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Racing

Tulloch Lodge Major chance for Summer Cup success

ATC Cup runner-up Shangri La Spring will be striving to turn the tables on a stablemate when they face off again on Boxing Day.

MAJOR BEEL.
MAJOR BEEL. Picture: Bradley Photos

One is a stable stalwart, the other a horse on the rise.

And while the pair might present with very different profiles, Adrian Bott is having trouble splitting Major Beel and Shangri La Spring ahead of their clash in the Group 3 Summer Cup (2000m) on Boxing Day.

The 2023 ATC Australian Derby winner, Major Beel had the measure of his stablemate last start when relegating Shangri La Spring to second in the ATC Cup (2000m) on November 29.

Neither has stepped out since, Bott mindfully keeping both on fresh legs ahead of Friday's assignment.

"They both came through the ATC Cup last start, and they've had a bit of time since then," Bott said.

"We have tried to follow a similar formula for them going into this race.

"They've had a nice tick over trial, and both looked in good shape.

"There was plenty of merit to both their runs on the day and it's going to be hard to split them again."

A six-year-old, Major Beel has posted two wins since his Derby triumph, but he has contested some strong races along the way, including last year's 7 Stakes (1600m) in which he finished fifth, beaten just over a length by Fangirl.

His ATC Cup victory was his first in 14 months and Bott said the gelding needed the right set-up and conditions but getting him back in the winner's stall had been worth the wait.

"Very satisfying. He has obviously been a great horse to us," he said.

"Even though he'd been running well, he lacked a bit of consistency, or it had been hard to find the right conditions for him.

"Things worked out well for him last start and it's a nice program to get both of them through to Magic Millions, potentially, off the back of it.

"They both look to have done fantastic. Conditions on the day, the draw and factors in running, that may be what splits them ultimately."

A field of 11 will contest the Summer Cup with weights headed by Ingham runner-up Estadio Mestalla.


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