Knoydart Bids For Bold Cup Run

Time/Date - 16.07hrs local time/Saturday, May 9, 2015
Racecourse/Country - Doomben/Australia
Surface/Distance - Turf/6f

Knoydart returns to Group One company for the Ubet BTC Cup over six furlongs at Doomben, Australia, on Saturday, May 9.

The John O'Shea-trained five-year-old finished strongly to take fourth over the same trip on his latest start in the Group Two SMEG Victory Stakes at Gold Coast on April 25.

He was a close sixth in the Group One Canadian Club Galaxy Stakes over five and a half furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on March 21 and came home fourth on his return from a break in the five-furlong Group Two Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes at Royal Randwick on March 7.

The five-year-old finished third in two of Australia's top Group One sprints last season - the six-furlong Lexus Newmarket Handicap at Flemington and Caulfield's Sportingbet Oakleigh Plate over half a furlong shorter.

John O'Shea said: "The way the Doomben track plays makes it difficult for any horse back in the field to come through at the finish, so Knoydart is going to need plenty of luck.

"He is in good order but has drawn awkwardly in gate nine. I thought his run at the Gold Coast was first class on a day where they couldn't make up ground but he flew to the line.

"There is plenty of pace here but he is going to need luck in the run."

Knoydart, with James McDonald up, opposes 13 other sprinters headed by Royal Randwick Group Three victor Our Boy Malachi, SMEG Victory Stakes winner Srikandi and Group One second Scissor Kick.