Azzopardi Confident Of Superior Performance In Kalgoorlie Cup
Jockey Joe Azzopardi is more than confident Superior Smile can be fighting out the finish in the Listed Iron Jack Kalgoorlie Cup (2200m) on Saturday.
Fresh from his victory on Money Matters in Thursday’s Hannans Handicap (1400m), Azzopardi believes Superior Smile’s $17 Tabtouch quote is over the odds.
“I think he is over the odds and that price is silly,” Azzopardi said on Tabradio.
Azzopardi advises supporters to rule a line through Superior Smile’s previous run in the Boulder Cup (2105m) when he ran eighth to Friar Fox.
It followed a sound run in the Coolgardie Cup (1760m) when the Dan and Ben Pearce-trained six-year-old finished fourth to Western Temple.
“In the Boulder Cup nothing went his way,” Azzopardi said.
“He got back off a slow tempo from a wide barrier and it didn’t suit the horse.
“It was a great run in the Coolgardie Cup.”
Despite drawing awkwardly in the Kalgoorlie Cup, barrier 10, Azzopardi is confident of landing in a forward position.
“I’ve drawn a little bit sticky, but he will bounce forward,” Azzopardi said.
“Ideally, I would like to be behind the speed with cover, but he can also be outside punching the breeze.
“I definitely think he should be running in the first five.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is right there.
“I think his price is silly.”
Azzopardi and the Pearce stable will be hoping Superior Smile can finally clinch a feature country cup victory after going so close earlier this year.
The Patronize gelding ran six consecutive placings in the Narrogin Cup (1900m), Albany Cup (2100m), Esperance Cup (2015), the Bunbury Cup (2019m), the South-West Autumn Cup (2200m) and Pinjarra Cup (2200m).
Azzopardi can join William Pike as the last jockey to win the Hannans Handicap-Kalgoorlie Cup double in the same year.
Pike led home Disposition in the Hannans Handicap (2017) and partnered Shinta Mani in the Kalgoorlie Cup.
Julio Santarelli