Pakenham Cup on radar again for Khartoum
Khartoum looks like lining up for another shot at the Pakenham Cup after a strong win at Ballarat.
Pat Carey-trained Khartoum is likely to get his chance to try to go one better in the $300,000 Listed Pakenham Cup after winning a staying race on the undercard to the Ballarat Cup.
Khartoum finished a close second in last year’s Pakenham Cup (2500m) and Carey said the five-year-old gelding would likely head to that race again in two weeks after his victory in Saturday’s Champions Estate Benchmark-78 Handicap (2300m).
“I think the Pakenham Cup is the right race for him,” Carey said.
“He ran second in it last year so why shouldn’t we go that way again.
“It was nice to see this horse come back to form and he was a good winner here today.
“The conditions of the day were perfect for him. He was well in at the weights and he was well-ridden by (apprentice) Fred Kersley.”
On a soft-rated track, Khartoum ($9) got up towards his right distance for the first time this campaign and defeated Darren Weir-trained The Gatting Ball ($5.50) by a length.
Tavonian ($10) was another 1-1/2-lengths away third.
The victory was Khartoum’s second from 20 starts and first since winning a 2400m maiden at Bendigo in September last year.