Racing: Tiger looks for softer kill on Coast

Dontpokethetiger. Photo / Racing Desk

Dontpokethetiger's connections haven't given up their chase for Australian black type, despite passing up an opportunity today.

They have opted to start the filly in a A$40,000 Benchmark 85 handicap rather than running for double the money in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas.

"We've gone for the weaker option as I felt the Guineas was a very strong field and our horse has only won $50,000 and some of the others have won $350,000," trainer Peter Rudkin said.

"The handicap race we're in has fallen away a bit and she is a very good chance to run in the first three. If she does, we'll stay on and run her in a Listed race in three weeks' time at Doomben, but if she can't then she will come home."

• Kelly McCulloch might have had a hazy view of Ipswich Cup winner Self Sense in the distance in front of her aboard Benzini at the end of that feature, but the Pukekohe jockey's focus is on turning the tables this weekend.

Self Sense went to the line 6-lengths clear of second-placed Benzini in the Ipswich Cup (2150m) a fortnight ago, but with a 2.5kg swing in the weights in the Adrian and Harry Bull-trained raider's favour and an unwavering faith in her mount, McCulloch believes she can get square in today's Caloundra Cup (2400m).

"The winner was pretty dominant, but his run was good on a track that he wasn't ideally suited to and he had that big weight," McCulloch said.

"He has to carry a big weight again but at least he's down half a kilo this time and the other horse goes up a couple of kilos. The winner caught me a bit by surprise - he wasn't a horse I had put in my top two dangers - so hopefully he might have already had his day."

History is against the seven-year-old Benzini as no horse has carried more than 59kg to win the Caloundra Cup, which was first run in 1985.

McCulloch will also team up with the Bull-trained William Wallace in the Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at Caloundra, the Darci Brahma four-year-old going into the race on the back of two impressive wins in Queensland.

- NZ Racing Desk