Kelly Bravo is concerned Box 8 may prevent in-form sprinter Paddy Wants Pats turning the tables on Australian Cup conqueror Lala Kiwi in Saturday night’s Group 1 Sky Racing Perth Cup final (520m) at Cannington.
Andrea Dailly’s Lala Kiwi (Box 4) and Paddy Wants Pats, head TAB’s market on the $150,000 to-the-winner Perth Cup (Race 4 at 11.08pm) at $2.30 and $3.60 respectively, striving to give Victoria a fourth straight victory in the race.
Paddy Wants Pats, a superbly-bred son of Black Magic Opal and three-time G1 winner and 2018 Perth Cup finalist Striker Light, which was also trained by Bravo and husband Brett, has risen to a new level in early 2022.
He’s won five of his last six starts, including the Listed Western Districts Derby at Ballarat, with the defeat coming when runner-up to Lala Kiwi in the Australian Cup final.
“He’s really found a purple patch of form. He’s feeling bulletproof at the moment,” said Bravo.
“He’s always had ability, I think it’s just been time. I actually said to Brett a little while ago that it’s a shame, because he’s such a fast dog but I didn’t think he was going to be a Group dog.
“Since then, he’s gone bang, bang!”
Paddy Wants Pats continued on his winning way in last Saturday night’s Perth Cup heats.
Without the benefit of a trial at Cannington, the $2.10 favourite missed the start from Box 6; but recovered quickly, recording a dominant 29.76sec victory, his 14th win from 34 starts.
WATCH: Australian Cup runner-up PADDY WANTS PATS (6) continued his excellent recent form when winning his G1 Perth Cup heat in 29.76sec last Saturday, his fifth win from his last six starts.
It was the second quickest time recorded in the six heats, with fellow Victorian Lala Kiwi and local Rostered Off, a former Vic, both clocking 29.65sec.
While Paddy Wants Pats has an impressive record from Box 8, winning four from six, Bravo fears ‘the pink’ might not be ideal.
“It’s hard to gauge his chances because of the box,” she offered.
“Box 8 isn’t ideal. We would’ve preferred to draw near the fence.
“He’ll handle Box 8, because he’s had to learn how to. He’s had six starts from Box 8 and eight starts from Box 6.
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GROUP 1 PERTH CUP (520m)
Saturday, Cannington Race 4, 11.08pm – First prize $150,000
1 ROSTERED OFF (Paul Stuart, Nambeelup WA)
2 SPEED BANDIT (Enzo Crudeli, Nambeelup WA)
3 MAKURU (Eric Campana, Treeby WA)
4 LALA KIWI (Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC)
5 VICE GRIP (Adam Smithson, Nambeelup WA)
6 ARCHIBALD (Rob Westworth, Southern River WA)
7 WEST ON FINN (Chris Halse, Nambeelup WA)
8 PADDY WANTS PATS (Kelly Bravo, Freshwater Creek VIC)
Reserves
9 SUNSET WHISTLER (Eric Campana, Treeby WA)
10 BUBBLES AWAY (Chris Halse, Nambeelup WA)
“When he drew ‘the pink’ for the Derby final at Ballarat, we were stoked, because that’s where he wanted to be on a horseshoe track. But it’s a different story in a Group 1 final over ‘500m’
“He hadn’t trialled at Cannington before his heat win and he missed the start hopelessly, so I definitely think he’ll improve a couple of lengths if he gets the chance to race.
“He’d also had nine days off going into his heat, so I think he could probably run home a bit better this week too, so I think he’s got a couple of lengths up his sleeve.
“Brett took him over to Perth and he wasn’t that happy with him last week. It took him a while to settle in, but Brett said he’s jumping out of the skin now.”
Victoria also has a very strong hand in the other Group 1 final at Cannington, the Sky Racing Galaxy (715m), Race 2 at 10.25pm, in Group 1 winners Knicks Bale (Box 2), Gypsy Wyong (Box 3) and Mepunga Ruby (Box 8).
Victorian star Paddy Wants Pats has drawn Box 8 in Saturday night’s Perth Cup final.
