Australian Racing: Pink Cashmere looks smooth at Sunshine Coast

There are six meetings set to take place on Sunday and we have three selections on offer, from Sunshine Coast, Ararat and Armidale.

They also race at Benalla, Warren and York.

Race 6 Sunshine Coast

Pink Cashmere @ 6.00

Race 7 Ararat

Pittsburgh Pirate @ 4.80

Race 6 Armidale

Rhythm Is A Dancer @ 3.40

Cashmere to deliver for Kendrick

In Queensland Sunshine Coast is set to host a competitive eight-race card with the sixth race a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected, with Tony Gollan’s Gospel Girl expected to have her supporters here.

The four-year-old ended her last prep with a solid fourth in a 1350m Benchmark 68 handicap at Ipswich in April.

The filly returned to action with a good third when contesting a Class 1 metro event at Eagle Farm at the start of last month.

The good 4 track is no issue and she arrives here on the back of a second in a Deagon barrier trial, having been freshened since that Eagle Farm effort.

PINK CASHMERE is preferred for Stuart Kendrick, however, having performed well in two starts a this venue in 2024.

Both of those efforts came over 1000m, including when beaten less than half-a-length into second in a similar race to this when racing on a soft 5 track in June.

The 6.00 pick’s second course effort saw her beaten a length when placing second in a Class 1 handicap held on a good 4 track early last month.

The five-year-old gets a drop in grade, having finished seventh in a 1200m Benchmark 65 handicap at Doomben subsequently.

Kyle Wilson-Taylor takes the ride for the first time and his mount looks capable of delivering a victory from an inside alley.

Gold Cup to be Pirate's plunder

The penultimate race at Ararat is the bet365 Ararat Gold Cup, an open handicap set to take place over 2200m.

Racing off a low weight Pesto is expected to feature towards the head of the betting for the Gavin Bedggood team.

The veteran campaigner registered a good effort when fourth in Mornington’s Listed R.M. Ansett Classic, a 2400m handicap event at the end of September.

The gelding’s sole start since saw him beaten five-and-a-half-lengths into eighth in a Benchmark 84 handicap over the same distance at Caulfield last month.

While the nine-year-old has competed well at a higher level in the past, he is expected to find a few too good in this field with preference for the in-form PITTSBURGH PIRATE.

The gelding has won each of his last two starts, including by nearly two-and-a-half-lengths in a 2100m Benchmark 64 handicap at Benalla in September.

The 4.80 selection went on to complete a double when dropping to 2000m for the St Arnaud Cup at St Arnaud a month ago.

Henry Dwyer’s representative won by just under half-a-length in the St Arnaud Cup and should have no issues stepping up in distance having gone well over 2460m this prep.

A wide barrier isn’t ideal for the son of Pierro, however, he has the services of regular jockey Neil Farley and looks up to completing a hat-trick.

Dancer to salute at Armidale

At Armidale the Watson McNamara & Watt Guyra Cup comes up as the sixth race on a seven-race card.

A field of 10 has been declared for the race, including six-time scorer RHYTHM IS A DANCER.

The six-year-old has been in good form since resuming with a fifth in a 1000m Benchmark 82 handicap at Tamworth in September.

The 3.40 pick went on to register a narrow victory in a 1200m Benchmark 82 handicap held on a soft 5 track prior to two second place finishes in Cup contests.

The second of those Cup seconds saw the six-year-old beaten less than two lengths in the 1600m Coonabarabran Cup on a good 4 track last month.

Aaron Bullock’s mount boasts a good barrier here and, dropping back in distance and returning to a wet track, he looks up to recording his second win of 2024.