manavendra goes for Gold Cup glory

The feature Geraldton Gold Cup comes up as the seventh race on an eight-race card at Geraldton.

A good 4 track is expected for the 2100m Benchmark 72+ handicap event, with Sowar set to jump as favourite.

Mitchell Pateman’s gelding has registered some solid efforts since winning over 1800m at Ascot in January.

The eight-year-old won at Benchmark 72+ level on a sound surface that day and he arrives here on the back of a sixth in a Benchmark 66+ handicap held over the same track and trip last month.

The son of Sepoy had acquitted himself with credit in Listed company at Bunbury prior to that and he holds obvious claims in this field.

Preference on this occasion, however, is for the Deep Field gelding MANAVENDRA, who arrives here on the back of a win at Albany.

The five-year-old came home over two lengths clear of his rivals when contesting a 1920m Benchmark 70+ handicap on that occasion, so he arrives here in good form.

Prior to that Daniel & Ben Pearce’s 3.80 representative had finished sixth in his three previous starts this prep, including when beaten just over four lengths at Bunbury on his penultimate start.

That Bunbury effort came in a 1690m Benchmark 66+ handicap just under a month ago and the extra distance should suit, with him having performed well over further in the past.

Natasha Faithfull, on board last time out, is again set to ride and her mount is taken to record back-to-back wins.

Hasseltoff to deliver for Leech

There’s also feature race action from Alice Springs with the 2025 renewal of the Alice Springs Cup, a 2000m contest that has attracted a field of 12.

Last year’s winner Venting is set to line up once more, however, he has won just once since then delivering a victory a victory over 1700m on the sand at Katherine in August.

The gelding has been out of form since finishing third of five over 1600m here in February, including when eighth over the same distance at this track recently.

The step back up in distance is a positive and, while it would be no surprise to see him bounce back with a win, others hold more obvious claims.

Dick Leech looks to have major chances with both HASSELTOFF and Write Your Name, with preference for the former, who is unbeaten in three starts at this venue.

All three of those victories have come over 1600m, with the first of those seeing him triumph by two lengths in February.

The 2.20 pick saluted twice in metro events at Morphettville earlier this campaign, including in a 1600m Benchmark 78 handicap in January.

The veteran campaigner has justified odds-on favouritism in each of his last two starts, including when jumping at $1.40 for a ten-runner event here last weekend.

Hanna Le Blanc, on board for all three his previous victories at this venue, is again booked to ride with the pair taken to complete a four-timer.

Star Buyer can twinkle at Gundagai

A good 4 track is expected at Gundagai, with the eighth race on their nine-race card the 1800m Gundagai Cup.

Trainer Ben Brisbourne is set to saddle STAR BUYER here, with the gelding having registered a half-length success in a 1590m Benchmark 58 handicap at Wodonga in November.

While the gelding won on a wet track that day, he has performed well on a sound surface subsequently, including when finishing second in his two most recent starts.

The first of those saw him beaten less than a length in a 1600m Benchmark 70 handicap at Towong just under a month ago.

The 5.00 six-year-old went on to jump from barrier nine prior to being beaten just over half-a-length in an 1800m Benchmark 66 handicap at Wagga when last in action a week ago.

Holly Durnan's one-and-a-half-kilogram claim is a positive in this event, with the pair taken to register a win from barrier eight.