Sports

Single Gaze and Kathy O’Hara dream of fairytale end in Sydney Cup

"Yeah [there are a lot of emotions], she's been great for my career and we've been through a lot together," O'Hara said on Sky Racing.

"We had the fall in the Oaks, won a group 1 and she's come so close in this preparation. I'd just love to go out on a high with her to get that group 1 again for this preparation.

"It would be really special if she did. She's racing in career-best form this preparation, I'm expecting a really good show."

Single Gaze won plenty of admiration last year for showing plenty of guts when no one thought she could win.

She powered to second in the Caulfield Cup, which paved the way to clinch a start in Australia's biggest race – the Melbourne Cup.

She was blocked at the start at Flemington and never had a chance in the famous race, but O'Hara joked the wide barrier draw would allow her to escape the crash and jostle for position.

"There were plenty of excuses in the Melbourne Cup and she pulled up sore after that," O'Hara said.

"She was knocked around a bit in the middle, so that's why I didn't want to be on the inside getting cluttered up because that's what she had last time. She won't have that this time."

Topweight Almandin has drawn barrier five in the Sydney Cup for owner Lloyd Williams and jockey Damien Oliver.

The 2016 Melbourne Cup winner is the favourite, while Japanese horse Prestwick, to be ridden by Joao Moreira, has barrier 11.

Trainer Kris Lees will have two Sydney Cup runners with emergency Doukhan gaining a run with the scratching of Adelaide Cup winner Fanatic.

Senior Lindsay Park trainer David Hayes has told stewards Fanatic has an injury to her near fore leg, found after she cooled from from trackwork on Tuesday morning.

Lees also has Admiral Jello in Saturday's Cup (3200m) for which Almandin is the $4 favourite.

New Zealander Sir Charles Road, winner of Saturday's Chairman's Handicap, has been the noticeable market mover and is in to $7.

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Chris Dutton

Chris Dutton is a sports reporter at The Canberra Times.

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