Tuscan Fire returns to Mornington for Cup
Tuscan Fire returns to the scene of his biggest win as he continues on a path towards a major target over hurdles.
The Dan O’Sullivan-trained gelding, now a nine-year-old, raced to victory in the 2013 Mornington Cup (2400m) to earn his chance to run in that year’s Caulfield Cup in which he was unplaced.
Tuscan Fire returns to Mornington for the first time since his win to run in Saturday’s $300,000 Cup with a different goal.
O’Sullivan believes the gelding is ready to run well but lamented the outside draw in a capacity field.
“We haven’t got a very good barrier but he needs to go around to have him fit enough for later on,” O’Sullivan said.
Tuscan Fire is heading towards the Galleywood Hurdle at Warrnambool.
After winning the 2013 Mornington Cup, Tuscan Fire resumed with a win at Flemington that spring but then went winless until he dead-heated for first in a 1700m race in January this year at Caulfield.
He has mixed flat and jumps races in recent seasons.
“He went to a hurdle trial after he dead-heated at Caulfield and his next two runs have been satisfactory but both times the jockeys have felt he just needed the run,” O’Sullivan said.
“He’s nice and fit and ready to go for this. But I think this is a pretty good race this year.
“We’re realistically looking to go to Warrnambool for the Galleywood Hurdle. I’ll be rapt if he could run in the placings, especially from that draw.
“Just from that draw I reckon I’m going to have to give a few good horses a start.”
Tuscan Fire’s program includes a flat race at Flemington on April 25 before he returns to the jumps in the Galleywood.
“He’s good at the jumps and he’s been a terrific horse for us for a long time,” O’Sullivan said.
“We want to have a crack at that race at Warrnambool.”
Tuscan Fire is at $41 at Mornington with Albury Gold Cup winner Tom Melbourne the $2.30 favourite ahead of Observational and Pemberley at $7.
First emergency Pemberley has gained a start after the scratching of Ancient King.