Geelong Cup – 2020

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

With the early scratchings of Shared Ambition and Sound,  nine runners remain for the $400,000 Geelong Cup. Four runners have not raced in Australia before and two runners had their last start in The Bart Cummings over 2500m on 3 October. There are five five-year-olds, two six-year-olds and one each of four and seven-year-olds. There are no mares this year. The betting is fairly open and the early favourite is Ashrun who ran 2nd in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay over 3000m in France at his last start on 23 August. He is trained by Andreas Wohler who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist which won the Prix Kergorlay prior to his Cup win. Second favourite is Skyward who has only had seven starts but has won four of them over distances of 1900m to 2500m. His last start was 4th in the Group 2 Prix Foy over 2400m in France. Third favourite is Le Don De Vie who won the Listed August Stakes in England over 2303m on 29 August and is another having his first Australian start.

Steel Prince chased hard for 3rd in The Bart Cummings last start. Topweight San Huberto finished 8th in the Prix Kergolay. King Of Leogrance finished 4.55 lengths 13th in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m after running 2nd in the Andrew Ramsden over 2800m, while Entente comes off a win in the Port Macquarie Cup over 2000m.  The other two runners are currently 25 to 1 or longer.

1. San Huberto

This five-year-old stallion finished 8th in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay over 3000m in France on 23 August before coming to Australia. He will be having his first start here and is currently 30th in ballot order for the Melbourne Cup

2. Ashrun

Ran 2nd in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay over 3000m in France at his last start on 23 August. He is trained by Andreas Wohler who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup with Protectionist which won the Prix Kergorlay prior to his Cup win. Currently number 34 on the Melbourne Cup list.

3. King Of Leogrance

Jumped awkwardly and finished 4.55 lengths 13th in the Turnbull Stakes over 2000m on 3 October after running 2nd in the Andrew Ramsden over 2800m.

4. Le Don De Vie

He won the Listed August Stakes in England over 2303m on 29 August and is another having his first Australian start. Currently 38th on the Melbourne Cup list,

5. Skyward

Has only had seven starts but has won four of them over distances of 1900m to 2500m. His last start was 4th in the Group 2 Prix Foy over 2400m in France. 37th on MC list.

6. Shared Ambition  – SCRATCHED

7. Steel Prince

Chased hard for 3rd in The Bart Cummings last start and was 3rd in the Naturalism Stakes the start before.  37th.

8. Platinum Invador

Placed at long odds in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes over this distance on 10 October and ran 3rd in the Group 1 Auckland Cup earlier this year. Goes up 2 kg from his last run.

9. Sound  – SCRATCHED

10. Creedence

Finished 2.1 lengths 6th in the Bart Cummings. Not the worst.

11. Entente

Comes off a win in the Port Macquarie Cup over 2000m on 9 October and a Rosehill 1900m win before that.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
2 Ashrun
7 Steel Prince
4 Le Don De Vie
5 Skyward

Group 1 Manikato Stakes 2020 (Moonee Valley 1200m)

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	7. Steel Prince
2nd	4. Le Don De Vie	0.2 length
3rd	3. King Of Leogrance	1.5 lengths
4th	2. Ashrun	1.6 lengths

The track was rated as Good 4

Scratchings were  6. Shared Ambition (IRL), 9. Sound (DEU).