Trainer peeks at cup

By Stuart Teather
CRANBOURNE-owned horse Just Look wrapped up a lengthy racing season last Saturday with a tough run at Caulfield, but eager eyes have already turned to the Cranbourne Cup later this year.
The David Sottile-owned horse finished seventh in his final race of the summer/autumn campaign in the Group Three Easter Cup at Caulfield, disappointing punters who backed him in to $10.
One person who was not disappointed was trainer Lyn Tolson, who said her rising star was just a bit past his peak form.
“We thought we’d give it a go, and we weren’t disappointed with the horse,” she said. “It’s like any athlete, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a horse or a person, they can only peak for so long. Going into a Group Three race, you really need them at their peak, not on the way down.”
Tolson had faith in her horse after he cleaned up at Yarra Valley two weeks before, winning the Yarra Valley Cup.
That win was Just Look’s fourth in ten races throughout the season, including a listed victory in the Lord Stakes at Caulfield, on Boxing Day, and a third-placing in the Group Two Blamey Stakes at Flemington.
The five-year-old gelding will now head to the paddock for an extended spell, while his connections set about planning his next campaign.
Tolson said because of the horse’s Cranbourne connections, the Cranbourne Cup was in their sights. “I haven’t sat down and worked it out, but they did mention the Cranbourne Cup, they’d love to win that one,” she said. “We all want our horses to be in the group level, he’s shown he’s thereabouts. Whether he’s top range, I don’t know, but I think he’s into Group Three level for sure. (We will) possibly put a nomination in for the Caulfield Cup, but that will just be a nomination in case he comes into that level.”