Botti flying Kiwi flag in Jericho Cup

Media Release - Wednesday November 23

Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers is no stranger to success at Warrnambool and he will be looking to extend that record on Sunday with Botti in the A$288,000 Jericho Cup (4600m).

The well-travelled galloper booked his ticket across the Tasman with victory in the NZB Airfreight Road To Jericho (3000m) at Riccarton last month and Myers said Botti has thrived since arriving at his good friend Patrick Payne’s Plumpton barn.

Botti will be flying the New Zealand flag in the A$288,000 Jericho Cup (4600m) at Warrnambool on Sunday. Photo: Race Images South

“He has done everything right,” Myers said.

“Patrick Payne took him down and gave him a run around the course yesterday (Tuesday) and everything seems okay.”

The son of Jakkalberry has won three of his last four starts, finishing runner-up in his other outing, and Myers said he has appreciated the return to flat racing after a stint over hurdles.

“He has come right,” Myers said. “He is going well on the flat, but he is not a good jumper and loses too much ground at the jumps.

“His form is good, but he is one of those horses where if the jump doesn’t come up right then he loses a length at every fence.”

Advertisement

While most of Myers’ success has come in the form of jumpers in Australia, he said he would love to add the Jericho Cup to his mantle

Inaugurated in 2018, the Jericho Cup is open to Australian and New Zealand-bred horses only to mark the ANZAC origins of the race, commemorating the light horse involvement in World War I and run on the fourth Sunday after the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

The original Jericho Cup was run in 1918 over three miles through desert sands and its 100th anniversary was marked with the introduction of the modern Jericho Cup.

The New Zealand influence on the Jericho Cup has quickly taken hold, with the first three winners all bred in New Zealand – High Mode, Ablaze and Count Zero, before Australian bred Wil John landed the prize last year.

But there has not yet been a New Zealand-trained winner, and the pandemic prevented any Kiwi involvement in both 2020 and 2021, so Myers is keen to make his mark with Botti, who will be ridden by Shaun Fannin and carry 70kg top-weight.

“It would be a great race to win, they are doing a great job over there with the race. It is getting stronger and stronger every year,” Myers said.

No plans have been made following Sunday, although Myers said there is a possibility Botti could remain in Australia.

“We will see what happens and see what the owners want to do, they might want to leave him over there,” he said.

Meanwhile, Myers is set to have two runners at his home track on Saturday, including Mondorani in the Listed Wanganui Cup (2040m).

The winner of last year’s Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m), Mondorani finished ninth in this year’s edition of the race, taken out by stablemate Aljay, and Myers said the wet weather has been the biggest instigator for the eight-year-old to run this weekend.

“He is only in because it is wet,” Myers said. “We have had a lot of rain and I think Wanganui was under water today, so it will be interesting to see what happens.

“The wet track won’t hurt him and you always have to support the locals.”

Myers’ other runner will be Duke of Plumpton in the Wanganui Motors And The Dyke Family 1600.

He will like the wet,” said Myers, who shares in the ownership if the seven-year-old with Patrick Payne.

Myers is looking forward to summer racing, particularly the West Coast circuit, which he has enjoyed plenty of success over the last few years.

“We have got quite a few young ones, a lot of two and three-year-olds. Something will come through and I will try and get a few ready for the Coast,” he said.

“Aljay can go around in the Greymouth Cup and then go to Auckland. Kopua can go there as well.” – NZ Racing Desk

 

 

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Luberon Heads Cambridge Stud Saturday Charge
Lance Noble will attempt to add to a strong run of spring form for Cambridge Stud when he sends out five well-credentialled runners in Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s black and gold colours at Pukekohe on Saturday.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Halo Racing Reduction features in November (Late) catalogue
Shares in reigning G1 Caulfield Cup champion Duke de Sessa, G1 Toorak Hcp winner Attrition and tomorrow’s G1 Railway Stakes favourite Light Infantry Man headline an exciting Inglis Digital November (Late) Online Sale.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
$2,000 Gavelhouse Bargain Keeps on Winning!
The Grey Goose continued to belie her purchase price last start when recording her fifth win at Wingatui, bringing her career earnings to more than $225,000.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.