The Frank Hurst-trained Good Odds Cobber is poised to become the sport’s latest millionaire after the box draw for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg was conducted on Tuesday evening.
The $300,000 first prize in the Group 1 feature would take Good Odds Cobber’s career earnings beyond $1.1 million - and without winning one of the newer $1 million events - and when Hurst revealed which box he had selected at the draw, his chances increased significantly.
Good Odds Cobber will exit from box 1 in the final with race sponsor Ladbrokes winding the chaser into $2.80 favourite.
A look at his statistics when wearing red vindicates the wagering giant’s move. Good Odds Cobber has started 11 times from box 1 and won nine of those finishing second on the other two occasions.
In recent times he has won the Group 1 Gold Bullion in Queensland, the Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup, and the Group 3 Temora Cup all when starting in box 1. In each of those wins he has used box 1 perfectly to either lead or hold his place on the rail and ultimately race to victory.
In last Saturday’s semi-final Good Odds Cobber had box 8, he jumped well and was able to work up and lead around the first bend.
Asked if he had a choice which box he would have chosen, Hurst said: “One or eight.”
“Oh, look, there's not much between the eight runners, and I always think the one box anywhere is a slight advantage, but you've got to use it too,” he said.
“He didn’t lead in that race (Temora Cup) off the one, but because he was on the fence where he wants to be, he was able to make up ground and win the race.
“I hope he doesn't repeat that run, I hope he just bounds to the front and leads them a merry chase off the one.”
Hurst has twice had placegetters in the Easter Egg Final, in 2010 when Fancy Mandy finished third to Cosmic Rumble and then 12 years later Good Odds Cash would finish second to champion bitch She’s A Pearl.
“(To win an Easter Egg) would mean everything you know. We've won races with more prizemoney before, but it's just a prestigious race. They come from everywhere for the Egg. Everyone wants to win it.”
Not so fortunate with the box draw was trainer Mark Gatt whose promising young sprinter Jungle Johnny had been favourite before he drew box four in the final.
“It’s terrible,” Gatt said of the draw. “The dog on the inside (Gets Late Early in box 3) will want to get to the outside fence, and the dog on the outside (Lakeview Emily in box 5) will want to get to the inside fence.
“So we've got to miss the start, jump on the rail and hopefully they can meet each other and we get in on the rail behind them. We're a slow beginner as a rule so hopefully we miss the jam.”
Fastest semi-final winner, Ken Burnett’s Power And Glory who clocked 29.23s last Saturday, drew reasonably in box 6. He’s not a speedy beginner but does have fast beginners drawn either side with Jodie Lord’s Taormina in box 7. Like in the semi, Burnett will be hoping he can use a bit of track early and get into a nice position at the first turn.
Jason Mackay – who won the Egg in 2019 with Zipping Bailey – will have Kisses For Gran out in box 8 in this year’s final, the same draw she had in the semi-final when second to Gets Late Early.
In Saturday’s other Group 1 the Farrell’s Association Cup, local hopes and heat winners Max Capacity and Late Night News drew boxes one and six respectively.
“Hopefully he jumps with them, stays on the fence, and I think his finishing burst will see him through,” Max Capacity’s trainer Peter Lagogiane said of the West Australian he is looking after for the series and upcoming staying features.
“He's taken to the Sydney way of going. He’s settled in so well and he's the utter professional at home, and he showed that on Saturday night.
“We hope there is improvement again this week. What can he run? Who knows if he lands on the bunny. He's a sensible dog at home and on the field so I'm expecting improvement.
“Look this dog came to us and he was prepared. We just put the finishing touches on him and I hope that's enough.”
Caroline Hughes, trainer of Late Night News is looking for her Cup finalist to hopefully avoid any early speed battles and “just do his thing.”
“I think there'll be a few crashing over to the fence early and they will go quick,” she said. “I guess if he had been drawn inside they might have been crashing into him, so I'm happy with being out a bit wider.
“He'll just do his thing and get going and hopefully find that pocket that he needs to, and make his run when the time comes.
“I'm just excited to be in it to be honest. It's so cool.”
While Late Night News has competed in Group 1 events in Melbourne and Brisbane, Hughes is still chasing her first Group 1 win.
“It would mean everything to me. It would be great. I'll be this hysterical lady at Wentworth Park.”
