By MATT NICHOLLS
STEPHEN Theodore is hoping his golden cups run continues on Sunday when he aims to saddle up Flying Hussler in the $200,000 Cranbourne Cup.
Theodore was in red hot form last week when he trained the Bairnsdale and Benalla Cup winners within a 20-minute window.
The latter to triumph, Flying Hussler, is expected to back-up this Sunday as Theodore makes a bid to win his hometown feature race for the first time.
“He’s pulled up really well so far, I’ll probably give him a gallop on Thursday and make a decision whether he’ll run just before acceptances,” the trainer said.
“Having had a look at the nominations, I definitely think it’s a race he can win, especially if he produces the form he did at Benalla.”
Under the riding of Craig Newitt, Flying Hussler had a big lead at the home turn and ran his rivals into the ground to win by five lengths.
After the race, Newitt said the plan had been to sit second or third then “get going early” but when Flying Hussler pinged out of the gates he opted to take him straight across to the lead.
“He came straight back underneath me and relaxed and when I asked him he was there for me,” Newitt said.
“To his credit he picked up and savaged the line really well.”
Theodore said it was “unbelievable” to win two country cups on the same afternoon – but he might not be finished on the circuit for the spring.
“On that win today he (Flying Hussler) might earn himself a run in the Cranbourne Cup,” Theodore said.
“He’s got remarkable recovery powers … he’s just a pleasure to have around.”
Popular broadcaster Rick McIntosh said midway through his Benalla Cup call that Flying Hussler had won “everything bar the Manangatang egg-and-spoon race”.
Previously trained at Warrnambool by Matthew Williams, Flying Husser joined the Theodore stable in the late autumn.
He’s had seven starts for Cranbourne trainer, yielding five wins and two placings.
Theodore said he thought the turnaround could be attributed to fixing the gelding’s hock problems.
“I do less galloping and more swimming with my horses, so I would say that has helped him,” Theodore said.
“Getting him right has allowed me to race him over more distance, too.”
After winning in Adelaide over 2000m early last month, Theodore took a risk by dropping him back in distance to compete in the $60,000 Golden Nugget at Ballarat, which he won with ease.
“He’s really hitting form at the right time,” the trainer said.
Flying Hussler will face stiff opposition in what is shaping as another strong Cranbourne Cup.
Lightly raced staying prospect Star Rolling will be one of the favoured runners as he uses the feature race as a build-up to the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on 2 November.
Craig Widdison, who trains Star Rolling at Whittlesea with Peter Morgan, said the four-year-old gelding had been nominated for the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, but would likely race at Cranbourne.
“We’ve got a fair opinion of the horse and we’re leaning to the Cranbourne Cup instead,” he said.
“Our original aim was the Caulfield Cup, but we had to change our plans as his rating wasn’t high enough.
“Not many horses target the Mackinnon – it’s normally a back-up option – so we think it’s an advantage for us to be aiming at the race.”
Star Rolling has won four of his six starts, the latest an impressive victory at Morphettville in Adelaide over 1800m.
“Everything we ask him to do he does with flying colours. He’ll be tough to beat on Saturday,” Widdison said.
Stiff competition will likely come from the Mick Price-trained Pakal, while English import and Melbourne Cup hopeful Ruscello is likely to make his Australian debut in the Cup for trainer Ed Walker.
Perth Cup winner Talent Show, trained by Graeme Ballantyne, the father of Fremantle Dockers forward Hayden, has also been nominated for the Cranbourne Cup.
Cranbourne Turf Club chief executive Neil Bainbridge said he was pleased the entries for the Cup.
“You always want a strong field and this year we’ve got a real international flavour with the likes of Pakal and Ruscello,” he said.
“We also have a genuine hometown chance with Flying Hussler, while the likes of Shoreham and Mourinho have been set for the Cranbourne Cup for some time.”
Bainbridge said the rail would be in the true position on Sunday and hoped the track to be in the dead four range.
“We’ve got racing on the Friday night, headed by the Pinker Pinker Plate, and the rail will be out nine metres, but it will return to its true position for Cup day,” he said.
