2 weeks Ago By Brent Godde
Team Hayes is set to wait until Friday morning before making a final call on whether Rheinberg will make the trip from Euroa to contest the $100,000 Wodonga Gold Cup, (1590m). or signup to continue reading Rheinberg is a dual acceptor and could head to Caulfield on Saturday instead to target the $200,000 Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes, (1400m) if he is scratched from Wodonga. The Kiwi import has drawn the widest barrier in the cup field which has been reduced to 11 runners after the early scratchings of Danish Fortune and Persian Dancer.
The stable's racing manager, Dom Rhoden, said the unfavourable barrier and what looked to be a tricky speed map were the two biggest hurdles to Rheinberg taking his place in the cup field. "We will keep a close eye on scratchings and make a final call on Friday morning," Rhoden said. "Obviously we have drawn off the track but if there are a few more scratchings, we will certainly consider running the horse, for sure.
"It looks to be a bit of a tricky speed map which we are also mindful of." If Rheinberg does make the trip to Wodonga, he looks to be one of the hardest to beat. The top-weight opened as the $4.
40-favourite when pre-post markets first opened on Wednesday but had drifted to $4.80 at lunchtime on Thursday. There has been some solid support for the Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained Bigolino who has firmed into the $4.
20-favourite after opening up as a $5.50-chance. Rheinberg started favourite in a $150,000 Benchmark 90 Handicap, (1400m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day where he finished fifth, beaten less than two lengths at his most recent start.
While the performance was a strong form pointer for a race like the Wodonga Cup, the other query on the Hayes galloper is he is yet to win over a mile with 1400m his pet distance. "If we make the trip to Wodonga, we expect the horse to be very competitive for sure," Rhoden said. "A slight query is all his form since he arrived in Australia from New Zealand has been over 1400m.
"But there are very few options for the horse at the moment and he has been a tricky horse to place in the right races. "He did run a place over a mile in New Zealand albeit a few years ago now and in maiden company." Koby Jennings has been booked to ride Rheinberg in the Wodonga Cup while Ben Allen will take the mount if he heads to Caulfied.
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