In a last-ditch bid to gain a start in the Caulfield Cup, Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) will wear blinkers when he runs in the Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield.
Saturday’s 2400m Group Two handicap gives the winner a ballot exemption into the Caulfield Cup a week later.
With 50.5kg in the Caulfield Cup, Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) is No.56 in the ballot order into the race and needs to win on Saturday to force his way into the field.
Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man), second in the 2017 Victoria Derby to Ace High, has been winless for more than two years and was a last-start narrow second to Captain Cook in the JRA Cup (2040m) at The Valley on September 27.
Natalie Young, who trains in partnership with Trent Busuttin, said they had changed up Sully’s work routine since The Valley performance in a bid to strike winning form.
“We’ve had him work in company a little bit more and he’s had his nose in front to have that little bit of competitiveness about him,” Young said.
“We’ve galloped him with blinkers on which he’ll wear on Saturday and he galloped really nicely and that might be just what he needs as he’s got a bit older.
“Hopefully he gets in on Saturday as it’s our Willy Wonka ticket into the Caulfield Cup.”
Young said if Sully failed to make Saturday’s Herbert Power field he would run in the Cranbourne Cup (2025m) the following day.
Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man) finished second to Octobello in last year’s Cranbourne Cup.
