Cup campaign starts at Valley for Banca Mo

Thursday 3 September 2015, 12:52pm

Tasmanian galloper Banco Mo will need his skates on when he tackles weight-for-age company at Moonee Valley.

That's the blunt assessment of the gelding's trainer Scott Brunton as the eight-year-old prepares for the Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.

The gelding is on a Caulfield Cup trail and Brunton says racing Contributer as well as The Cleaner, Mourinho and Foreteller, who ran the first three placings last year, is a daunting task first-up.

Contributer holds favouritism at $1.80 over The Cleaner ($6) and Mourinho ($7) with Banco Mo an outsider at $61.

Brunton is happy with Banca Mo's condition and the gelding does hold a one-nil advantage over his Tasmanian counterpart The Cleaner, defeating him over 2040m at Moonee Valley in 2012.

"He was a real serious horse at the time of that win but unfortunately he broke down," Brunton said.

"One goes (breaks down) and one doesn't, that's the luck of the draw.

"He's drawn a good barrier on Saturday. We'll push forward early as nothing will take The Cleaner on, they never do, and I figure I might find myself a nice spot."

Banca Mo is assured of a Caulfield Cup start after winning the ballot-free Mornington Cup in March and has 50.5kg.

After his Mornington Cup success, Banca Mo was transferred to Bevan Laming and campaigned in Queensland where the early stages didn't go according to plan.

Brunton said transport difficulties resulted in the stayer missing the Hollindale Cup but eventually he regathered form, finishing second in the Ipswich Cup before running fourth in the Tattersall's Cup at the Gold Coast.

He was spelled in the warmer climate after finishing towards the tail of the field in the Grafton Cup and returned to Tasmania for the final stages of his preparation.

Brunton said Banca Mo would improve with Saturday's run and he will be guided by the gelding's performance before deciding a path to the Caulfield Cup.

He said he was mindful of the gelding's age and a tough winter campaign leading towards the Caulfield Cup.

"We've got no weight on our back so we'll keep pushing forward towards it," Brunton said.

"If I say no to the owner what's to stop her taking him somewhere else.

"It's her choice so I'll roll with it."

– AAP

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