Kalgoorlie Cup – 2021

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are only nine runners  for the $150,000 Kalgoorlie Cup and seven of them had their last start in the Listed Boulder Cup over 2100m at Kalgoorlie on 19 September. There are six geldings, two mares and a staliion and no trainer has more than one runner.

The early favourite is seven-year-old Media Baron who ran on strongly to finish 0.6 length 4th in the Boulder Cup last outing. Second favourite is Sugar Cain who has won two of her last three starts at Belmont and hasn’t raced at this track before. Third favourite is Red Hot Tip who has also never raced at this track and has placed at his last two starts at Belmont.

Living The Dream was 3rd in the Boulder Cup last start after winning the Coolgardie Cup the start before. Bella’s Idol finished 2nd in the Boulder Cup at his first race on the track. Friar Fox finished 3rd in this race last year and won the Boulder Cup last outing, while Stafford’s Lad ran 5th in the Boulder Cup.  The other two runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer, even though Missile Launch won this race last year at double-figure odds.

1. Friar Fox

This seven-year-old Blackfriars mare has eight wins and six places from 25 starts. Last year she ran 2nd in the Coolgardie Cup, won the Boulder Cup and ran 3rd in this race. This year she has ran 2nd in the Coolgardie Cup then won the Boulder Cup again. This year she will carry 3kg more than last year but has such a great record at this track that you can’t dismiss her.

2. Missile Launch

Last year’s winner of this race back to defend his title. This eight-year-old trained by Vaughn Sigley  finished 9th in the 2021 Boulder Cup and hasn’t finished in the first half of the field in any of his five races this campaign. Seems unlikely.

3. Media Baron

This seven-year-old Written Tycoon gelding trained by David Harrison can be a bit hard to follow. He resumed for a promising 4th in the Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes at Belmont, then was last all the way in the Listed Farnley Stakes. He then had his first Kalgoorlie start where he was held up from the turn to the 200m before running on strongly for 0.6 length 4th in the Listed Boulder Cup. That was a solid run and he looks one of the main chances here.

4. Bella’s Idol

Followed placings over 2100m and 2200m at Belmont with 2nd in the Boulder Cup at his first race on the track. Likes to race on the speed and can place again here.

5. Living The Dream

A six-year-old Artie Schiller stallion that won the Coolgardie Cup at his first race at this track, then went out favourite for the Boulder Cup where he finished 0.4 length 3rd.  Not the worst.

6. Mexi Cola

He has raced here five times for one win and that was first-up over 1200m. Finisshed 7th in the Coolgardie Cup then made some ground from last to finish 2.9 lengths 6th in the Boulder Cup. This looks too tough.

7. Red Hot Tip

At five-years-old this Red Hot Choice gelding trained by Stephen Miller is the youngest runner in the race this year. He has never raced at this track and has placed at his last two starts at Belmont – over 1600m then 2000m. Has the inside barrier and can feature in the finish.

8.  Stafford’s Lad

Trained by Daniel Morton, this seven-year-old Demerit gelding has a win and four places from his last seven starts. Finished 1.4 lengths 5th in the Boulder Cup. Not the worst.

9. Sugar Cain

This seven-year-old Americain mare is trained by Grant & Alana Williams and is bred to stay. She was a length winner over 2100m at Belmont last Saturday and has seven wins from 2000m to 2200m. Hasn’t raced at this track before but should be hard to beat.

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

Jo’s Tips
9 Sugar Cain
3 Media Baron
7 Red Hot Tip
4 Bella’s Idol

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	5 Living The Dream
2nd	8 Stafford’s Lad	2.93 lengths
3rd	9 Sugar Cain	3.27 lengths
4th	3 Media Baron	3.75 lengths

The track was rated as Soft 5.

Scratchings: –