A small field of seven greets the starter for Saturday’s Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill where Danchai can record consecutive wins.
The 2015 renewal of the Winter Cup has seven acceptors which makes it the smallest field assembled for the Listed staying event since before the turn of the century.
Of the seven, just three sit inside of the handicap.
Sticking with these three class horses appears the way to go with the Chris Waller-trained Danchai possessing the strongest case for a Winter Cup success at Rosehill on Saturday.
Danchai has performed well so far this campaign and returns south off breaking a lengthy winning drought third run from a spell when claiming the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m).
The son of Authorized settled off the pace on that occasion for promising Queensland rider Luke Tarrant.
The pair saved ground throughout on the fence and when it got down to the business end of things, Tarrant had plenty of horse underneath him.
Tarrant snuck along the fence with the ghostly grey, striking the front with 150m to go before a slender win ensued over Banca Mo and Darci Be Good immediately on his outside.
It was Danchai’s first win for nearly two years after a Class 2 Handicap success over 2092m at York in the UK during July 2013.
Danchai’s maiden Australian victory returned a Timeform rating of 100, seven pounds shy of the master figure he achieved when winning that day at York.
While possessing a master Timeform rating of 107, he has run to 105 on a number of occasions in Australia such as when finishing second to Spillway contesting the 2014 Japan Racing Association Plate (2000m) at Randwick in the autumn.
After two largely underwhelming Australian campaigns, Danchai has seemingly turned a corner in what looks a case of third time lucky.
He can continue his winning form in the Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
While not rating highest on latest weight adjusted ratings, Danchai looks the runner who has the perfect mix of timing, form and fitness.
A rise to 2400m fourth run from a spell looks ideal as does being poised just 1.5kg above the limit weight.
Leading Sydney hoop Hugh Bowman is reunited with the UK import who last rode him under race conditions at the gelding’s Australian debut when placing during the A J Bert Lillye Memorial Handicap at Kembla Grange during March 2014.
Contesting a race with zero early speed, expect the pair to be handy where they should be stalking their main rival and anticipated leader Bonfire.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained gelding was excellent when fourth on resuming in the Hawkesbury Gold Cup.
Settled outside the lead in transit, Bonfire stuck to his task well and claimed fourth.
Beaten three lengths, it was a solid display over an unsuitable trip and returned the son of Manduro a Timeform rating of 108.
Even giving Danchai 4.5kg at the weights, Bonfire still has the edge on weight adjusted Timeform ratings.
Bonfire came to Australia as a Group 1 placed, Group 2 winner and built on this record during his maiden campaign for Gai Waterhouse with placings in both the Premier’s Cup (1800m) and Naturalism Stakes (2000m) last spring.
That being said, there are queries surrounding the UK import.
Rising 800m in trip on his first up outing is a serious ask not to mention the fact he will be encountering a testing track.
Having not won in three years is also less than ideal.
The remaining horse who sits inside the handicap is Our Voodoo Prince.
Three weeks ago he struck a similar race when contesting the Stayer’s Cup as the class runner of the field.
He was strong to the line their where he finished second, beaten as favourite behind the unfashionable Lovethebeaches.
The Winter Cup is shaping as a stronger contest for the son of Kingmambo but on best form he has produced this campaign, has to be kept safe.
Of the rest, Dream Folk was charging home late at this course over 2000m in an Open Handicap a fortnight ago.
Rising in both class and distance, he looks to be tested despite the strength of his latest success.
Kapour is an intriguing runner who ventures north for Caulfield-based trainer Ciaron Maher.
The gelding has never looked his best since arriving in Australia considering he was Group placed in France but would be right in the hunt on best form.
After another battling effort over 2040m at Moonee Valley, Maher sent the Toylsome gelding to a 2400m hurdle trial at Cranbourne on June 17.
While it could have woken the import up, Kapour can only be taken on trust.
Chris Waller saddles up three runners in the event with Gosh seemingly Plan C of his trio.
She is another import in this field who since arriving in Australia, has raced well below her peak European form which includes a Group 3 placing at Deauville.
A month between runs, she rises sharply in trip and is hard to be confident about despite 2400m somewhere around her optimum distance.
After breaking a lengthy winning drought in the Ipswich Cup, it is shaping as a case of ‘it never rains, it pours’ for Danchai in the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill on Saturday.
