DUAL Dunkeld Cup winner Unrealistic will run in the $45,000 Port Fairy Cup at Warrnambool next Thursday, instead of a $125,000 race Flemington on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Warrnambool trainer Geoff Withers said he had decided to scratch Unrealistic from Flemington after the seven-year-old drew a wide barrier in a $125,000 race.
"It was just going to be too tough to win from that gate so we've decided to scratch Unrealistic," Withers said.
"I would have liked to run him at Flemington but he had no hope of winning after drawing that barrier. I would have run him at Flemington if we drew a good barrier. We'll save him for the Port Fairy Cup.
"It's been a month since his last run in the Dunkeld Cup. I'm very happy with his condition and how he's feeling. We'll look at races like the Penshurst and Woodford Cups after the Port Fairy Cup."
READ MORE:
Unrealistic won the Dunkeld Cup in 2017 and 2019.
Fellow Warrnambool trainer Lindsey Smith has three runners on the nine-race card at Flemington.
He saddles up Rolls, Pour Vous and Strike Force. Smith rates Rolls as his best winning hope.
"Rolls shows a lot of promise," the respected trainer said. "He's won two of his last three and appears to have plenty of upside. I think he'll appreciate the big Flemington track.
"Flemington is a big jump in class but I'm confident he'll be competitive."
Matthew Williams accepted with two runners. The last-start Warrnambool maiden winner St Joeys runs against Rolls in the $125,000 race over 1400 metres, while Williams other runner, Illustrious Lad, runs in an 1100 metres scamper down the Flemington straight.
Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.
