Last start Oakbank winner The Ruffian has the numbers to come out on top in this afternoon’s Alice Springs Cup (2000m) at Pioneer Park.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The $110,000 Cup is the last on a good card of racing in Australia’s Red Centre, the remainder of the seven race card boasting minimum $25,000 prizemoney and good field sizes for punters.
The Ruffian will be out to claim that valuable prize and he looks well equipped to do so, the well bred, former Darley-owned, gelding coming off solid form in Adelaide this campaign to date.
Consecutive placings at Morphettville saw him sent off favourite last time at Oakbank and there he didn’t let punters down, going straight to the front and kicking away to win with plenty in hand at the finish.
That sees him as one of just two last start winners in today’s line up, the other being Patience, who beat many of his rivals here last time when winning the main lead up to this race, the Prime Ministers Cup over the mile.
The Ruffian’s piece of winning form rates about a length clear of what Patience put up here last time but the latter does have the advantage of having raced successfully at the course.
This will be The Ruffian’s first time at Pioneer Park, though he is no stranger to success in the NT.
He was campaigned in Darwin in both 2011 and 2012, his first campaign up north netting him the Darwin Guineas and Derby which saw him sent of at the head of the market in the Darwin Cup.
He fell short of the mark in the Cup and four runs in 2012 were unsuccessful but his latest win saw him back at the same level of form he was showing in 2011.
A wide barrier should be of little concern with The Ruffian expected to go forward and if not lead at least settle right on speed and give himself every hope.
Patience will likely be giving The Ruffian a headstart but the services of visiting jockey Glen Boss have to be seen as a positive and he should be afforded every chance in the run.
The big positive for Patience, though, is the drop back to handicap conditions after his latest success came at levels.
He runs off the minimum weight today, making the task of turning the tables for those who finished behind him on that occasion mighty tough.
Effcee comes off a different form line having won the NT Guineas two back and his latest effort was solid. His numbers stack up back taking on the handicapper and the lightly raced son of Dubai Destination is perhaps the one in the field with the biggest upside.
He can improve enough to be a factor today.
As mentioned the task of those coming through the PM’s Cup behind Patience is a tough one with the runner up there I Am Magic meeting the winner 3.5kgs worse for having been beaten the best part of a length.
Last year I Am Magic contested the Pioneer Sprint at this carnival which highlights the other query on him today. 2000m looks sure to test with his two efforts beyond a mile to date seeing him well below form.
It looks a race in three, with The Ruffian the pick to come out on top.
Enjoy the Alice Springs Cup.
