Konedobu Chasing Overdue Cup Win
- Sunday, 06 December 2009 01:45
Local trainer Murray Irving hopes a home track advantage can finally bring Cup success to Konedobu in Monday's South Jerrabomberra Christmas Cup (2600m) at Queanbeyan.
The tough seven-year-old gelding will be backing up after finishing runner-up in Saturday's Cooma Cup (1600m).
He has been placed in the Queanbeyan, Cootamundra and Cooma Cups and Irving figures his charge is due for a change of luck.
"He's due to win one and deserves to," Irving said.
Konedobu has never raced beyond 2400m but Irving remains adamant the seven-time winner will handle the extra trip.
"He works around Queanbeyan two laps most days and he's a big tall horse," Irving said.
"He's very clean winded too.
"I think they'll amble along in the first half then pick up the pace from the 800 metres.
"He'll get the trip even with 59 kilos.
"The weight shouldn't worry him either. His track rider weights 80 kilos."
Konedobu is raced by Irving and his partner, Joanne Roberson.
He purchased the gelding as a yearling at the Inglis summer sale in Sydney, the gelding winning more than $78,000 from a 77 start career that also includes 20 placings.
Konedobu scored successive wins over 2000m at Canberra on October 17 and November 10 before his 14th to Macknuckle in the Canberra Cup on November 29.
"You can forget the Canberra Cup run," Irving said.
"Coming out of the straight he was with the leading bunch then nearly fell at the crossing.
"He got on the wrong leg, copped more trouble at the 800 metres when they were all going forward and the run can be forgotten."
At Cooma on Saturday, Konedobu tracked the field early and sustained a long run from the 800m to go under by a length to Sebony.
"He was picking them up and closing over an unsuitable trip," Irving said.
"He came home that night, stuck his head in the feed bin and has pulled up well. He's backed up well before.
"I'll give him a sprint up tomorrow morning before the race and provided he shows no signs of soreness he'll go around."
