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Plymouth Road is likely to back-up in the Listed $125,000 Winter Cup after a dominant all-the-way win at Royal Randwick.
Trainer Matthew Smith said provided Plymouth Road pulls up well from his win in the Evergreen Turf Handicap (2400m) there is every likelihood the stayer will race again next Saturday.
“He has been building up to that win,’’ Smith said. “We got the right conditions today, a wet track and 2400m. He was perfectly ridden by Adam (Hyeronimus), he controlled the race and got going at the right time.
“This is his time of the year so we have to make the most of it. He is rock-hard fit so we will definitely look at the Winter Cup at Rosehill next week.’’
Plymouth Road was never seriously challenged and scored by 2½ lengths from a game Only Tiger with nearly four lengths to favourite Solo Mission. Hyeronimus said Plymouth Road wanted to go a little fiercely early but soon settled into a nice rhythm.
“I gradually increased the tempo from the half mile (a800m) and we were at our top from the 500m,’’ Hyeronimus said. “He was very strong through the line.’’
Plymouth Road is raced by Terry Henderson’s OTI Syndicate who have plans to send Smith a recently purchased French stayer to train.