Louth Park trainer Ken Lantry is out to make the most of his first Newcastle Cup when Ambivalent lines up at Broadmeadow Racecourse today.
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Lantry’s maiden run in the $175,000 group 3 feature has met with excitement and the realisation of the task at hand despite Ambivalent winning last start at Rosehill on August 30.
“It was a good win down in Sydney, but this is a big step up in class,” Lantry said.
“You don’t get many chances in races like this so you don’t want to take it for granted.
“I’ve been in all the other big Newcastle races, but this is my first time in the cup, so you want to make the most of it.”
The five-year-old grey mare, to be ridden by Michael Bell, has drawn barrier nine for the 2300 metre race, which highlights day two of the annual Newcastle Jockey Club spring carnival that kicked off yesterday with the Cameron Handicap.
Lantry said he wasn’t fazed by Ambivalent’s starting point but rather her high-calibre opponents, including Gai Waterhouse’s Travolta and Peter Moody’s Wish Come True.
“I’m not worried about the barrier, only the opposition,” Lantry said.
“There are a few chances and it’s a pretty hard race ... we are in the middle there and will settle with the second half of the pack.”
Lantry said Ambivalent, which will carry 54 kilograms, would need to produce her career-best and have a little bit of luck to claim victory this afternoon.
“There has got to be a little bit of pace on, and I think there will be, for her to run right up there but to win I think she needs to be at her very best and a few of the others need to be below their best,” Lantry said.
“But she tries hard and deserves a go.”
Lantry said Ambivalent, with four wins and 11 placings from 23 starts, could also be aided by some overnight rain.
“A couple of inches of rain wouldn’t hurt either,” Lantry said.
“I think we can handle it and some others wouldn’t but I can’t really see that happening.”
The Newcastle Cup jumps at 4.40pm.
Horseshoe Bend trainer Peter Eggleston started the Newcastle Jockey Club spring carnival in winning fashion yesterday with Just A Diva taking out the first event.
Just A Diva, with jockey Chris O’Brien on board, paid $18 for the win and $4.40 for the place after finishing ahead of No Equal and Angel Miss in the 900 metre maiden plate at Broadmeadow Racecourse.
Later in the day the $150,000 group 3 Cameron Handicap went to the John Thompson-trained and Blake Shinn-ridden Hooked.
Hooked, which is reportedly for sale, beat Rugged Cross and Mighty Lucky and has now shortened to odds of $15 for the Epsom at Randwick on October 4.