In-form gelding cup bound

Consistent stayer Prentice is headed for one of three upcoming country cups after continuing his stellar Great Southern form with another win for Bunbury co-trainers Peter and Matt Giadresco at Percy Spencer Racecourse last Thursday.

In the transferred meeting from Mt Barker Turf Club, Prentice sat midfield in the Seacorp Handicap (1930m) for jockey Mitchell Pateman before fighting out a driving finish with Steve Wolfe runners Mr Pago and Gauged in the final 100m.

A vigorous Pateman lifted the Blackfriars gelding up in a tight photo finish as he prevailed by a nose over Mr Pago while Gauged had flashed down the outside to be third a short head away.

It was a third win for Prentice in the Great Southern this season and second at Percy Spencer Racecourse, setting up a crack at either the Mt Barker or Albany cups while a raid at his hometown Bunbury Cup is not out of the question.

“He looks a likely Mt Barker Cup horse,” Matt Giadresco said.

“The Mt Barker, Albany and Bunbury cups are all pretty close together.

“We’ll nominate him for all the cups and just pick one.

“Getting the right rider has helped with his form, Mitch just keeps riding winners for us and Prentice keeps bobbing up, which is great.”

The $35,000 Mt Barker Cup (2000m) appears the easiest option for Prentice on March 18 while the $120,000 Bunbury Cup (2200m) on March 25 and $100,000 Albany Cup (2100m) on April 1 are tougher options.

Prentice, who won the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes as a two-year-old, has won seven of his 52 career starts.

Meanwhile, talented sprinter Scottish Trader made it two wins in two starts this campaign after driving through late to win the BP Roadhouse Williams Handicap (1230m).

Prepared by Paige Kenney, the six-year-old mare was an impressive first-up winner at York on February 9 and rose 1.5kg but again proved too strong to make it three wins from five second-up attempts.

Jockey Takahide Ikenushi rode Scottish Trader perfectly to be midfield and then sprint home strongly to down Force Element and Sixpence Spent by long heads.