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Is a Second Cup in 2019 on the Cards for Dane Smith?

Stawell based trainer Dane Smith could claim his second Mount Gambier Gold Cup within the space of seven months with his runner San Remo on Friday.

Due to the upgrade of the Mount Gambier track, the Club are hosting their second Cup Day of the year on Friday, as it permanently makes the move to the summer from here on.

Smith claimed May’s edition with Golden Authority and will look to go back to back with his Irish import San Remo this Friday.

San Remo has four wins from his 37 career starts and interestingly finished fourth behind 2017 Melbourne Cup winner Rekindling in his second career start in his home country. He’s a natural stayer who was a strong winner two starts back and ran well last start to finish fourth at Ballarat over 2600m. While he’s had a bit more success over longer trips, he’s rock hard fit and will be hard to hold out on Friday.  

Paul Preusker’s Bling Dynasty ran second in the 2017 Cup and the trainer will have a decent chance of going one better here with The Great Artiste. He wasn’t beaten by much in the Donald Cup last start but steps up in trip significantly here from the mile to 2400m. He will get the services of experienced jockey Christine Puls who has notched up four winners this year at the track.

The only Mount Gambier trained horse in the Cup is Michael O’Leary’s Emil. While he’s been disappointing in his three runs so far this preparation, he has a good fourth up record with one win and two placings from four starts and should be primed for his hometown Cup.

Patch Adams knows a thing or two about Country Cups, contesting 20 across his 59 start career and tasting victory at Casterton and Colac. While he finished back in the field at Moonee Valley last start his efforts in the Ararat, Murtoa and St Arnaud Cups were very good just missing in two of them by a nose. Apprentice Will Price jumps back aboard the gelding after just getting pipped at St Arnaud in October.

Other chances include Sue Jaensch’s last start winner Costa Lante who has form over 2000m and Ron Daniel’s 83 start veteran Sudden Moment. He’s been very consistent without finding a win and jockey Dom Tourneur has had a successful 2019 at Mount Gambier riding five winners.

Selections

  1. San Remo 2. Patch Adams 3. The Great Artiste 4. Emil

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