Metropolitan fancy Thebudgiesmugla is yet to taste defeat in five runs over 2400 metres and will aim to make it six wins when he contests the Drinkwise Cup at Randwick.
The six-year-old was a standout performer during the off-season, securing three victories from his four starts between May and July. These wins included the Winter Cup at Randwick and the Caloundra Cup in Queensland, both races run over the same distance as Saturday’s event.
With the benefit of a recent fourth-place finish behind Boniface over a middle distance, Thebudgiesmugla is expected to be a tough competitor at Randwick.
“He was great first-up and he’s five from five at the 2400 and gets 2400 again on Saturday,” trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, commented.
“It wasn’t always in our mind to run Saturday. We were going to give him a bit of time into the Newcastle Cup, but this race came up, and it looked so good for him we decided to run him.”
“He is obviously a bit better with his toe in the ground, but he’s putting together some good performances on better ground as well.”
Thebudgiesmugla is currently listed as the fourth favourite in early markets for The Metropolitan at $11 and is the $2.25 top selection for the Drinkwise Cup.
His most significant challenge might originate from his stablemate, So You Are.
So You Are, a recent addition to the Baker stable, was separated by less than a length from Thebudgiesmugla in both the Winter and Caloundra Cups. Moreover, So You Are finished ahead of his stablemate in their most recent outings.
However, Hilton indicates that the horse, affectionately known as “Thebudgie”, is likely to improve further.
“So You Are had a little bit more residual fitness than TheBudgie first-up,” he stated.
“He’s going to strip a bit fitter as well, but I’d say TheBudgie has got a bit more improvement to come.”
Notably, Baker only recorded his first city winner of the season on Wednesday with Appeared at Warwick Farm. The leading trainer had experienced a frustrating start to the new term, with seven second placings, two of which were achieved by the speedy filly Blue Door in stakes races.
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