Joseph's Incentive To Win Canberra Cup

Friday, 27 November 2009 05:45

Local premiership-winning trainer Barbara Joseph has an extra incentive to win her first Canberra Cup on Sunday.

A leading trainer for many years in Canberra, Joseph has Vintage Rock in the $200,000 Listed 2000-metre feature.

"I've won the premiership and plenty of races here but never the Canberra Cup or the Black Opal," Joseph said.

"It would be fantastic to win the race, especially now with it being such great prizemoney.

"It would be even more exciting to win it because my husband Peter and I have a third of the horse, so there's something extra in it for us."

Six-year-old Vintage Rock is already stakes-placed having run a half a length third to Blutigeroo in last year's Canberra Cup.

The Thunder Gulch mare comes into Sunday's race off a fourth to Parfumier in the Goulburn Cup (1600m) on November 20.

Prior to that she was a close fourth to Hussenor at Randwick over 1400 metres.

"I don't think it's quite as strong as last year, it's a pretty even race this year and she's a lot stronger now too," Joseph said.

"This mare has never run a bad race at Canberra."

Vintage Rock has barrier 11 and will be ridden by Peter Robl.

"A couple of the leaders are outside her and I'm hoping that she'll be able to be about midfield," Joseph said.

"We're definitely in there with an each-way chance."

Joseph said Vintage Rock would have a short break after Sunday.

"We'll then race her through the autumn and will probably send her to stud in the spring next year," Joseph said.

Vintage Rock has six wins and nine placings from 27 starts and has won more than $150,000 in prizemoney.