If Cape Byron is right on target this weekend in Wyong as coaches Marc & Mitchell Conners expect, it will force a choice between focusing on the Provincial-Midway Championships or trying to qualify for the Big Dance in a row.
It’s a decision that will have to be made after the Bronte Simpson Memorial Midway Handicap (1600m) as it will be Cape Byron’s 20th start and victory would be his fifth.
Coach Marc ConnersCredit: Simon Alekna
Those are the eligibility limits for the rich Provincial-Midway Championships series, but co-coach Mitchell Conners said it’s a good problem to have.
“It’s something we have to look at if it runs well,” Conners said. “We wouldn’t be worried looking at any National Cups coming up. Any of those races in four or five weeks. We’re not worried about traveling horses if we think they’re a chance.”
“There’s big money in the Provincial-Midway Championships and the Big and Little Dance, so if you think you have a chance on a horse in those races, you’ve got to look at them.”
Next month’s Bega Cup (1600m) at the Sapphire Coast is a Big Dance-eligible race that could appeal to the Conners camp.
The five-year-old was the first runner and winner of the training partnership when he succeeded at the Hawkesbury in late September and has since won again at that track.
He came up to Midway level at Rosehill a month ago and was narrowly beaten by Missile Seeker in a 1500m contest.
“Nothing got him into the race, he got there too early and waited to see what would happen to him,” he said. “Once that horse went past him he went again and was in front 5 meters past the post, so it’s hard to be disappointed with a run like that.
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