14.09.10
Tim Martin Racing
Rosehill trainer Tim Martin was as disappointed as anyone with Saturday’s performance by Scouting Wide, but he is warning punters to forgive the gelding when assessing his chances in Thursday’s Newcastle Cup.
Scouting Wide was well fancied in betting, firming from $5 into $4.40, but he was beaten a fair way from home, finishing sixth, behind Herculian Prince in the Group III Kingston Town Stakes at Rosehill.
“I wasn’t convinced he could beat Herculian Prince but I was confident he’d run second,” Martin said. “It was a very disappointing effort, but the signs since have been good.
“That was the horse’s only poor performance in his career so I’d suggest you give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Martin said Scouting Wide was always going to improve from the run last Saturday with the Newcastle Cup being the first of his major spring goals.
During his 20 career starts, Scouting Wide has contested seven races from 2200 metres to 2400 metres for a profitable return of two wins and three placings, with his only two unplaced efforts coming at weight-for-age and at the end a previous campaign.
“The Newcastle Cup distance of 2300 metres is perfect and his record shows that,” Martin said. “On Thursday we are going to let him run and hopefully the real Scouting Wide shows up, because if he does, he’ll take some catching.
“The last time he raced on the quick back-up was in the Brisbane Cup when he ran second behind Crossthestart.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Martin will saddle up the promising Zakumi in the Group III Spring Stakes over 1600 metres.
A metropolitan maiden winner at the AJC Hawkesbury meeting last start, Zakumi is on trial for some feature races if he can measure up to the likes of Ilovethiscity.
“I think he’s a very good horse, but it’s more a matter of now or the autumn,” Martin said. “Ilovethiscity will be hard to beat, there’s no doubting that, but if my bloke can run a place, I’ll be more than happy.
“He’s still entered in races like the Caulfield Guineas and the Spring Champion so we’ll see where we go after tomorrow.”
Rounding out Tim Martin’s Newcastle assault on Thursday will be Irish Love in the Tip Top Bakeries Handicap over 1600m.
Irish Love has won two of her last three, including a thumping 3-3/4 length win at Newcastle over 1850 metres last time out.
“She’s going really well and has a good chance again on Thursday,” Martin said.