Grimwood Hopeful Of Gosford Gold

TRAINER Geoff Grimwood is quietly confident that Kid Candle can hold his own and make his presence felt in Sunday's Woy Woy Poultry Gosford Gold Cup (515m).

The Grimwood-trained Kid Candle, a son of Barcia Bale Elusive Zesta, charged into Gosford Cup calculations with a thumping 29.49 heat victory last weekend, getting the better of fellow finalist Zipping Vernon by 3 ½ lengths.

"He went really nice in his heat … he's only lightly raced as we've had a few niggling injuries to overcome lately but he's always shown us a lot when he's right," said Grimwood in the lead up to Sunday's Gosford Gold Cup.

"We took him up to Lismore for the cup in October and he came home from that with a few issues but his record shows you that he's more than handy when he's right. He's beaten some pretty smart dogs in some good races."

Winner at seven of his 23 appearances, including another nine minors, Kid Candle began making headlines last July when beaten just a length into third by Feral Franky in the Group 1 Vic Peters Classic Final at Wentworth Park.

"He finished a length second to him in the heats as well which isn't bad form," Grimwood added.

"He's proven he can match it with good quality dogs and that's why I give him a good chance on Sunday, especially if he can reproduce his heat first section. He'll hold his line early and give himself every chance."

Sunday's $40,000 to-the-winner Gosford Gold Cup is one of the more open on record.

The TAB market sees five of the eight finalists under double figure odds with the early favourite 29.22 fastest qualifier Hooray Zipper (box six) for Peter Lagogiane at $2.90.

Double Back, the second of Lagogiane's finalists is $3.70 from box two, while group 1 winner Buck's Future (box one) and Kid Candle (box five) are on the third line of betting at $5.50.

"I don't think box five for him is the end of the world the way they are drawn," Grimwood explained.

"Three (Typhoon To Excel) and four (Zipping Vernon) don't show a lot of speed and I'm expecting the two Double Back to lead. I'm hoping my bloke can use his size and push into a spot on the fence. He's a mad railer and does his best work driving through the corner up the back. If he gets into a spot then hopefully he's close enough and good enough to have a crack at the front. But anything can happen in these races."

Interestingly, Grimwood will be sizing up his second Gosford Cup on Sunday after qualifying 24-race winner Aston Ebert for the 2017 final won by Barking Bad, beating Knight Sprite and Ando's Mac in a vintage edition of the race.

"Leanne and I are just over the moon to be in the race … anything from here really would be a bonus," Grimwood explained.

"I couldn't be happier with how the dog is … he'll have a light gallop on Friday morning and that will top him off for Sunday. He's a naturally strong, clean winded dog so he doesn't need a lot of work seven days between runs.

"Like everyone we just need that little bit of luck."