Relampago chasing first three cup-win

 Relampago will attempt to become the first to win three Invercargill Gold Cups.

He and 10 others have won the Cup twice. The Southland Racing Club will stage its premier stayers' race at Ascot Park on February 20.

Relampago, trained at the city track by Ben and Sally Gordon, was scratched in Saturday's Dunedin Cup at Wingatui. The Gordons thought the gelding had not recovered fully from his trip to the Wellington Cup a week earlier. There was a reason for Relampago finishing last of 18 at Trentham.

"The saddle slipped and the jockey couldn't ride him out," Ben Gordon said.

Relampago was on the 1am ferry crossing, from Wellington to Picton, the next day.

"He had four hours in the paddock in Christchurch and arrived home later that night."

With no suitable lead up races, The Silence Sir will have his first start for trainer Jim Curran in the Invercargill Gold Cup.

The Silence Sir (nine wins, $163,524) was recently transferred from Mark Walker's Rangiora stable to Curran's Ascot Park quarters.

He is part-owned by former Southlander Steven Ramsay, of Matamata.

By Istidaad, The Silence Sir lost form before arriving in Invercargill. His last two starts were in the Kumara Gold Nuggets (11th, January 9) and Timaru Cup (11th, December 28).

Curran is varying The Silence Sir's training.

"Everyday he jumps something, whether it's a log or a hurdle," Curran said.

At the weekend the eight-year-old, who is a qualified hurdler, will exercise at Oreti Beach, near Invercargill.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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