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The Sportsman continued his career-best form this afternoon at Moonee Valley leading all the way to win the $250,000 Group Two Cathay Pacific Airways Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m). Jumping from barrier three, The Sportsman was expertly ridden by Hugh Bowman who successfully managed to dictate the tempo from the front. Bowman allowed The Sportsman to slide down the side simultaneously with when the backmarkers made their runs into the race as typified by Irazu and Kibbutz who were wide on the home bend. But The Sportsman found an extra gear in the straight and proved too hard to catch. The Sportman ($26-$31) defeated Irazu ($21) by three quarters of a length with maiden galloper Think Money ($10-$14) finishing a further half length away in third.  Kibbutz ($41-$51) finished fourth and in doing so convinced trained Jarrod McLean of going straight to the Melbourne Cup.
Trainer Russell Cameron was thrilled with the result and was full of praise for Bowman post-race. "He was well ridden today and it worked out nicely," Cameron said. Prior to this preparation, The Sportsman's last win was in June 2007, with all of his wins prior today on a rain-affected surface. "He goes good, I've seen him perform on dry tracks as well but naturally we were after some rain," Cameron added. The Sportsman will now contest the $251,500 Group 3 SAAB Quality (2500m) at Flemington next Saturday before Cameron considers starting the seven-year-old in the Melbourne Cup. There are three options for Irazu. Trainer Steve Richards is undecided on whether to head towards the SAAB Quality or Lavazza Long Black (2800m) on Cup Day. The Queen Elizabeth (2500m) on the final day of Melbourne Cup carnival is also an option. By Kilimanjaro out of Lady Joelyn, The Sportsman earned black-type for the first time in his career last start when third in the Cranbourne Cup. Lady Joelyn has thrown a few handy thoroughbreds, Aquidity was a Group 2 winner while Breakdance was stakes placed. Pictures - Fiona Tomlin
© 2010 Published 24/10/09
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