Wyong start could determine Provincial-Midway Championships or Big Dance target

If Cape Byron makes the final at Wyong this weekend as coaches Marc & Mitchell Conners expect, it will force a choice on whether to aim for the State-Midway Championships or qualify for the Big Dance.

It’s a decision that will have to be made after the Bronte Simpson Memorial Midway Handicap (1600m) as this will be Cape Byron’s 20th start and the win will be her fifth.

Those are the limits for eligibility for the rich State-Midway Championship series, but assistant coach Mitchell Conners said it’s a good problem to have.

“It’s something we’ll have to see if he runs well,” Conners said. “We’re not afraid to see some national cups coming up. Any of these races in four or five weeks. We’re not afraid to travel with the horses if we think there’s a chance.”

“There is big money in the Provincial-Midway Championship and the Big-Little Dance, so if you think you have a horse that has a chance in those races you should look at them.”

The Bega Cup (1600m) on the Sapphire Coast next month is a Big Dance-worthy race that could be of interest to the Conners camp.

The five-year-old was the training partnership’s first runner and winner when he succeeded at the Hawkesbury in late September and has since won again at that track.

She moved up to Midway level at Rosehill a month ago and was narrowly edged by Missile Seeker in the 1500m event.

“Nothing got him into the race, he got there too early and was waiting for something to keep him company,” he said. “Once the horse got past him he started to move forward again and was 5 meters ahead of the post, so it’s hard to be disappointed with a run like that.”