Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Only four mares have been successful in the 72-year history of the August Cup, a stark statistic which suggests that the brilliant Aardiebytheseaside will have to buck the odds if she is to extend her winning sequence to seven and triumph in the $50,000 time-honoured feature event at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
Four-year-old Aardiebytheseaside is the youngest and least experienced runner in the 2536m Cup, and Deni Roberts needs to create history by becoming the first female to drive the winner of this event.
Mares made a flying start when owner-trainer Doug Booth drove chestnut mare Lily Girl to a thrilling victory in the inaugural August Cup, a stand over 13 furlongs, at Gloucester Park on Saturday August 6, 1950.
Lily Girl, the 2/1 favourite in the field of 17, began badly from the No. 3 barrier on the front line and was seemingly in a hopeless position in tenth place at the bell before she steadily made up ground and gained an inside run when the polemarker Johnnie Robert drifted out in the home straight.
Lily Girl got up in the final stride and won by six inches from Johnnie Robert (Doug Avery), with Gamble King (Ron Porter) two lengths farther back in third place. The winner rated 2.18.2.
Since then, the only mares to have won the August Cup have been Bellagena (1972), Virgil Queen (1978) and Whitby Heritage (1990).
Only eleven mares have contested the August Cup this century, with the most recent being when $126 outsider Talkerup finished last behind Vampiro in 2019. The only placegetters this century have been $63.40 chance Tricky Styx, who started from the No. 1 barrier and trailed the pacemaker Runrunjimmydunn before finishing third behind Chicago Bull in 2018, and Ideal Alice, who was second to Jambiani in 2017.
The other unplaced mares this century have been $2.80 second favourite Libertybelle Midfrew (who started from barrier one and finished 11TH behind Bettors Fire in 2016), Jungle Genie ($108.10; 10TH in 2015), Hoylakes Firstlady (8TH in 2015), Jessica Jasper (7TH in 2009), Party Date (5TH in 2004), Adaspay (9TH in 2004), Lady Astra (4TH in 2001) and Black And Blue (5TH in 2001).
Roberts is confident that Aardiebytheseaside, prepared by leading trainers Greg and Skye Bond, has the ability to set the pace from the coveted No. 1 barrier and win the Cup.
“The distance (2536m) won’t worry her,” said Roberts. “She’s tough and she won the Empress Stakes over that distance at her WA debut in April when she ran good time (rating 1.54.6 in beating the pacemaker Steno by a length).” At her previous start, at Addington on December 10, she won the group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2600m, beating the favourite Mantra Blue by a nose.
“This is the best field she has come up against, and it will be a good test for her,” said Roberts. “From barrier one I’ll be hoping to hold up and give the boys something to chase. She has been getting out of the gate better and better all the time.”
The Bond stable has a good record in the August Cup, having won the event with Mister Odds On in 2009 and Vampiro in 2019 and 2021.
Dylan Egerton-Green, who drove Vampiro to victory over stablemate Patronus Star in 2021 after charging to the front from the outside barrier (No. 9) on the front line, will handle Aardiebytheseaside’s stablemate Steel The Show from barrier six.
“Steel The Show has been racing very well, and he was held up for a clear run when unplaced at his latest start,” said Egerton-Green.
Jett Star, also trained by the Bonds, will begin from barrier No. 7. He is a tough pacer who gave a splendid performance last Friday week when he raced in the breeze and fought on determinedly to be a neck second to his top-flight stablemate Tenzing Bromac.
Five-year-old The Miki Taker, trained and driven by Aiden De Campo, looms large as Aardiebytheseaside’s main danger. He will start from barrier two and is sure to make a bold bid for victory. He raced in the one-out, one-back position before fighting on strongly to finish a close third behind Tenzing Bromac and Jett Star last Friday week.
Kyle Harper, who will drive Talks Up A Storm from barrier three for trainer Murray Lindau, will be seeking his third win in the August Cup after driving Bettors Fire to victory in 2015 and 2016.