Trainer Ethan Ensby is hoping to win his first Beef Week Cup with Eyes To Eye.
A New Zealand-bred son of All Aged Stakes winner Tivaci, Eyes To Eye has been a model of consistency throughout; winning at Ballina either side of a silver and bronze in recent times.
‘’He’ll head to Casino at the end of the month and contest the Beef Week Cup all things being equal,’’ Ensby says.
‘’I have been trying to win a Beef Week Cup for eight years. Beef Week Cups are like Melbourne Cups for Casino born and bred people.
‘’Once I have won a Beef Week Cup I’ll be satisfied.’’
A few showers in the Murwillumbah region could serve to take the edge of the track which would only enhance Eyes To Eye’s winning prospects.
‘’I had him in the Highway at Scone on Saturday but he drew a bad gate and the track was a Good 4 down there. He wants the sting out of it, he wants a Soft 6 or probably a little bit worse but he’s going well,’’ said Ensby.
As much as Ensby would like a ‘6’ for Eyes To Eye, a rating of that nature could see stablemates Fellowship and / or King Cornelius stay at home at Ballina and saved for another day.
Fellowship, a dead ringer for his damsire Sepoy, was disappointing on debut with Noriyuki Masuda in the saddle after trialling well but went home with some valid excuses.
‘’He went in there underdone,’’ Ensby said. ‘’Nori was supposed to go back on him and run on but he got his tongue over the bit and took charge.
‘’I think he has got some ability there, we just have to get a couple of things right with him. He is a little bit of a work in progress at the moment.’’
As for King Cornelius, Ensby has found the right race for the son of Invader so long as he can find some firm footing underneath him.
‘’He’s not an overly big horse but he’s got nearly a seven and a half metre stride on him,’’ the trainer said.
‘’If he had an uninterrupted run at Beaudesert the other day, he would have won by a length or more.’’