By Ray Hickson
Trainer John Bannister is no stranger to taking Poseidon Ruler to the races knowing he will need luck but says he will require a different kind of luck if he is to win the $40,000 Wauchope RSL Wauchope Cup (1500m) at Port Macquarie on Sunday.
Poseidon Ruler (second from right) runs fourth to Uzziah in a Midway at Rosehill.Credit: Getty
The five-year-old is the only horse Bannister has in work and one of just two on his hands at the moment, and the hobby trainer is confident he has found the right race to post a deserved win after three runs at Midway level off wide gates. Poseidon Ruler has drawn the inside at Port Macquarie.
Bannister said that could be tricky but he could not have the horse going any better.
“I wanted barrier five or six because barrier one could be a problem if you’re a bit slow away and get back too far and stuck behind horses,” he said.
“But barrier one is better than 20-odd [that he drew in Saturday’s Midway at Rosehill]. You just need a bit of luck at Port Macquarie.”
Since his last win at Newcastle in April, the gelding has proven competitive in Midway company with eye-catching fifths behind Wrathful at Rosehill and Crafty Eagle at Randwick prior to his latest run at Rosehill.
Poseidon Ruler clocked the second fasted last 600m (33.64, Punter’s Intelligence) despite enduring a wide run when beaten one length into fourth by Uzziah at Rosehill two weeks ago.
A wide run should not be a problem from the inside. Bannister said jockey Georgina McDonnell knows the horse well given she was on board at Randwick and rides all the gelding’s trackwork.
“Generally when he gets wide barriers I tell jockeys to ride him where he’s comfortable. He sort of flops out and goes back but he can be closer,” he said. “That’s the plan on Sunday – to try to be midfield.
“I’m confident, he just needs a bit of luck. If he’s only five or six lengths off them straightening up he should use his turn of foot and go straight through them.”
