Latest News

Defying the odds has become a habit for Murraguldrie who can add to his record by snaring the $50,000 Kings Hotel Bathurst Cup (1800m) on Friday.

Murraguldrie is well up to adding his name to the list of past winners as he continues his path towards a possible start in the Canberra Cup in early March.

Trainer Rob Potter and his staff have put endless hours into ensuring Murraguldrie remains in one piece after three individual setbacks which have curtailed his career. The fact Murraguldrie is racing let alone winning is testimony to Potter’s training and the galloper’s courage, according to his trainer.

“He has had three separate leg injuries to both front legs – the first which kept him out for 14 months,” Potter said. "He was out for four months another time with a chipped fetlock, but this time in he is 100 per cent. I have to monitor his training – he doesn’t gallop much and does a lot of pacework and swimming.”

Leading country jockey Mathew Cahill will ride Murraguldrie whose form this preparation includes a win at Warwick Farm in December.

The gelding, who has the physique and the right temperament to overcome adversity according to his trainer, is ideally suited by the cup distance. He ran third first-up at Bathurst with Cahill in the saddle and while the track may not be ideal for his style of racing, Murraguldrie will be right in the finish, according to Potter.

“He can get back and finish off but I’m hoping to have him settle about fourth or fifth,” Potter said. “His last run in town was very good. I scratched him from Randwick on Thursday because of the wet track even though he handles it I need to make sure he races on a good surface so he will run at Bathurst.

“My goal is the Canberra Cup and even if he could make the field it would be a feat in itself. It’s fair to say the horse shouldn’t be racing with the leg injuries he has had. He is just a beautiful horse who tries his heart out.”

Murraguldrie’s main opposition could come from Uncle Sugar and Overdane who filled the quinella in the Cowra Cup.

The other feature race at Bathurst is the Bill Aspros Cup named in honour of one of the region’s best ever jockeys. There will be eight races on Friday with the track rated a good 4.

View the final fields with full form & video replays for Bathurst here