Kent Worried About Topweight In Hobart Cup
- Saturday, 12 February 2011 02:59
Red Buttons has arrived in Tasmania in A1 condition for Sunday's $300,000 Hobart Cup but his trainer Mick Kent is not confident he can beat local champ Dream Pedlar.
The six-year-old was flown over on Thursday for the Group Three 2200m race in which he will carry 57.5kg, 1.5kg less than the topweight, Dream Pedlar.
"He's in great order the old boy and he's flying," Kent said of Red Buttons who has won four of his last five starts.
"But Dream Pedlar is a good horse and I don't know whether we can beat him.
"It is a tricky track but my horse has drawn (barrier one) to get every chance."
Red Buttons landed the Moe Cup (2050m) and the Kyneton Cup (2000m) in successive runs last spring.
But Kent said he erred by telling jockey Glen Boss to go forward in the Canberra Cup (2000m) in which he weakened in the run home to finish sixth to Macknuckle on November 28.
The Red Ransom six-year-old was given a nine-week break before he ran over the top of his rivals to win over 1800m at Sandown on January 29.
After weighing up his options, Kent decided to scratch Red Buttons from last Sunday's $50,000 Colac Cup (2000m) in which he was weighted to carry 61.5kg to save him for Hobart.
The gelding was one of four horses Kent entered for Wednesday's $300,000 Mornington Cup (2400m) in which he received topweight of 59kg.
Kent said Ballarat Cup winner My Bentley would represent the stable in the Mornington Cup.
Dream Pedlar, prepared at Longford by Troy Blacker, won two races in Victoria last spring, the Gold Nugget (1600m) at Ballarat and the Listed Bendigo Cup (2200m) in which he beat My Bentley by a half-head.
The West Quest six-year-old has continued to race well in his home state winning the Tasmanian Stakes (1600m) and the Devonport Cup (1800m), the latter under 61kg.
He then endured a wide run when a closing second to Hobart Cup rival Forbidden Quest in last Saturday's Ingham JC Cup (2100m) at Elwick.
Craig Williams is after his third Hobart Cup win when he rides Dream Pedlar having guided Offenbach to victory in 2008 and Gotta Keep Cool in 2009.
Brad Rawiller, who rides Red Buttons, is seeking back-to-back Hobart Cups following his win aboard Growl last year.
Despite the scratchings of Victorian-trained gallopers Crabs and Shewan the field has plenty of depth with reigning Perth Cup winner Guest Wing, New Zealander Mr Tipsy and Sydney stayer Bid Spotter engaged.
Apart from Red Buttons, Victoria will also be represented by the Russell Cameron-trained Fast Future, Abitofado (Mike Moroney), Davcon (Heath Conners) and Skystreamer (Tony Vasil).
Since St. Andrews was successful in 2002, the only Tasmanian-trained horse to win the Hobart Cup was Our Dashing Dane in 2005.
Dream Pedlar is at $5.50 with TAB Sportsbet ahead of Red Buttons at $6.50, Mr Tipsy at $7.50, Bid Spotter at $8 and Fast Future at $8.50.
In-form local Organised, going for his fourth straight win, is next best at $9.
Picture: Colin Bull
