Jockey Pat Carbery believes Cyber Crime is primed to halt the dominance of Adam Durrant’s stable as he strives to defend his Geraldton Cup (2100m) crown on Sunday.
Carbery says Cyber Crime is ready to reproduce his best form after trainer Alan Mathews was forced to abandon his previous preparation in the summer.
Benefiting from a freshen-up he returned in the Detonator Stakes (1800m) at Ascot before consecutive placings to boom mare Tick Tick Bloom in Bunbury.
The consistent six-year-old ran second in the AHA Cup (2019m) and third in the Bunbury Cup (2100m) after attempting to lead throughout.
“His last two runs have been really good and the form is solid,” said Carbery on TAB Radio.
“For whatever reason over Christmas he didn’t really come up for the Perth Cup.
“Alan pulled the plug and changed a few things although nothing major that I can see.
“He carries less weight than when he won last year which can only be a positive.
“He only has to bring his last two runs to Geraldton and he has to be in the firing line.
“He generally always is and hopefully he will stick his head out when I ask him to.”
Cyber Crime was forced into the pacesetter role in the Bunbury Cup and was still in front with 100m remaining.
But Carbery says with in-form Geraldton stayer Confucius likely to go forward he expects to hand up the lead.
“It wasn’t ideal to lead in the Bunbury Cup and it wasn’t by design,” said Carbery.
“The Geraldton Cup is generally run pretty solid and I’m hoping for a bit of speed.
“Last year there was pace on and everything worked in our favour.”
Cyber Crime, who defeated Gold Broker and Desert Glow, is attempting to become just the second horse in the past 39 years to win back-to-back Geraldton Cups
Clive Lauritsen’s pair of Tapdog was successful in 2006-2007 while Royal Hand took out the race in 1974-75.
Cyber Crime, drawn in barrier five, can give Mathews his third triumph in Geraldton’s premier race after preparing I Don’t Recall in 2011.
Durrant is searching for one of the few trophies missing from his racing resume after dual placings with Hibernian (2012) and Great Destiny (2010).
WA’s leading horseman is on a hot country winning streak after Tick Tick Bloom won the Bunbury Cup and Marden the Mount Barker Cup.
www.rwwa.com.au