Securing a Melbourne Cup starting position for Whisky On The Hill could have encouraged evasion of the handicapper’s gaze by overlooking the Sydney Cup.
Trainer Glen Thompson and the ownership team mulled this over, but wisdom dictated pursuing the opportunity rather than shying away, positioning the consistent stayer for the Group 1 3200m showdown at Randwick on Saturday.
“There is always the concern about another win giving him more weight in the Melbourne Cup but that race is a long way away,” Thompson said.
“While he’s racing well, and I’ve seen it too many times that if you sit around and wait, you can kick yourself later on.
“He’s fit and well and you have to have a crack. The golden ticket guarantees that you can be there but it doesn’t guarantee that you will.”
The win in the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600m) at Flemington on March 28 brought deep emotion to Thompson.
This achievement granted the gelding qualification for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) scheduled for November 3.
Presently, the priority is Randwick, with hopes that showers will temper the ground ahead of Saturday.
“He had his main gallop on Monday morning and pulled up really well,” Thompson said.
“As long as he trots up well on Tuesday, he’ll head to Sydney on Tuesday night.”
With his extensive background, Thompson appreciates the long haul ahead and the infrequency of races like the Sydney Cup in Australia.
The six-year-old’s top recent results feature Damian Lane, who rode him to success in the Roy Higgins and Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington in November.
“With 53.5-kilos, Damian Lane was keen to ride again and his feedback was a main factor,” Thompson said.
“If he was willing to get down to that weight, that is a very good push.”Whisky On The Hill is at $15 in early markets for Saturday’s race, with Mr Monaco, prepared by Ciaron Maher, the $4.50 frontrunner.
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