Bid Spotter Wins Hobart Cup
- Sunday, 13 February 2011 07:15
A long range plan to target the Hobart Cup with Bid Spotter came to fruition when the gelding landed his career best win in the $300,000 Group Three event.
Trainer Graeme Rogerson was at home at his New Zealand base on Sunday and was represented by his his Sydney foreman Roger Elliott.
Bid Spotter arrived in Tasmania with solid lead up form in Sydney where he had finished second to Voice Commander in the Frank Underwood Cup (2000m) at Rosehill and third to Lang in the Australia Day Cup (2400m) at Warwick Farm, both at Listed level last month.
"He was a bit unlucky at his last run because he never got a clear run but he's come down here and he's done everything bang on," Elliott said.
"Graeme has had this race in mind for him since November last year.
"The horse has had a few problems but we've got them all sorted out and he's going good and we'll stay down for the Launceston Cup."
"It was a great ride by Michael (Rodd)."
The Group Three Launceston Cup (2400m) is on February 23.
Rodd finished third in the 2010 Cup aboard Dream Pedlar and had Bid Spotter inside that horse midfield on Sunday.
He got clear running coming to the home turn and took Bid Spotter ($8.20) out wide in the straight and the horse did the rest, powering home to score by a half length from local Organised ($18.10) with Davcon ($18) a half length away third.
"It's a big effort to bring horses all the way down here from Sydney and Roger has done a terrific job with him," Rodd said.
"We expected the horse to run well. We just didn't know how he was going to get around the track.
"It's a tight little track but he handled it very well and the favourite (Dream Pedlar) was dropping off at the 600 metres so I felt very confident when I moved past him.
"I didn't spend any petrol from the good draw (barrier four) until he got to the top of the straight.
"He's been a frustrating horse at times for the owners but he's come down here and adapted to the conditions and the left-handed way.
Bid Spotter best win before Sunday was the 2009 Listed City Tatts Cup (2400m) at Randwick.
Topweight Dream Pedlar ($5.60) worked home late to finish fifth.
"He had a perfect run but just raced flat. At the top of the straight he was going to run last but he picked up and he felt like he wanted 2400 metres," jockey Craig Williams said.
"He's had a great preparation."
Red Buttons ($7.10) was given the run of the race by Brad Rawiller from barrier one and gained a rails run in the straight to hit the front before being swamped by the placegetters, finishing fourth.
Picture: Sportpix
