Bruce’s Cup ‘special’

By David Nagel
CHILEAN import Sahara Sun could give pre-eminent sports commentator Bruce McAvaney a special feeling if it wins Sunday’s $200,000 Cranbourne Cup.
McAvaney owns a part share in the lightly raced four-year-old, in the care of English trainer Luca Cumani and carrying the familiar OTI Racing colours of Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson, two prominent figures in the racing industry.
Sahara Sun was one of 39 horses to be nominated on Tuesday for the Cranbourne Cup but is no certainty to start, having also been nominated for the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday, but has an extra two million reasons to run locally.
Either race would be an important lead-up for Sahara Sun who has the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup looming large on the horizon.
Whichever way Cumani decides to go, it’s a huge tick of approval for the Cranbourne Racing Club, who enticed the spring carnivals cup hopefuls with a $2 million bonus for taking out the Cranbourne/Caulfield Cup double.
McAvaney explained that even though he had no major part to play in the decision making process, he was aware of Cumani’s interest in the Cranbourne Cup.
“I’m not sure which way we’re going at the moment but I do know Luca is thinking about the Cranbourne Cup, either there or the Caulfield Stakes,” McAvaney told The News.
“There is a two million dollar bonus attached, so it is an option.”
The horse racing bug has always ran through McAvaney’s blood and he remembers calling Cranbourne Cups for Channel Ten during his time there in the mid ’80s. He has also called several Melbourne Cups and has been the host of Channel Seven’s Spring Racing Carnival coverage over the last few years.
The Melbourne Cup connection doesn’t end there for Sahara Sun, with Cumani, O’Donnell and Henderson combining for a heartbreaking second in the 2008 race with their horse, Bauer, beaten a nose by the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed.
Sahara Sun is also related to last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Americain, whose sire Dynaformer sired Milt’s Overture, the sire of Sahara Sun.
McAvaney is not sure how the South American form will stack up in the spring’s majors, but there’s been no stone left unturned in making sure Sahara Sun is at his best for the challenge ahead.
“Australia has been the long term plan all along,” McAvaney said.
“Luca took the horse to his Newmarket stables at the start of the year; the horse had a little trouble settling in his Chilean races so Luca wanted time with him to teach him to settle.
“He had one run at Doncaster in England, where he gave the field a tremendous amount of weight and was only beaten two lengths.
“I know the horse has been working well.”
Sahara Sun has never carried less than 56kgs in his 12 races, of which he has won three, finished second four times and third twice. He drops to 51kgs for both cups and could be the horse to give Cumani, O’Donnell, Henderson and McAvaney their first Melbourne Cup winner.
Now that would be special.