VICTORIA Derby runner-up Extra Zero will dodge superstar Denman and try to emulate Denman's sire Lonhro by winning the Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.It says: Wollongong owner Rob Bergstrom said his stayer lacked the turn of foot to match it with Denman, Linton and Set For Fame in the Australian Guineas and trainer David Hayes is happy to take on the older horses over 2000 metres.''The three-year-olds this year are outstanding and we just couldn't mat
VICTORIA Derby runner-up Extra Zero will dodge superstar Denman and try to emulate Denman's sire Lonhro by winning the Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
It says: Wollongong owner Rob Bergstrom said his stayer lacked the turn of foot to match it with Denman, Linton and Set For Fame in the Australian Guineas and trainer David Hayes is happy to take on the older horses over 2000 metres.
''The three-year-olds this year are outstanding and we just couldn't match the sprint of a horse like Denman,'' Bergstrom said.
''[Extra Zero] did run second in the derby and we have always thought he would be better suited at 2000m and beyond, so why not take on the older horses? Three-year-olds get a good weight advantage and our horse is on the rise.''
Only eight three-year-olds have won the Australian Cup including Saintly, Dulcify and Gay Icarus, with most trainers preferring to keep young horses to the classic races.
However, Hayes has always been confident of Extra Zero's ability to match the best at weight-for-age and had the Australian Cup in mind after the Victoria Derby.