Callaghan Park will play host to the Tatts Gold Cup Day on Friday as the Rockhampton Jockey Club (RJC) kicks off their 2025 carnival.
A bumper eight-race card, headlined by the $35,000 TAB Tattersalls Gold Cup (1600m) and $35,000 RJC Tattersalls Sprint (1200m), the meeting leads into Newmarket Day on July 4 and Rockhampton Cup Day on July 5.
The Tattersalls Gold Cup is an open event, and Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick will present the well-placed defending champion Under The Cap (gate 3, Cody Collis).
The Tattersalls Gold Cup winner in 2024,and a six-time victor, the 5YO has won up to the mile trip, earning Wessel Thoroughbreds and connections over $200,000 in 24 starts.
Following a short spell, Under The Cap resumed on his home track on May 30 and ran into a heavy track when finishing fifth behind the Natalie McCall-trained Winston Smurfhill in a 1300m Open Handicap.
Second-up (4:1-1-0), Under the Cap will be fitter for the run, and a soft track (14:4-3-1) will suit the visiting galloper that has drawn softly in the big field.
Kendrick will arrive in Rockhampton with multiple leading chances, including Master Showman (gate 10, Cody Collis) in the Tattersalls Sprint (1200m).
Another six-time winner, having earned connections over $320,000 in prizemoney, the 5YO son of the late Snitzel was super impressive, winning a 1200m Class Six Handicap at Eagle Farm on April 5.
In recent efforts at Eagle Farm and Doomben, the Sunshine Coast galloper has taken on strong races but drops back in class for this assignment at Rockhampton.
The Kendrick stable also presents a three-pronged attack in the 1400m Benchmark 70 Handicap in the form of Fistsoffury (gate 5, Leah Martyn), Ultimate Outcome (gate 6, Ryan Wiggins), and the well-named Loose Unit (gate 9, Cody Collis).
On a massive day at Rockhampton, the first of eight races on Tatts Day starts at 12.17pm.
Rockhampton tips – June 20
Race 1: #9 Sardinia
Race 2: #2 Gilbert’s Gold
Race 3: #3 Ask Me Mate
Race 4: #3 Yukanuma
Race 5: #1 Executive Stress
Race 6: #1 Master Showman
Race 7: #3 Under The Cap
Race 8: #2 Northernontap
Track conditions
Rail Position: +0.5m Entire
Dual Track Meeting: N
Track Type: Turf
Track Condition: Soft 5
Weather: Fine
Penetrometer: 5.27Acceptances: 105
