Naracoorte based trainer Sue Jaensch looks set to take a three pronged attack into Thursday’s Coonawarra Vignerons Cup as she looks set to continue her outstanding season. Jaensch sits in seventh spot on the South Australian Trainers Premiership and will be keen to add another local Cup to her collection.
After running fifth in this race last year, Costa Lante should be one of the favourites for the Cup when the mare steps out on Thursday. December’s Bordertown Cup winner will be given every opportunity by the talented Jarrod Lorensini as the two hope to claim another Limestone Coast feature. Costa Lante stepped out in town in BM82 company last time and should find Thursday’s opposition a bit easier than her last assignment.
Jaensch’s other two runners, Pass the Glass and Strategic Glass can’t be written off however. Pass the Glass was runner-up to Listed winner Indian Thunder at Stawell last start, while last year’s runner-up Strategic Glass has an outstanding record at Penola with one win and three second placings from his four starts at the track. Emily Finnegan will take the ride on the gelding and she’s already ridden nine winners in the South East this season.
Jordan Frew’s Owl has been in rare form with four wins and two placings in his last six start. His last three starts have seen a win in the Wycheproof Cup followed by a third placing in the Dunkeld Cup, before narrowly running second in the Nhill Cup. Apprentice Sophie Logan has been on board in two of his last three runs and her 2kg claim will prove very handy for the topweight on Thursday.
The in-form Raquel Clark will ride Peter Hardacre’s Tahnee Tiara on Thursday. The mare has also been in great form, running second in her last start at Morphettville in BM70 grade. The mare only went down by a head to the talented Pretty Glass who then went on to run second behind Table of Wisdom in BM82 grade on the weekend. If Tahnee Tiara can run up to her last run she’s going to be very hard to beat with Clark on board.
Although he hasn’t won since February last year, Dangle Lad could be a chance off his last start third placing at Moonee Valley in December. Paul Preusker’s seven-year-old was given little hope in betting but ran on well from the back of the field to miss by 1.75 lengths behind Macrobius and Bad Wolf who have since gone on to contest stronger races in Melbourne.
Other chances in the race include Sue Murphy’s Hasta La Thomas and Ray Gilchrist’s Queen’s Palace. Hasta La Thomas has two wins and three placings at the track while Queen’s Palace was runner-up behind Costa Lante in the Bordertown Cup and interestingly was a winner on this day last year.
