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Canberra trainer Norm Gardner believes Coliseo is at the peak of his staying prowess leading into tomorrow’s (Friday) $170,000 Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup (2000m).
The six-year-old gelding, nicknamed ‘Jack,’ has done “terrific” since his last start half neck second to Court Connection in the Canberra Centenary Cup (2000m) on March 10.
“To be honest he probably peaked on his run 50-metres out in the Canberra Cup,” Gardner said. “He’s really come on so good since then. Done terrific. I couldn’t be happier with him.
“He’s ready to go. Whether he’s good enough, we’ll find out tomorrow but it looks a beautiful race for him.”
Coliseo will be Gardner’s first Albury Cup runner. Coliseo was selected as a yearling by Gardner and Canberra-based Stephen Cheung. The son of Arena was knocked down for $42,000 and raced by T C Bloodstock headed by Stephen’s Hong Kong-based farther Tony Cheung.
From 26 starts, Coliseo has recorded six wins, 10 placings and earned $232,400 in prizemoney. Included among his wins is last year’s Wagga Cup (2000m).
Gardner has little doubt Coliseo is a much better racehorse than prior to his Wagga Cup win.
“He had nearly five weeks off after the Manion Cup (March 31) before Wagga. He had a foot abscess and an interrupted preparation,” Gardner revealed.
“This time in we planned the Canberra Cup third-up with Albury in mind if he missed out. There are a lot of races ahead of him. I’ve got him in the Sydney Cup.”
Gardner has always had an opinion of Coliseo. The gelding missed most of his three-year-old racing due to a suspensory ligament injury and a botched spring campaign that ended after one run last September.
“He just didn’t come up in the spring,” Gardner said. “He had a long hard preparation before that and in hindsight I probably should have spelled him again without a start. His coat was awful coming out of winter but spelling during the spring worked wonders.”
Coliseo’s ability to relax in his races and sustain a long run are the gelding’s great attributes Gardner said.
“He just relaxes so well in his races and he can make a long run if needed,” he added. “His only problem is he’s a backmarker who needs a bit of speed on and luck.”
Gardner nominated the David Hayes-trained Auld Burns as his main danger.
“I don’t really know the Melbourne form but that horse of Hayes (Auld Burns) is a last start Flemington winner and looks like a horse on the way up,” Gardner said.
Hall of Fame trainer Hayes has won the Albury Cup with Growl (2010) and Extra Zero last year.
