COROWA: Souquet Sets Sights On Fourth Cup

Story By Tony White

Friday, 6 March 2009: Accomplished heavyweight rider Nick Souquet is keen on the chances of Stash Of Gold in the Corowa RSL Corowa Cup on Sunday.

Wodonga-based Souquet won three successive Corowa Cups in the 1990s, the latest on Sir Knight for Richard Freyer in 1999.

“I haven't had much luck there recently but I reckon Stash Of Gold is the best ride I've had in the Cup for a long while,” Souquet said.

“He's not a real big horse but he runs a strong mile and Corowa suits him.”

Trained by Daniel McCarthy at Wangaratta, Stash Of Gold has a great record over 1600m and at Corowa, a track traditionally suited to on pace runners.

The six-year-old gelding has won two from two over the track and distance and an overall 1600m record of four wins and four placing's from nine starts.

"He went well last start at Wagga with a lot of weight and he's the sort of horse that once he gets down in weight has a great chance,” Souquet said.

“Given even luck, he's right in the race.”

Stash Of Gold is coming off a half length second to the Greg McDermott-trained Pyang in a Rating 77 Hcp (1600m) at Wagga on February 28. Stash Of Gold was only collared 40m from the post.

The gelding drops 4kg to 55.5kg and is rated the $6 favourite in a wide open Corowa Cup market.

McDermott, who saddles up Pyang in the cup, agreed the Victorian was the horse to beat.

“My bloke isn't really suited at Corowa, he gets back and will need all the favours,” he said. “Stash Of Gold is definitely the horse to beat.

“Fortunately there's normally good pace on in the Cup and that will help us.

“Pyang is racing really well. We just need luck.”

Pyang will be ridden by three kilo claimer Joel Maconachie.

"The boy has ridden him good in his last two races, that's why he's on him again. His claim helps,” McDermott added.

Two starts back Pyang finished third to the Brett Cavanough-trained Key To Success over 1600m at Albury on February 20.

Cavanaugh had Key To Success entered at Canberra on Sunday but elected to tackle the Corowa Cup instead with a view towards the $125,000 Albury Cup (2000m) on March 27.

COROWA CUP BETTING (Assessed by Chris Scholtz): $6 Stash Of Gold; $7 Incentate, Key To Success, $8 Pyang, Fixed Bayonets; $9 Trevbar, Marbe Lad; $11 Allenby's Mate; $13 Eddy Diablo; $15 Banksdale; $21 Final Habit; $26 Beltana, Jeune's Glory.