The Ipswich Cup proved to be a one-act affair with David Vandyke’s Maurus (above centre) having the race sewn up a long-way from home and he looks set to take all the beating once again on home soil in the Caloundra Cup (Race 7) over 2400m.
Indeed, this may prove to be his swansong for the stable with connections this week mooting a relocation for the stayer to Melbourne ahead of a tilt at the major Cups.
Against a similar calibre field, we’re struggling to see how anything can beat him and the odds-on quote looks merited.
Index Linked won this race last year and will look to repeat the dose having caused somewhat of a boilover with his win in the Tatts Cup last Saturday.
He looms as the main danger to the hotpot but rises 3kgs in weight this week and will likely have to cover some extra ground having drawn out in barrier 11.
Michael Nolan’s Jumbo Prince meets Maurus 2kgs better at the weights but would need to improve to make up the three and half lengths out of the Ipswich Cup while Tony Gollan, who this week broke his own metropolitan record, will be represented by last start winner Amexed.