It is 25 years since a bitch last won the Ladbrokes Gold Cup – a strapping British bred blue brindle by the name of Westmead Chick.
Over a distance that tends to be dominated by males, the Gold Cup Roll of Honour has been dominated by the racing elite including English Derby winners Toms The Best and Taylors Sky, plus the likes of Swift Hoffman, Droopys Buick and Boherna On Air to name but five.
Closest to topping the male domination in all that time was Velvet Juliet who failed by just a short head a year ago. In a field that includes the defending champ Seaglass Tiger, Rab McNair has no doubts over the size of the task facing the sole female in the line up, Queen Jessiej.
Chasing a third win in the event (’95 Shaneboy Spencer, 2018 King Turbo), Rab McNair said: “It would have been tough enough, but the draw has worked out particularly tricky.
“Jessiej is going to have to be at her absolute best to get away. Hiya Boyo looks well drawn, but isn’t really pinging at the boxes. We have Patrick’s dog on our outside. He’s big, he’s brave and he is going to turn to his left as soon as he can. There is no doubt in my mind that Ernie’s dog Droopys Addition is the best drawn of the field in four.”
Latest betting: 7-4 Hiya Boyo, 5-2 Queen Jessiej, 4-1 Droopys Addition, 11-2 Gonzo, 8-1 Seaglass Tiger, 16-1 Bockos Boss.
The Gold Cup begins a busy weekend for Team McNair who are due to send out four runners the following day in the final of the BGBF British Bred Sprint at Towcester.
In a race of five middle seeds, the obvious advantage lies with King Drake who will be looking to frank the Silver Salver form behind Shrewd Call.
Rab said: “Drake obviously has his draw and I am quite excited about the race, whoever was to win it. We might have four in it, but we’ve been beaten in similar situations before so we are taking nothing for granted..
“More importantly, the timing has been absolutely ideal to help get these dogs fit. I have said it before, but that lockdown affected these pups quite badly. They’ve lost vital experience at an important time and it has taken quite a while to get to them back to this level of fitness.
“The Towcester competition will bring them on even more but I don’t think any of them are really sprinters. The truth is, I don’t really know. But by the time we get to the second round of the Produce Stakes – for those who get through the first round – I will have a much better idea of what we have.”
McNair confirmed that Queen Beyonce has now been officially retired. Her career appeared to be over after she pulled a main tendon away from the bone. She came in season, was mated, but after she missed, a decision was made to see if the injury had healed after the six month break.
Rab said: “We handslipped her and the tendon held up. Unfortunately she was just so fresh and determined, and probably trying to look after it, that she did the same thing on the opposite leg. So that is definitely it now.”
