Carmody puts hopes on Mountebank today

Press, 14 September 1988, Page 52

Carmody puts hopes on Mountebank today

NZPA-AAP Newcastle Craig Carmody, a talented young jockey, is hoping history will repeat itself under a different banner when he rides Mountebank in today’s sAustlso,ooo Winfield Gold Cup (2300 m at Newcastle.

Twelve months ago Carmody, then an apprentice, was the second-string rider for trainer, Les Bridge, when he caused a minor boilover by winning the Brotherhood • in the Cup, nosing out his more fancied stablemate, Kensei, ridden by Larry Olsen. Olsen and Kensei went on to convert their unlucky second placing into a Melbourne Cup victory while Carmody and The Brotherhood trailed him home a creditable eighth. In 1983, Carmody finds himself the number two rider for Brian MayfieldSmith’s powerful Nebo Lodge establishment. Carmody was glad to accept the position late last month and today he

will battle with the champion former Queensland rider, Ken Russell, now firmly entrenched as ‘‘top dog” at Nebo Lodge. Mayfield-Smith has entrusted Carmody with the ride on Mountebank, while Russell will partner the stable’s more fancied runner, Grosvenor Square. The premier trainer would not be drawn into nominating a stable elect but in current markets Grosvenor Square is rated an 8 to 1 chance behind the Jack Denham-trained Natski (7 to 2 favourite), with Mountebank at 12 to 1.

“This is the strongest Cup field I have seen at Newcastle since I moved to Sydney,” MayfieldSmith said.

“Both my horses are going along extremely well and I can’t really separate them. All we can do at this stage is just hope for the best.”

Newcastle’s spate of wet weather which has brought forward the prospect of a rain-affected surface for today’s cup has not dampened May-

field-Smith’s hopes. Both the Nebo Lodge hopefuls have good wettrack form and MayfieldSmith is confident they will perform well, regardless of the track conditions.

Like his “boss,” Carmody would not be drawn into speculation on the pair’s chances.

“I have been riding Mountebank in all his work since I joined Brian’s team and he is going well,” Carmody said.

“I have never ridden Grosvenor Square and I can’t really assess his chances, so we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Mountebank should be nearing his peak after two runs from a spell and is far better suited under the handicap conditions of the Cup than when a fair fifth behind Sky Chase in the 1600 m weight-for-age Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on September 3.

Larry Olsen will again ride Kensei, which has

been allotted top weight of 57.5 kg, and drawn awkwardly in gate 16. Kensei is again on a Melbourne Cup mission but Mayfield-Smith said his pair would not be sent south for the 3200 m staying test unless they continue to race well during the Sydney spring carnival.

“Both Mountebank and Grosvenor Square will stay in Sydney for the Metropolitan and if they are still performing well it is likely they will be sent to Melbourne," MayfieldSmith said. The sAust2so,ooo A.J.C. Metropolitan (2600 m will be run at Randwick on October 3.