Prentice gives SW stable a Bunbury Cup hope

South West trainer Peter Giadresco will look to break his $120,000 XXXX Gold Bunbury Cup (2200m) drought when Prentice runs in this Sunday’s race at the Bunbury Turf Club.

The Giadresco stable will put forward the handy stayer in the South West’s biggest race, just the third time Giadresco has entered a horse in the listed event.

Under the care of Giadresco and his son Matt, the six-year-old gelding has become a consistent runner, claiming three wins from his past five starts.

Giadresco said he was pleased with Prentice’s preparation ahead of Sunday.

“He is going pretty good,” he said.

“The other day he had a good run in the Bull and Bush Tavern Cup.

“He just drew a bit wide and got caught at the back.”

Prentice will start from barrier one after yesterday’s draw, giving him the opportunity to lead the pack.

Giadresco said champion jockey William Pike, who will again take the ride, was happy with the horse and hoped to get him in a prominent position on Sunday.

“He is the number one jockey and was happy with the run in the Bull and Bush,” he said.

Giadresco has trained a number of good horses throughout the years, winning group races such as the Karrakatta Plate, the Cox Stakes, the Lee Steere Stakes and the Lee Steere Classic.

Giadresco said winning the Bunbury Cup would be special.

“I have won a lot of feature races, but never the big home town race,” he said. “I have had a lot of horses who have won bigger races than the Bunbury Cup.

“But I just haven’t had them running at this time of the year.

“It would mean a fair bit to me to win the Bunbury Cup.”

Bunbury trainer Chris Stelmach is also a chance of claiming a win in the Bunbury Cup, with five-year-old gelding Couluer Bizzare set to start in the race.

Racing stalwart Lou Luciani has also entered four-year-old gelding Geiger Gem, who is yet to win over more than 1500m.