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Ecuador set to break weight carrying record in Ipswich Cup

13 June 2018

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By Glenn Davis

Sydney visitor Ecuador is likely to be given the chance to set a new weight carrying record in the Ipswich Cup on Saturday.

Ecuador has taken no harm from his ninth in the Listed The Wayne Wilson at Doomben last Saturday and is expected to back-up in the 2150-metre Listed feature.

Ecuador, a Tegan Harrison mount, received topweight of 60kgs and is among 11 acceptors for the Ipswich Cup which is currently in the soft range.

If successful, the rising nine-year-old will buck history by becoming the highest weighted horse to win the race since records were taken.

The previous highest weighted winner was Sharply who carried 9st 3 lbs (58.5kg) in 1961.

The only horse who has come close to winning with a similar weight was Maurus who lumped 58kgs to victory two years ago.

Ecuador is trained in partnership by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and has come through his Wayne Wilson defeat in great order.

“At this stage we’re looking to backing him up,” said Bott.

“He didn’t have a hard run on Saturday and he’s probably better for it.

“In hindsight, it wasn’t ideal dropping back from running 2400 metres from the McKell Cup to 1600 metres in the Wayne Wilson.”

Bott was reluctant to blame the heavy track for Ecuador’s failure and expects a better performance in his attempt to give Waterhouse her third Ipswich Cup.

She won the Ipswich Cup with Beachside in 1993 and Bianca in 2008.

“He seemed to get through the conditions okay last run but he was left flat-footed when the pressure was on,” Bott said.

“He stuck on nicely without threatening.”

Bott believes Ecuador can rewrite history if he can reproduce his Sydney autumn form.

Ecuador was runner-up in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude, Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup and Listed Lord Mayor’s Cup before failing in the Listed McKell Cup in Sydney.

He hasn’t won since claiming the Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick in January last year.

“He’s an older horse now and is finding it difficult to get back to winning form,” Bott said.

“There were no excuses and he had his chance in those three races before the McKell Cup.

“He’s been hard to place and he’s been penalised for his consistency.

“We won’t tell him about the history of the Ipswich Cup.”

Racing Queensland webnews   June 13