Underwhelming gallop from Auckland Cup winner
Waverley trainer Bill Thurlow took Group 1 Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Glory Days to Wanganui for a gallop between races on Thursday and was not entirely pleased with the hit-out.
The lightly-tried stayer remains on track for the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 13, but Thurlow felt the six-year-old mare, who was partnered by Zinjete Moki, was over-extended early in her gallop.
“It was alright, but I have seen her work better. It was just the circumstances I think, she just went a little bit hard early where she normally wouldn’t,” Thurlow said.
“It was just one of those things, I thought she went a bit quick down the back.
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“She will probably do a bit of quiet work on Sunday or Monday and then fly out Tuesday and she will be fine.”
Thurlow has engaged lightweight rider Corey Brown to ride Glory Days in the Sydney Cup, where she will carry 51.5kgs after weights were raised half a kilo on Thursday, with imported galloper Muntahaa topweight at just 56kgs.
While Glory Days’ gallop was below expectations, Thurlow was pleased with Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Beyond The Fort, who was paired with a Kevin Myers galloper for a hit-out between races.
“She worked very well and I was very pleased with her,” Thurlow said. “She will carry on now to the Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m).”
Meanwhile, Thurlow is looking forward to watching the Patrick Payne-trained Ours contest Sunday’s Von Doussa Steeplechase (3250m) at Oakbank. Thurlow has an ownership interest in the seven-year-old son of Darci Brahma, having previously trained the seven-year-old, who has also had a stint with Kevin Myers.
“Patrick is really happy and he has done well at this stage,” Thurlow said. “His stablemate (Zed Em) will probably be very hard to beat. He is doing a good job over there and I think at this stage he will take his place in the race.”