Drama aplenty in Coongy Cup

2 min read

A racing rarity came into play at Caulfield in the Ladbrokes Coongy Cup and there was more drama to follow after the judge declared a dead-heat.

A cigarette paper couldn’t split Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {IRE}) and Mask Of Time (IRE) (Holy Roman Emperor {IRE}) in a driving finish and a subsequent protest by the latter’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy didn’t change the decision.

Best Of Days’ trainer James Cummings is hopeful the 5-year-old’s future can mirror that of another favourite import, the now Mapperley Stud-based Contributor (IRE) (High Chaparral {IRE}).

“This is the race Contributor won straight off the plane and I really hope Best of Days lives up to that horse,” he said.

Autumn glory

The following autumn, Contributor subsequently triumphed in the G1 Ranvet S., and in the G1 Chipping Norton St.

“This horse has been a work in progress for a long time and we've been trying to work on his mind and have him a happy horse,” Cummings said.

“He's a Group performer for us now and hopefully there's more to come.”

“He's a Group performer for us now and hopefully there's more to come.” – James Cummings.

Best Of Days won two races in England from Hugo Palmer’s Newmarket yard, including the G2 Royal Lodge S., before his relocation to Australia.

He is a son of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Baisse (GB), a Listed winner in Germany, and a three-quarter brother to the G3 Sandown Classic Trial S., and G3 Chester Dee S., winner Azmeel (GB).

Mask Of Time’s co-trainer Ciaron Maher said the softer ground at Caulfield was instrumental in bringing out the best in the 5-year-old.

“He appreciated getting his toe in the ground and Kerrin rated him well.” – Ciaron Maher.

“He appreciated getting his toe in the ground and Kerrin rated him well. He ran fourth in the Toorak last year and he’s taken a while to find his form.

“The track conditions were the key and allowed him to let down.”

A two-time winner in France for Andre Fabre, Mask Of Time is a half-brother to the stakes performer Mahari (IRE) (Duke Of Marmalade {IRE}) with their dam Mission Secrete {IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) and a half-sister to the G1 English 1000 Guineas winner Miss France (IRE) (Dansili {GB}).

Mask Of Time is by Holy Roman Emperor, standing this season at Aquis Farm