Australia: Jericho Cup at Warrnambool a test of stamina

Even for a marathon race, the $224,600 Jericho Cup at Warrnambool Racecourse in Australia is a test of stamina.

The race is run at 2 7/8 miles. Not surprisingly, this is a new distance for many of the runners. The Jericho Cup is restricted to Australian- and New Zealand-breds and drew a field of 18, but will have a safety limit of 14 starters.

Wil John, the early favorite as of Friday, has won at distances ranging from 1 1/16 miles to 2 3-8 miles in his 16-race career. A front-running win in a handicap at Ararat at 2 3/8 miles on Nov. 8 clinched his participation in the Jericho Cup.

Wil John is one of two runners in the field trained by the partnership of Ciaran Maher and David Eustace, who run the in-form gelding Dambulla. A winner of 4 of 17 starts, Dambulla has won his last two starts - a two-mile handicap at Wagga Wagga on Oct. 30 and a handicap at about 2 3/8 miles at Moonee Valley on Nov. 13.

At Moonee Valley, Dambulla was always near the front and finished two lengths in front of Alienated, who was fifth in the 2019 Jericho Cup. Golden Flag, second in the 2019 Jericho Cup, is part of this year’s race following consecutive third-place finishes in recent weeks, including a third behind Wil John at Ararat.

The Maher-Eustace team won the 2019 Jericho Cup with Ablaze, a dual purpose horse who also runs in steeplechases. Ablaze is sidelined after undergoing surgery.

The Jericho Cup is a handicap. Frenzied, the winner of a handicap at 2 1/8 miles at Canberra on Nov. 15, is the highweight at 158.7 pounds, compared to Dambulla at 153 and Wil John at 150.

The Jericho Cup is part of a nine-race program that begins at 8:40 p.m., Eastern, or 5:40 p.m., Pacific, on Saturday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.