Farag’s shot at Jericho history

[Wandering Eyes]

Farag (NZ) (Sacred Falls) will be given the chance to enter a new chapter in the Jericho Cup story at Warrnambool this Sunday when he strives to become the first back-to-back winner of the 4600-metre marathon.

‘’No horse has done it before so it would be great for him to achieve that,’’ trainer Aaron Purcell said on Tuesday. ‘’It’s obviously very hard to win the race once, let alone twice, but he’s in the right shape to give it a real shot.’’

To become the first defending champion of the longest flat race in Australia, Farag must match the feats of previous winners Wil John (2021) and Ablaze (2019) by carrying topweight of 70 kilograms over the 4600-metre journey.

‘’The 70kgs is obviously a task over that trip and against the others he’s carrying more weight as the second topweight has 67kgs and he was second topweight last year with 69kgs,’’ Purcell said.

‘’But he knows the track and distance and he’s carried weight before so we’re confident he’ll go well.

‘’Of course, Will Gordon riding is a major plus as well.

‘’He was obviously good at Geelong last week with the weight (70kgs) and bounced out of that race well.

‘’He went over the hill yesterday (Monday), even though he’s been over the hill before, it’s been a while, so everything suggests that he’s well and should be running well on Sunday.’’

Purcell may have two runners in the race as he waits on news as to whether new stable acquisition The Claimant gains a run in the Jericho Cup or is in the $60,000 consolation race over 3450 metres.

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