Shoes To Fill Setting ‘Sale' For Cup?

TERRY Auckram admits he tossed Shoes To Fill in the deep end when he ran him in a 710m graded race at Albion park on Thursday night, but the result justified the move.

Shoes To Fill (Tonk-Indiana Gold) had not been 710m since early in July and Auckram had nominated him for a 600m race programmed on the night.

When the grader rang to say there would be no 600m race but he could go into a 710m, Auckram agreed.

Shoes To Fill took his record to 51 starts for 14 wins and 14 placings for $92,000 in stakes with the victory in 42.23 beating First Fire and Visigoth.

Now Auckram is confirming plans to take the dog to the Group 1 Sale Cup series at Christmas time.

“It is a long-range plan, but one I have thought for a long time now could suit him,” said Terry.

Shoes To Fill has been a marvel for Auckram.

His victory over 710m gave him the rare honour of winning over 520m, 600m and now 710m at Albion Park.

“I probably would have rather run him over 600 metre, but a blood test I got done on him showed him to be 101 percent right,” said Terry.

“And he proved that was spot on running down the early leader. He likes to chase from behind.”

Shoes To Fill has given some great highs and one very grave low during his race career.

The highs include winning the Flying Amy Classic and The Dashing Corsair at Albion Park and making the final of the Group 1 Winter Cup.

The low point was being scratched on race day by stewards from the Group 1 Albion Park Gold Cup in June after Auckram admitted giving the dog some glycerine on race morning to clear his throat on the cold morning.

A swab done on the syringe used tested negative.

Auckram is still fuming about the treatment he and the dog received.

Azzopardi's More Than Passing Interest

EVERY time Cash point races, premier trainer Anthony Azzopardi takes more than a passing interest.

Azzopardi and Cash Point's owner-trainer Bobby Cooke are the best of mates. Azzopardi keeps pestering Cooke to send Cash Point to his kennel in Victoria.

Cash Point (Smooth Fancy-Cash Will Do) ran 30.00 to win a 520m 5th Grade at Albion Park on Thursday night as the $1.50 favourite.

He downed Regal Emerald and Brother Desy. It was his fifth win in 12 starts and he has been placed five times.

While Azzopardi is keen on Cash Point, so is Cooke.

“He will run in the Lismore heats of the million dollar race, but I'd also like to head to Sandown to run him in the Speed Star,” said Cooke.

“Anthony says the dog would run 29.10 around Sandown in a two-dog match race and that will do me.

“That sort of time would give him a great chance in the Speed Star.”

But Cash Point is already showing he is a likely staying prospect such is the strength he is showing in his races.