By Tony Megahey
Larrikin trainer Brett Cavanough is hoping a return to the familiar wide stretches at Royal Randwick on Saturday, and a cracking pace in a $60,000 TAB 1400m, Class 3 Highway Handicap, could enable topical tip, Last Try Wins to upset the favourites.
“If it was five miles or one, he’d probably still run second,” Cavanough quipped of the perennial placegetter. Last Try Wins is back sharply in distance, coming off powerful seconds in a recent 1800m Rosehill TAB Highway, and over 1600m at Scone.
Last Try Wins isn’t quite as familiar at headquarters as one of his part owners, former accomplished jockey Neville Voigt, his previous trainer.
“Look he’s on the quick back up, he’s hard race fit, his recent form says he’s not the worst in the race, and the big straight will suit him,” Cavanough said. “It’s still a country Class 3, and we’re in because there wasn’t anything else suitable.” While winning only 3 races but placed on 13 occasions, Last Try Wins has run creditable races at Randwick and at the provincials up to 2000 metres.
He’ll carry 58.5kg for Glyn Schofield on Saturday, and barrier 12 is of no consequence as Last Try Wins is a backmarker.
But they are hoping the speedier runners might “overcook it” up front and enable him to close strongly. Again prolific series winners Matthew Dunn with Care to Think, and Matthew Dale with On The Fiddle provide the favourites.
They will be pressed by recent Warwick Farm Highway winner and top weight Nic’s Vendetta.
On The Fiddle was nominated for a recent Highway, but instead accepted at Goulburn where he was highly impressive winning over 1300m, albeit in a much weaker Class One and against seven opponents.
Care To Think, an unlucky fourth in a Randwick Highway back in January, has progressed with a second in the Grafton Guineas and also runner up on the Sunshine Coast.
View the fields, form and race replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting here.