Cup hope to appreciate return to middle distance

[Wandering Eyes]

A step back up in trip on his home track on Saturday will be ideal for talented stayer Mayor Of Norwood.

The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained son of Ghibellines has an excellent record at Wingatui and will bid to add another victory to his CV when he runs in the WAE Waikouaiti Cup (2200m).

Three-times successful on the course and once over the distance, Mayor Of Norwood was unplaced in the Gr.3 New Zealand Cup (3200m) two starts ago and returned to finish a handy sixth over 1600m on Boxing Day.

“The 2200m will suit him, over the mile the other day he was just chasing from a bit far out,” Shane Anderton said.

“We freshened him up, but it was too short for him so he’s back up in trip now.”

Mayor Of Norwood, who will jump from the inside gate, and be partnered by Corey Campbell who has a good record on the six-year-old with a brace of wins and five minor placings from previous outings.

Stablemate Exchange also looms as a strong hope in the other open handicap on the program, the Brent Lucas Builders (1400m), despite it not being the trainers preferred race.

Another son of Ghibellines, the eight-year-old returned from a lengthy break over 1400m at Riverton on New Year’s Day to finish an encouraging fourth.

“He will improve a bit with his first-up run and he can be competitive,” Anderton said.

“We were going to run him in the Southern Mile but couldn’t get a suitable claiming apprentice for him, but he is in this with a good weight (54.5kg).”

The six-race winner will be ridden for the first time on Saturday by Krishna Mudhoo.

Despite his absence, the stable will still be well-represented in the ODT Southern Mile Qualifier (1600m) with Bowler, Lined Satin and Helldancer in contention.

The former pressed his claims with a last-start victory over the course and distance while both Lined Satin and Helldancer didn’t have the best of luck at their most recent appearances.

Other chances include Eye Spy (Hope & Sons Mac Chaplin Memorial, 1200m)) and Flow Along (Cargill Contracting, 1200m) who won their most recent starts while the stable will also present a couple of in-form maiden prospects.

Imperative runs in the Rural Merchants Palmerston (1600m) off the back of a resuming second and Wary has a first-up third to back his claims in the Waihemo Lodge Hotel (1300m).

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