Daily Racing Tips – Tuncurry Gold Cup Day Special

Brief Song comes back a level after tackling 1900m second-up at Newcastle last start.

The mare by Your Song is was second-last to greet the judge, but I thought there were excuses on offer considering she was a long way back from the onset.

Her previous run fresh at Scone was solid when runner-up over the mile, and it’s worth keeping in mind she was attempting a big rise in distance last time out.

Competing with the blinkers on for the first time and drawn to get a lovely run from the inside gate, she should bounce back.

Highly Tempted has been racing like he might be wanting further.

The colt by Sooboog shed the maiden tag second-up at Taree on a very wet track, before stepping up to 1200m at Newcastle where he was always too far back to score.

That said, he made up big ground in the finish to run third, so this does look a nice setup out to 1400m back to country level.

Salamancas is capable of going on with the job now for trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith.

The lightly-raced four-year-old by Sacred Falls won his maiden in impressive style fresh at Kempsey in July, wearing down the leader to speed through the line with plenty left to five.

He’s been given a similar break of around seven weeks between runs, while the fact he’s placed over much further suggests he’ll see out the mile nicely.

Winning form is good form, and that’s exactly what Cenotes brings with him into the Cup.

Ben Looker has proven the difference in the saddle of late, steering the smart five-year-old to back to back wins at Tamworth over the same trip.

He’s prevailed over the final 200m on both occasions and should find the slightly soft conditions to his liking yet again.

In well at the weights and just needing a touch of luck early on from the wide gate, he’ll be just as hard to hold out.