Fifteen stayers are in line to chase black type success at Royal Randwick on Saturday, following today’s release of 2016 Listed Christmas Cup nominations.
Beyond Thankful is one of three for Chris Waller in 2016 Christmas Cup nominations. Photo: Steve Hart
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller is set to be well represented in the mile-and-a-half classic, after including all of Beyond Thankful, Index Linked and Soviet Courage in 2016 Christmas Cup nominations.
A three-start preparation has so-far delivered a spattering of results for Beyond Thankful, who was last seen running on for second behind Malice in the Listed ATC Cup (2000m) on December 3rd.
Resuming for seventh in the Listed Ladies Day Vase (1400m) on November 3rd, the Whipper gelding ran eighth in the Topaz Handicap (1900m) in his only other start prior to the ATC Cup and will relish a step up to 2400m on Saturday.
Eight-year-old Index Linked wound back the clock through a smart winter preparation this year, but is yet to finish better than seventh through three starts this time in.
Running eighth in the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2200m) at Doomben on May 28th, the Dansili gelding placed fifth in the Group 2 Brisbane Cup (2400m) before returning to winning form in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2200m) most notably on June 25th.
Soviet Courage arguably poses Waller’s best chance of success in the Christmas Cup this year, but an ideal barrier draw could prove pivotal for the six-year-old.
Failing to beat a single runner home in the Girvan Waugh BM78 (2400m) on November 1st, the Dutch Art gelding progressed to third in the Cosmedic Central BM81 (2400m) before returning to winning form in the Sire Custodians BM84 (2400m) on November 26th.
Interestingly, only two other runners will carry winning form into the Christmas Cup; Bianajeuney and the Joe Pride-trained My Psychiatrist.
Breaking through for a maiden race win in the Tycass Pty Ltd Plate (2050m) on November 11th, Bianajeuney failed to produce much in the No Fuss Event Hire BM70 (2400m) on November 30th, but stormed home to win the Bet 365 BM64 (2000m) on December 8th.
Placing fifth in the Richmond Club T McCabe Memorial Plate (1500m) on November 3rd, My Psychiatrist ran third in the Australian Turf Club BM67 (1600m) before comfortably winning the ATC Members Christmas BM77 (2000m) on December 10th.
The 2016 Christmas Cup field and barrier draw is due to be completed and released by midday, Wednesday.
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2016 Christmas Cup Nominations
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x990111402 | ANTON EN AVANT | G | 7 | Stephen Lee | 83 |
| 2 | 854865×782 | BEYOND THANKFUL (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 99 |
| 3 | 346×532181 | BIANAJEUNEY | M | 4 | Saab Hasan | 62 |
| 4 | 2246x5x502 | DANJEU (IRE) | G | 6 | John P Thompson | 83 |
| 5 | 0x46832249 | DER MEISTER (IRE) | G | 6 | Paul Perry | 65 |
| 6 | 45737×3874 | DESTINY’S KISS | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 97 |
| 7 | 22296×2633 | IGGI POP (NZ) | G | 8 | Peter Robl | 90 |
| 8 | 585178×007 | INDEX LINKED (GB) | G | 9 | Chris Waller | 102 |
| 9 | 19125×6795 | LORD VAN PERCY (GB) | G | 7 | Darren Weir | 94 |
| 10 | 191×7531 | MY PSYCHIATRIST | M | 4 | Joseph Pride | 71 |
| 11 | 65721×3920 | NOT A GYPSY | G | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 73 |
| 12 | 588092×745 | POP ’N’ SCOTCH | G | 6 | Liam Birchley | 72 |
| 13 | 02846×2242 | PUCCINI (NZ) | H | 6 | Wayne Walters | 100 |
| 14 | 853×854731 | SOVIET COURAGE (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 83 |
| 15 | 326559×033 | SPANISH STRIDE | G | 4 | Amanda Turner & Mauro Poletti | 65 |
