Tim Martin has declared Scouting Wide will make the Newcastle Gold Cup a genuine staying test as the son of Zabeel looks to bounce back from a disappointing weekend showing.Martin was left scratching his head as to why Scouting Wide weakened to a disappointing sixth in the Group Three Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.However the stayer pulled up really well from his disappointing showing and the Rosehill trainer could see no reason not to continue on as planned to the Group T
Tim Martin has declared Scouting Wide will make the Newcastle Gold Cup a genuine staying test as the son of Zabeel looks to bounce back from a disappointing weekend showing.
Martin was left scratching his head as to why Scouting Wide weakened to a disappointing sixth in the Group Three Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
However the stayer pulled up really well from his disappointing showing and the Rosehill trainer could see no reason not to continue on as planned to the Group Three 2300m feature at Newcastle.
It was anticipated that Scouting Wide would go to the front in the Kingston Town Stakes but he was forced to chase Herculian Prince all the way and weakened in the run to the line.
"Coming to the turn I thought he'd run second to Herculian Prince but to stop like he did in the last 100 metres was disappointing," Martin said.
"He's done well since and he'll run at Newcastle.
"He'll go to the front, it'll be a truly-run Newcastle Cup, and if he doesn't run well then we'll have to reassess things.
"If he had run second or third on the weekend I would be declaring him for the Newcastle Cup but he ran sixth beaten six lengths and his last 100 metres was bad.
"The jury is out."
The six-year-old gelding will be ridden by regular jockey Tye Angland and will jump from barrier three.
The Newcastle Gold Cup distance is also more to Scouting Wide's liking with the gelding a three-time winner at 2400m.
Chris Waller trained the quinella in the Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) less than two weeks ago when Hawk Island defeated Snow Alert and the pair are well fancied to fight out the finish again at Newcastle.
Hawk Island has won his past four starts and heads the TAB Sportsbet market at $4.40 ahead of the Gai Waterhouse-trained Stratofortress at $5.
Snow Alert and Scouting Wide are on the next line of betting at $6.
Last year's winner Streetfighter is back to defend his crown.
The seven-year-old Terry Mathrick-trained gelding hasn't won since his last year's tough Cup victory.
The Wyong Gold Cup day form is also anticipated to stand up in the other feature race at Newcastle on Thursday, with the Peter Snowden-trained Brasileira favourite for the Listed Tibbie Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares.
Brasileira held off Group One winner Once Were Wild to win the Listed Mona Lisa Plate (1350m) at Wyong.