On Wednesday Lou Luciani’s stable favourite Guyno claimed an upset win in the Mornington Cup and the 2011 Adelaide Cup is next on the agenda for the tough Perth galloper.
Evergreen seven-year-old Guyno scored a last stride victory in the $300,000 Listed Mornington Cup (2400m) yesterday nudging out local favourite Cedarberg on the line in a thrilling photo finish.The trip to Victoria proved fruitful for Guyno and his connections who were originally planning to run the O’Reilly gelding in a 1800m race at Ascot on the weekend.
However with the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville on March 14 the main autumn aim for Guyno, a trip to Victoria was decided as to get to South Australia they had to fly to Victoria first.
It proved a winning move, yesterday’s success and $180,000 Mornington Cup first prize boosting Guyno’s total career earnings to an impressive $1.23 million.
Career highlights for proven stayer Guyno include his wins in the Group 1 WATC Derby (2400m) back in 2007 and the 2009 Perth Cup, a race he was narrowly defeated in again this year when beaten less than half a length in the 2400m gallop by Guest Win.
While the 2011 Adelaide Cup is a certainty for Guyno, Luciani is uncertain of whether they will take advantage of the Caulfield Cup ballot exemption yesterday’s Mornington Cup win carried.
“We’ll worry about that in the spring,” Luciani said post-race. “It’s a great initiative by the club to put that on, but I just don’t know that we’re going to be there.”
Yesterday’s beaten favourite Cedarberg lost few admirers.
Trainer Pat Carey still has the Helenus four-year-old in the running for the $1 million Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 12 and the $2.25 million Group 1 The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 2.
Futures betting on these upcoming spring showdowns are now open at Luxbet, with Cedarberg currently paying around $31 in the early Australian Cup odds.
Check out the full markets at Luxbet now!
Photo courtesy (c) Taron Clarke Photography