Farag bids for back-to-back Jericho Cup wins against significant weight challenge
Defending Jericho Cup champion Farag faces a tougher weight burden than his dominant 20-length romp last year as he bids for back-to-back victories.
Relatively speaking, locally-trained galloper Farag faces a tougher task than last year in his bid for a second triumph in the $300,000 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool.
Farag carried 69kg to win last year’s edition of Australia’s longest flat race and rises 1kg for Sunday’s race, but trainer Aaron Purcell said there was a different weight challenge confronting the eight-year-old.
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“Last year, there was one or two that carried more than him and quite a few that carried similar weights to him,” Purcell said.
“This year, he’s up in the weights on his own and there’s only a couple that carry more than 65 (kg) so he’s giving everybody a bit of weight.”
Farag’s rivals will need to find 20 lengths to beat the gelding on Sunday after the son of Sacred Falls strolled to a massive win a year ago.
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Purcell said it was difficult to assess whether Farag was going better than he was 12 months ago but the stayer finished third at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day before winning over 3762m at Geelong in his Jericho Cup lead-up runs.
“It’s not going to be easy but we’re definitely confident that he’s going well,” Purcell said.
“It’s not an easy race with the amount of effort to get him fit and the rider has got to make a lot of good decisions on the way around.
“Will (Gordon) is a good jockey and we’re really looking forward to the race.”
Purcell could also have a recent cheap online buy in the Jericho Cup if The Claimant gets a start as the third emergency.
Purcell paid $15,000 for the seven-year-old in an online sale earlier this month.
The Claimant qualified for the Jericho Cup with a placing in a 3200m race in Queensland on Victoria Derby before his previous trainer Adam Campton sold the gelding online.
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The Claimant could debut for Purcell in the Jericho Cup but was more likely to run in the Jericho Cup Consolation (3400m).
“There’s a bit to work out for us because he’s not in the race (Jericho Cup) yet but we’re still learning about the horse and it will be a bit of fun for the owners,” Purcell said.
“The owners have wanted to have a runner in the race since it started and they’re jumping people that come to Warrnambool in May every year and they’ve also been coming to the Jericho as well.
“They knew about him online and knew about his run in the Queensland qualifying race so they contacted me and we worked something out to buy him.”
Originally published as Farag bids for back-to-back Jericho Cup wins against significant weight challenge
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