Good news for Cup favourites

Fri, July 29 2011

The favourites draw favourable gates for the $175,000 Carlton Mid Darwin Cup.

The Ruffian, the $2.90 favourite from the Sheila Arnold stable, will jump from barrier five.

The three-year-old gelding is in line to become only the third horse to win the Darwin Turf Club's Triple Crown should he prevail in the biggest race on the Territory's racing calendar.

After victories in the Darwin Guineas (1600m) and NT Derby (2000m), The Ruffian will also guarantee his connections an extra $100,000 in prize money should he win the Cup.

Hawks Bay, who has finished second in the Cup for the past two years, will start from gate three.

The five-year-old gelding, who missed out on the Triple Crown at the final hurdle in 2009, is a $3.50 hope for Victorian trainer Neil Dyer.

The Stephen Brown-trained Bolton, who is currently the first emergency, is the third pick in the race at $5 and will alight from barrier 10 should he get a start.

The Ken Rogerson-trained Robdon Flyer secured the prized inside barrier, while the Kevin Lamprecht-trained veteran Spakatak, who will turn 11 on Monday, has the outside gate.

Barrier Cup draw

1. HAWKS BAY (3)
2. PALMYRA BOY (9)
3. BLACKBRIAR (4)
4. NARATEL (13)
5. SPAKATAK (14)
6. THE RUFFIAN (5)
7. CLUB LIQUID (12)
8. MONTEGO BAY (11)
9. AGARKAR (6)
10. GENERAL MAZERRATI (2)
11. ROBDON FLYER (1)]
12. VERY FAST (8)

Emergencies

13. BOLTON (10)
14. LOUKOUMI (7)

Story courtesy of David White, NT News