Last Roll of The Cup Dice for Acclimatise

The connections of tough gelding Acclimatise will chance the arm one final time to secure a Townsville Cup start with a last ditched win on Ladbrokes Ladies Day at Cluden Park on Saturday.

Cluden trainer Steven Royes concedes it’s ‘do or die” for the restricted class galloper in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1609m).

Royes says the Winter Cup runner-up is probably too low in the ratings to make the final cup line-up without victory on Saturday.

It didn’t help when Acclimatise just missed a start in the Mackay Cup last week.

“He definitely needs to win to get a start. He was the first emergency in Mackay but it’s likely there’ll be more higher rated horses here so we’re unlikely to get in unless we win one,” Royes said.

“If I get into the Townsville Cup I’m a big hope, but I’ve got to get in. It’s do or die on Saturday.

“He just struck one better in the Winter Cup, which was ballot free for the winner in the cup.

“He ran a mighty race but running second doesn’t get us in.

“If we don’t get there we’ll have to go around in the Benchmark 65 2000m race on Cup Day instead and then look at the Cairns amateurs.”

Royes is convinced Acclimatise is Cup worthy after a string of strong performances in key lead-up races at his past two starts.

The former Victorian galloper fought strongly to finish third to Cup hopes Tambo’s Justice and Beau Rain in the Magnetic Island Mile on July 6 and ran a courageous second to leading Cup hope Smart Legend in the Winter Cup over 2000m on July 19.

“Here the other day he just gave it everything and he was holding his ground behind Smart Legend on the line and when you look at his Sydney form he has the right credentials to win the Townsville Cup,” Royes said.

“So you’d have to think with a good draw and light weight we’d be a live chance.

“I went through the form for the race on Saturday. Coming back from 2000m is not ideal, but it is what it is.

“I never envisaged going to this race to be honest. I said to the owners we’ve done our chance, we missed the Mackay Cup so we just go to the BM65 on Cup Day and maybe go to the amateur cup in Cairns.

“But the owners are adamant they want to give themselves every chance to get into the Townsville Cup and fair enough.

“You take Beau Rain out of the race on Saturday and we’re a big chance but he will be the horse to beat on his form.”

Adam Sewell has been engaged to ride Acclimatise who will carry 54kg.

Race favourite Beau Rain is “spot on” for his final lead-up on Saturday ahead of the Cup on August 9.

Trainer Bill Kenning has stuck to a plan to save Beau Rain for his ultimate 2000m test until the Cup.

His only concern on Saturday is a tricky draw in barrier 10.

“Everything is right with him but the alley could have been better. He’s just going to need a bit of luck from there. The mile start can be tough, but if he gets in somewhere he’ll be hard to beat,” Kenning said.

“His form has been first rate. He took a few runs to get fit but he’s winding up at the right time.

“I don’t know - and no one will until Cup Day - whether he’ll get the 2000m or not, but he’s settling well in a mile and you’ve got to give him a crack.

“At his last start, I thought he settled better and on the line he was getting home hard and I was happy with that.

“I think he’ll scrape into the Cup. If you look at the last eight or so normally a 77 rating would get you in, not by a long way but you’d probably get in.

“So a win would get us there for sure but hopefully he will still get there regardless.”

Kenning has booked Ashley Butler for the ride on the son of Sidestep but Lacey Morrison has already been locked in for the Cup ride most likely on the minimum.

While Beau Rain will be the centre of attention in Ladbrokes Mile, Kenning is also set to play a leading hand in the Equus Performance Lightning (1000m) with course specialist Roweiner’s Dance and the speedy Northern Express who share the 61kg topweight.

Roweiner’s Dance is Kenning’s pick of the two from a favourable draw in barrier 3 but will go into the race after a niggling hoof injury.

“He’s drawn nice but has a little issue with him. He’s got a quarter crack in his heel and he’s racing for the first time in bar plates,” Kenning said.

I’ve never raced a horse in bar plates and some trainers aren’t a wrap for them but I’ve seen horses win with them.

“It’s a problem now and I don’t want it to get any worse and the bar plates will stop that.

“He’s doing everything spot on. He’s got a good alley and if the special plates aren’t a deterrent to him he should be hard to beat.”

Kenning has stuck with apprentice Gabby Semmens despite the Lightning being a non-claim race.

The southern based rider has ridden Roweiner’s Dance four times for three wins and a third.

Northern Express is expected to also run well despite drawing out in barrier 10.