Melbourne Cup tilt over for Wolfgang

[Wandering Eyes]

Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will return to New Zealand after finishing at the tail of the field in Saturday’s Gr.3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington.

Wolfgang, who races as Mister Wolfgang in Australia, won the Gr.3 Wellington Cup (3200m) and New Zealand St Leger (2500m) last term, then crossed the Tasman for a campaign towards the time-honoured race staged in early November.

His co-trainer Peter McKay was pleased with his progress through his first two runs but pulled pin when his charge performed below expectations in the Bart Cummings, which offered a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup for the winner.

“It’s disappointing, we were looking forward to it and he was definitely going to get into the (Melbourne) Cup, he only needed five or six to come out,” he said. “We were getting a bit excited thinking he would be in the race with a couple of good runs in the lead up.

“I thought his second run over there was good and he was coming on well, but he just didn’t put in at all on Saturday.

“He had a quick, hard blow straight after the race then recovered really quick, which is generally a sign that their hurting somewhere or if it was heavy, that they didn’t handle it. But, it was a good, firm track and he trotted up well yesterday (Sunday).”

While disappointed, McKay and his son Shaun (training partner) are now targeting a defence of his Wellington Cup crown, which will be run for $400,000 on January 31 at Trentham.

“We’ll get him home, reassess things and then go on a programme towards Wellington Cup,” he said.

“There’s a few races to take him down that path.”

Back at home, the McKays were pleased to pick up a winner earlier in the week at Tauranga, with Just Call Me Jonny kicking off his campaign in winning fashion over 1400m.

“Last season he was coming along nicely and going some good races, and he’s furnished up nicely this time around,” McKay said. “Without getting bullish, we were pretty happy with his work and thought he could win, which I wouldn’t normally say.

“Now he can step up another grade and he’ll follow some of these Rating 75 races on Saturdays, he’s capable of getting through his grades and ticking along quietly.

“He’s going to be a nice longevity horse, the type that will keep racing through, possibly a couple of the little summer cups races would suit him.”

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