Coyle confident he has the Energy to win the Grafton Cup
EXPERIENCED galloper More Energy might be coming to the tail end of a long preparation, but the gelding’s trainer Jason Coyle believes his elect may have one more trick up its sleeve for Thursday’s Grafton Cup.
The six-year-old ran a promising second behind Rudy in the Tatts Cup at the end of June, and Coyle believes that run will hold the horse in good stead coming into Thursday’s feature.
Despite the fact it has already raced ten times this preparation, the trainer believes More Energy has what it takes to win what is an incredibly competitive Grafton Cup.
“He’s been up for a while but I don’t think he’s preparation has been too bad,” Coyle told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He’s probably taken a bit of a step up from where his benchmark was into the Tatts Cup last start performed really well so if maintains that vein of form I think he looks a genuine show tomorrow.”
More Energy is at $8.50 via CrownBet.com.au to win the Grafton Cup.
One huge advantage for Coyle coming into the race is the booking of veteran hoop and superstar Queenslander Jeff Lloyd.
The record-setting hoop is one of the most dominant jockey’s north end of the country, and Coyle believes it is a ringing endorsement of More Energy’s chances that Lloyd is taking to the saddle.
“Obviously we were more than happy to retain the services of Jeff Lloyd,” the trainer said.
This will be the second time that Lloyd has piloted the horse after he rode More Energy in the Tatt’s Cup at Doomben, and Coyle said he was eager to reunite the pair in the cup.
“I got on to his management when we decided that Grafton was an option pretty quick and he was more than happy to stick with the horse.
“It’s nice to have his confidence that he thinks the horse is going to be competitive at that level again.”
The feature at Grafton on Thursday will be the 11th race this preparation for More Energy, who has been living up to its name so far in 2017.
The trainer said the horse continues to surprise him every time it steps out onto the track, but will put it out for a spell when he feels the gelding truly requires it.
“I spoke to the owners this morning and it is definitely an option,” Coyle elaborated.
The lull in performance has not materialised for More Energy like it would for other horses, and the trainer said the team is happy to keep putting gelding in races.
“Over his last four or five starts we’ve been happy to assess his performance and see how he pulled up, which makes it makes it a race-to-race basis with this guy.
“He is a six-year-old going on seven, which means he’s been around for a while and he knows what it’s all about.”
Despite a commitment to to letting the chips fall where they may, Coyle conceded that Thursday’s run may very well be the horse’s last run before targeting the Sydney summer.
“As long as happy in the stable we’re happy to keep kicking on, but this probably will be his last run, then we’ll bring him back for the summer in the Sydney for those cup style races will suit him perfectly.”
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