In the News, Apr 12 2002

TRAINER Clive Lauritsen with Tapdog. The four-year-old has been in scintillating form this season but is as yet untried at the Cup distance. (Photo by Angie Simms).

Solid preparation should benefit Fujiama

SUNDAY'S Geraldton Swan Draught Gold Cup is one of the most open in year's.

What makes the race more interesting is that in the field of 13 runners only five have started over the Cup distance of 2100m - the other eight being unknown qualities.

Last year's winner, the Garry Delane trained Sir Donald has had three starts over the distance for two wins. At his last start, Sir Donald carried 54kg when a narrow winner over Indigo King at Ascot on March 30 in a tight three way finish.

Sir Donald is nicely drawn in barrier two and will be ridden by Daniel Staek, who rode the eight-year-old gelding to his Ascot victory.

If Sir Donald's form can be used as a gauge for the Cup, then the Andrew Voigt trained Fujiama must come in calculations.

Fujiama started in the same race at Ascot and finished third, less than a neck behind Sir Donald. That run would have rounded the seven-year-old gelding's Cup preparation off nicely.