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The weather has put trainer Guy Walter between a rock and a hard place preparing his rising stayer Hardbreak Hotel for a crack at the Canberra and Albury Cups later this month.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Walter has mapped out starts in the $200,000 Canberra Cup (2000m) on Sunday week and the $170,000 Commercial Club Albury Gold Cup (2000m) on March 23 for the rapidly improving Hardbreak Hotel but fears his plans will be disrupted by the current wet weather.,
Hardbreak Hotel recorded his second win from his last three starts over 1600m at Warwick Farm at his last start on February 18 and is an acceptor for Saturday's $100,000 Parramatta Cup (2000m) at Rosehill with Nathan Berry booked to ride.
However Walter said he would be reluctant to Hardbreak Hotel on Saturday on a heavy track as the gelding has been unplaced in three previous attempts on tracks rated slow or heavy.
“Hardbreak Hotel has the Canberra Cup and Albury Gold Cup as targets at this stage,” Walter said.
“However the wet weather has thrown us into turmoil in regards to getting horses set for specific races.
“Hardbreak Hotel will miss Saturday's race if the track is rain affected. He will then probably go to Warwick Farm over a mile the following week and miss the Canberra Cup.”
Walter also has Digital Fortress and Al Dhafra, another acceptor at Rosehill on Saturday, under consideration for the Canberra and Albury Cups.
The Canberra Cup will be run on the same day as the Black Opal Stakes for the first time this year after previously being held in November.
Digital Fortress made his return to racing early this year after being off the scene for 12 months with a fetlock injury.
Al Dhafra, winner of five of his 14 starts and Group placed as a three-year-old, has raced twice January..
The five-year-old gelding settled at the tail of the field at his most recent start at Rosehill on February 11 and finished well for fourth behind Star Of Octagonal. He has since had an easy 1200m barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday.
