BIG DANCE LURE AT HAWKESBURY FOR TALENTED VICTORIAN

COULD the Group 3 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) head south for a second year running?

Cranbourne trainer Gavin Bedggood won last year’s $250,000 feature with Just Folk, and now his Mornington compatriot John McArdle is seriously considering attempting to follow suit, with the lure of Big Dance eligibility weighing strongly on his mind.

He is very much aware the Gold Cup winner will get the chance for a crack at the $3m Big Dance (1600m) at Royal Randwick in November.

McArdle is poised to have his first runner at Hawkesbury provided talented four-year-old and hat-trick seeker Regal Zeus draws well on Wednesday morning.

A $150,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, the gelded son of Zoustar has built an imposing record, winning eight of his 25 starts (four from his last six) and collecting just over $686,000.

“I have also nominated Regal Zeus for the Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday, where he has 55.5kg; 0.5kg less that at Hawkesbury,” McArdle said this evening.

“The plan is to accept in both races, and then have a look at the respective fields and barriers.

“There’s a very real chance we’ll go to Hawkesbury if he draws well.

“The good prizemoney aside, qualifying for the Big Dance later in the year is pretty attractive.”

Dual Group 1 winning trainer McArdle describes Regal Zeus as a “very versatile and tough horse”.

“He has won from 1100m to 1700m, and stepped up from scoring over 1200m at Caulfield last month to leading throughout over 1600m in the Listed Golden Mile at Ballarat on April 12,” he said.

“And he handles all types of tracks well, having won on good, soft and heavy ground.”

Before winning his last two starts, Regal Zeus was an excellent second to Newcastle sprinter Brudenell, a prolific winner himself, in the Listed Abell Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on February 28 at his first start since late October.

McArdle has trained a career 610 winners, including 21 so far this season, with El Rocko at The Valley last Saturday his latest success.

Whilst Regal Zeus would be his first runner at Hawkesbury, he is no stranger to Sydney, having won races at both Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens.

Twenty-two horses have been weighted for the Gold Cup, with My Oberon, one of two Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald entries, at the top with 60kg.

Wyong trainer Sara Ryan’s recent $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final winner Matcha Latte (54kg), along with Newcastle pair, Kris Lees’ Tavi Time (55.5kg) and Jason Deamer’s Rapt (54kg), are the three provincial entries.

Whilst neither Matcha Latte nor Tavi Time has raced at Hawkesbury, Rapt boasts a brilliant victory in the opening Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifier (1400m) there on February 20 before finishing seventh to Matcha Latte in the April 12 Final at Randwick.

Story John Curtis, April 29, 2025