Purcell hopeful of cup tilt for Saint Aquilina
TRAINER Ross Purcell is optimistic seven-year-old mare Saint Aquilina will line up in the Jerilderie Gold Cup on September 23 after edging out Financial Miss at Corowa on Friday afternoon.
Under a terrific ride by Nick Souquet, the $3.80 winner at WilliamHill.com.au was held together at the turn and was saved for one last effort in one of the tighter finishes of the day.
Second placed Financial Miss ($1.70 at Crownbet.com.au) was only just beaten while White Lies finished back in third and delivered $2.50 to Sportsbet.com.au clients.
Purcell gave Souquet a ringing endorsement in the aftermath of the race, who took the horse forward despite the trainer hoping to get a softer run in transit.
“It was a top ride,” Purcell told HorseBetting.com.au.
“I would have loved cover, but we couldn’t see much pace there. White Lies might lead from the inside gate but she settled nicely once she got to the front in what was a really well rated ride.”
The win took Saint Aquilina’s record to six victories from 46 attempts.
It took the judge to separate them on the line, and while Purcell was confident his mare got the nod he did not want to jinx the horse.
“From where I was looking at it I thought it could have won, because they can make good ground from the outside so I thought I might have got it.
“That being said, I wasn’t going to go the crow I can tell you that.”
The win was the horse’s second victory in three races, which Purcell is hopeful will get his horse an entry in next weekend’s feature at the Jerilderie Race Club.
The trainer said he will attempt to get his horse into the field, but believes the horse has earned its place in the Gold Cup.
“We’ve had the race on the radar for a while,” the trainer elaborated.
“We knew she had to earn it, and I reckon today might have done enough to earn her the start.”
The trainer said the horse’s fortunes now will rest in the hands of the racing committee, but if the seven-year-old mare recovers well from Friday’s race it will enter the Jeriliderie Gold Cup as a winning hope.
“We’ll nominate and just see how she pulls up.
“We’ll wait and see how strong the field is before we declare her a winning chance. Financial Miss will probably go around there.
“She’ll be quite competitive I think.”