By John Schell
A spot in the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick on November 5 will go on the line when the $50,000 Bankstown Sports Club Forbes Cup (1600m) is contested on Sunday.
The gun training combination of Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones will be represented in the event by 2022 Forbes Cup winner One Aye and stablemates Belleistic Kids and What A Peach.
One Aye wins at Randwick on July 27.Credit: Getty Images
“One Aye is a mare that just keeps on keeping on,” Paul Jones said. “She won the race two years ago and then ran a great race in the Big Dance, and it’s great to see her still going strong.
“I was confident she’d run well at Randwick last week when she won, and there’s no reason she can’t do the same on Sunday.
“She’s up in weight but we’ll take two-kilos off her with Mitch Stapleford’s claim. She’s drawn well and should get a nice run.”
Belleistic Kids, which disappointed when resuming after missing a jump-out due to weather, would be “ridden cold and finish off strong”.
“He finished off well enough at Narrandera last time out after not liking being amongst horses, and we’ve got a good opinion of him,” Jones said.
Richard Bensley will ride Belleistic Kids, and apprentice Teaghan Martin will be on What A Peach, which Jones said should give “a good sight up on the speed with no weight”.
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker has Jake Pracey-Holmes booked to ride All In The Mind in the Forbes Cup, and apprentice Olivia Chambers on Don Pedro.
“All In The Mind looks well placed and I think he should be hard to beat,” said Baker. “He’s come back to racing in good form and he’s drawn well in gate three to get the run of the race.”
“Don Pedro failed to fire on the Kensington track when he resumed and over-raced a bit.
“But if you forget that run then his form last campaign was certainly good enough for him to be rated a good chance. He’s an on-speed horse that can take plenty of running down.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
