Wet track to suit Bodega Negra in Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup
BRUCE Hill has his fingers crossed for rain ahead of the Listed Tattersall’s Members Cup (1600m) at Eagle Farm this Saturday.
Hill trains Bodega Negra, which has been out of the money at his past three starts since winning at the Gold Coast on January 7, but with the sting out of the ground the six-year-old gelding will become a live chance of saluting in the $100,000 feature.
“We had 20mm [of rain] at the [Gold] Coast last night and now the sun is shining, but it does look like it is going to rain again and they are talking rain every day this week,” Hill told HorseBetting.com.au.
“He doesn’t need a really wet track, just as long as it has got the jar out of it.
“If we get a bit of rain he will definitely benefit from the wet track and he also drops back to the mile, which is his preferred distance.”
In an open market, Steve O’Dea’s Beatniks is the favourite with Sportsbet at the +320 mark. The chestnut mare comes into the feature on the back of a Class 3 Handicap win at Eagle Farm two weeks ago.
Aside from Bodega Negra, Hill also prepares runners in races three and four.
In the third, Hill’s charge Wicked Knickers will start as the outsider against a quality field, including Magic Millions 2YO winner Houtzen.
However, it’s hard to fault the form of Wicked Knickers, which has one start for one win beside her name, having saluted over 900m at the Gold Coast last month.
“She has drawn a bit awkwardly and she jumps a fair bit in class, but she is going good,” Hill said.
“She is still young and learning what it’s all about, but she did everything right the other day when she won.
“I think she will run well.”
Hill, who has 30 horses in work at his Gold Coast stables, also prepares Hotel Coste, which will start as the top weight in race four, a Class 3 Handicap over the mile.
Despite having the modest record of 15 starts for three wins and four placings, Hill says the son of Husson and Stage Success has always shown potential, as showcased when winning at Eagle Farm two starts back.
Sweeping from the back of the field on that occasion, the four-year-old finished too strongly for his rivals, scoring by a length over La Cigale in 1:23.03.
Hill says he expects Hotel Coste to settle closer to the speed this Saturday at his first crack at 1600m and rates him a genuine winning chance.
“He has got a lot of weight to carry this Saturday, but I am very happy with him – he is going along good.
“I don’t think he will get back as far as he usually does over the mile – they don’t tend to go as hard early – so he should find himself in a handy position.
“I think he will run the trip out; he gives the indication that he will get the mile.
“He has always shown ability and he has always been thereabouts, but he has tended to do a few things wrong in his races – he is still only learning.
“He is slowly getting there; it has just taken him a while to get it right. He’ll make a nice horse when he figures it all out.”
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