Ballarat trainer Henry Dwyer is hoping to add his name to a short but select list by winning the $150,000 Gold Sovereign Stakes at Mowbray on Wednesday.
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Dwyer will be represented by well-bred filly Melveen, a last-start Sandown winner quoted at $7 in the latest Ladbrokes market.
Only five interstate trainers have won the Gold Sovereign in the past 30 years and four of them rank among the most successful of the modern era.
Leon MacDonald won with Underplay in 1995, Peter Moody with Snip Attack in 2003 and Golden Archer in 2011, Lee Freedman with Rock The Moment in 2009 and Anthony Freedman with Cheyenne Warrior in 2012.
The only other interstate winner, Gold Busker (2015), was prepared by young trainer Logan McGill.
Dwyer accepted with Melveen for the group 1 Blue Diamond at Caulfield last Saturday but she was only an emergency and didn’t get a run.
“We were hoping for a good draw so that she could get a cheap run behind the leaders and maybe sneak a place,” the trainer said.
“When she drew 11 we were probably happy to miss the race anyway.
“Our aim is to try to get some black type and the Gold Sovereign looked a good option.”
Dwyer said that Melveen won narrowly but well at Sandown at her second start.
“She was strong late after not getting the best of runs,” he said.
“We sent her down to Tassie on the boat on Sunday night and she handled the trip OK.
“She’s staying with Bill Ryan at Longford and had a bit of a trot and canter (on Tuesday morning).”
Unbeaten filly Mystic Journey heads the Gold Sovereign market just head of Gee Gee Secondover and Our Long Sali.
HELLOVA STREET TIGHTENS GRIP
Reigning horse of the year Hellova Street has tightened his grip on the $100,000 Mowbray Stakes following the scratching of Adelaide mare Gogo Grace.
Trainer Leon MacDonald decided not to back up Gogo Grace following her unplaced run in Sunday’s Vamos Stakes.
Hellova Street had been quoted at $1.80 before the scratching but is now $1.45.
The Scott Brunton-trained gelding won the race last year beating Jerilderie Letter and Admiral.
In theory, his opposition this year doesn’t look as strong – unless $4.60 second favourite Royal Rapture can return to the form that saw him win six city races in quick succession in Melbourne in late 2016.
Last year’s Hobart Cup winner Count Da Vinci ($7.50) is the only other horse in the market.
The other feature races on the program, the 3YO Classic and Quality Handicap for open-class sprinters, are both worth $50,000.
