Mark Wilcox is seeking a second consecutive Workers Club Goulburn Cup (457m) this afternoon and the owner-trainer has two excellent chances in the shape of Natural Player and Highly Respected.
The pair both qualified for the final with superb runs in last Tuesday’s heats and have strong claims for the $10,000-to-the-winner decider.
Natural Player is a country track specialist with a formidable 26 wins from 40 starts to his name.
He has seven previous victories at Goulburn, appears to have drawn excellently in box two and is ideally suited to this distance.
If either of the pair win on Sunday it will be the second straight Goulburn Cup for Wilcox, with the Bringelly trainer preparing Knocka's Return to win last year's cup in near record time.
“If Natural Player has everything go his way in the Cup he is definitely capable of matching the time Knocka’s Return recorded in last year’s win," Wilcox said.
Highly Respected is from the same prolific Knocka Norris x Winning Shiraz litter and also has a good claims from box five.
He has not drawn as kindly as his brother but has enjoyed plenty of success at the track and with 22 wins from 47 starts has compiled a commendable record.
“Highly Respected has only just come back from an injury spell so although his heat time was only 26.19sec he is can improve plenty," Wilcox said.
“He was sidelined for a couple of months with a bruised tendon on a stopper bone and did it tough to win his heat.’’
All eight finalists have claims in what is an intriguing final.
Super sprinter Silent Effective (pictured, box six) looks the strongest chance on paper but has plenty of pace inside him to overcome.
He will need to ping the lids but the Bulli track record holder has been among NSW’s most exciting 2014 performers and can win here.
Box Seven’s Fire Elusive has been a rock steady recent performer, placing in 10 of his last 11 races.
He has little form at the track but looks very well boxed.
Clonakilty Man (box one) is on his home track and is fresh after returning from injury, but trainer Ruth Matic said he races better from boxes three or five.
JODIE Lord’s kennel has been firing recently and it would not be surprising if her charge Pierro Kade triumphs from box three.
The son of Collision x Neat Irish has three city wins to his name and has been very consistent recently, although his record at Goulburn is uninspiring.
Jason Magri’s Classy Sahara (box eight) is another solid sprinter who won her heat from the outside.
She has a great record racing around the 450m distance but may be slightly out of her depth here.
All Too Fancy has been a solid country performer and has built a solid record of 10 wins in 31 starts for trainer Dennis Barnes.
She may have too much to overcome from box four here but as a double Wentworth Park winner certainly commands respect.
For Goulburn Sunday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
