Trainer Symon Wilde has a decision to make as to whether Kiwi-bred mare Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock) will chase Wednesday’s Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) or be saved to run next in the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)
Tralee Rose was one of 14 horses to accept on Monday for Wednesday’s $400,000 Geelong Cup but with a number of higher qualified horses now certain to miss the Melbourne Cup, Tralee Rose looks almost certain of making the final 24 without having to run again.
She is currently 25th in order following the withdrawal of Realm of Flowers, Sir Dragonet and Duais, and there are doubts remaining on a handful of other higher-qualified horses, which include Quick Thinker, who suffered a career-ending injury last week.
“The Geelong Cup looks a nice race for her so we’ll look at the track condition and weigh up whether she needs to run and whether its beneficial for her to run,” Wilde told Racing.com.
“The Geelong Cup is the more winnable race but (in the Melbourne Cup) Incentivise looks nearly unbeatable and there’s that good European horse (Spanish Mission) but outside of those it is fairly open and we look a really good top-five chance.”
Fifth placing in the Melbourne Cup would earn connections $230,000 while a Geelong Cup win earns them $240,000.
A daughter of Tavistock, Tralee Rose was purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $50,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
