Horse Racing

Punters have been warned not to back Rekindled Interest too heavily for Friday night’s 2011 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley with trainer Jim Conlan saying the in-form four-year-old would more likely run in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Sunday.

Rekindled Interest will more likely contest the Turnbull Stakes 2011 over the JRA Cup this weekend

Redoute’s Choice gelding Rekindled Interest was one of 10 stayers accepted into the final field for the $200,000 Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) on the Manikato Stakes night programme at the Valley.

Drawn on the rails in barrier one with Dwayne Dunn to ride, Rekindled Interest was last seen defeating a star-studded field including Alcopop and Whobegotyou in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 10.

The Dato win was Rekindled Interest’s third start and second success at the Valley following on from their tidy victory over subsequent Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer in the Group 2 AAMI Vase (2040m) last October.

Despite their nice Moonee Valley record, Conlan will likely scratch Rekindled Interest from the JRA Cup 2011 field in favour of the Turnbull Stakes due to the recent rain in Melbourne.

“I’m pretty sure we’ll go to the Turnbull,” Conlan said.

“The reason for going to the Turnbull are that it’s a Group 1….and it’s worth more money.

“Also under the conditions he is in fairly well with 55.5kg so it looks a logical final lead-up race to him.

“This is obviously important but it’s not his grand final, that’s on Cox Plate Day.

“The option is open to run in the Caulfield Cup but its most likely going to be the Cox Plate.

“He loves the Valley and he’s terrific at 2040 metres.”

Not yet officially withdrawn from the JRA Cup or its betting markets, Rekindled Interest remains at the top of the odds for the twilight feature at a quote of $2.90 through Luxbet.

They are also one of the best-backed hopefuls in the pre-field markets for the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 paying $10 at Luxbet.

One horse that has been scratched from the JRA Cup field is the Robert Hickmott-trained At First Sight.

An early Caulfield and Melbourne Cups fancy, imported Galileo stallion At First Sight ran an impressive last-start second to December Draw in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

After being accepted for both the JRA Cup and $500,000 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), At First Sight will get their chance to turn the tables of Caulfield Cup favourite December Draw when they take them on again at Flemington on Sunday.

At First Sight was drawn in barrier eight of 10 and their scratching means that Southern Speed will now start from barrier eight and Silent Surround comes into barrier nine.

Following Rekindled Interest in the JRA Cup odds at Luxbet is fellow 57.5kg topweight Linton.

Linton is yet another dual acceptor for the JRA Cup – Turnbull Stakes, but is unlikely to follow their stablemate At First Sight into Sunday’s showdown at this stage.

After opening at a quote of $4.80 to win the JRA Cup on Friday, Galileo five-year-old Linton has been backed into $3.90 at Luxbet and has drawn well with barrier two.

Two other hopefuls are under double-figures in the JRA Cup field and odds at Luxbet:

• Southern Speed ($5.50 into $4.60) – Smart south Australian mare, Turnbull acceptor as well but connections leaning towards Moonee Valley at this stage, comes off a last-start second in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) so has form in open company and was also good over the mile here when fourth to King’s Rose in the Stocks Stakes

• Domesky ($9 into $6) – Michael Kent-trained Domesday gelding ran seventh to Rekindled Interest in the lead-up to this and looks best for a Place not the Win here, has been competitive on Slow tracks too so that works in their favour

Other notable 2011 Tatts JRA Cup acceptors that could claim an upset come race night include Bart Cummings’ last-start Ballarat winner Cosmonaut ($21 into $16) and the Dean Binaisse-trained Carnero ($26 into $20).

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2011 Tatts JRA Cup Field, Barriers & Weights