Trainer Praying For Rain Ahead Of Cup
- Friday, 26 November 2010 03:45
Tony Sergi has been keeping an eye on the skies and also the weather channel as he prays for rain ahead of Sunday's Listed Canberra Cup.
Sergi trains Cup hopeful With Ice, a mare who will be out to reverse her last-start Goulburn Cup performance where she struck an unsuitably firm surface and finished last.
"If the track can get a bit rain affected on Sunday and if she gets free running she can bounce back," Sergi said.
"We're hoping for a wet track and I think the 2000 metres will suit her."
With Ice showed her credentials on rain-affected surfaces with four wins and two placings in six starts throughout winter in Sydney this year.
Sergi gave the six-year-old a 10-week let-up after her ninth in August's Listed Premier's Cup (1800m) on a good track and the Queanbeyan-based trainer then set his sights on preparing the mare for the Canberra Cup.
With Ice was sixth in the $200,000 race won by Macknuckle, who will be a rival again on Sunday, last year.
"We've been watching the sky, watching the weather channel and hoping the rain does come on Saturday and Sunday morning," Sergi said.
"As long as there is a bit of give in the ground it will suit her."
A full field of 16 plus four emergencies will contest the Cup and With Ice came up with barrier six.
Group One winner Rock Kingdom is topweight with 59kg from barrier two with Sydney's leading jockey Nash Rawiller in the saddle.
In-form Victorian Red Buttons drew gate 12 and big-race hoop Glen Boss will make the trip to the nation's capital to ride the Moe and Kyneton Cups winner.
Sergi fears the class runners at the top of the weights.
"There's some good horses in the race, if you look through the form the top four or five horses are quite strong," he said.
