Trish Dunell
Cambridge galloper Gundown could breakthrough for his first victory at black-type level on Saturday when he lines-up in the Gr.1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie.
The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained gelding has been runner-up at Group level in the Gr.3 Manawatu Classic (2000m) and Gr.2 Championship Stakes (2100m) last season and his connections are hoping he can go one better on Saturday.
The son of High Chaparral heads into the two-mile feature in winning form after taking out the Nathans Memorial (2200m) at Ellerslie last weekend and his trainers believe he will be well suited to the 3200m distance of Saturday’s contest.
“He looks like a horse that might get the Auckland Cup distance,” Baker said. “He is a promising young stayer and he’s bred to stay.
“He’s had a good background this season, so he’s done the mileage, he’s very fit.”
Baker said Gundown will likely be ridden off the pace and is hoping his charge can get some luck in the run home.
“He gets back in running and when you are a back runner you run into problems and he has had a bit of bad luck throughout his career,” Baker said.
“But that’s the way it goes, that’s his racing pattern.”