Tulloch Lodge double handed in 2025 Winter Cup

Sir Lucan returns for another shot at the Winter Cup (2400m), though this time around, fitness may prove the key challenge as he lines up for just his second run of the campaign.

Unlike last year’s victory which came after several runs under his belt, the gelding heads to Saturday’s Listed race following a lacklustre effort in the Lord Mayors Cup (2000m), where he tailed the field and failed to fire.

“He just got too far back the other day,” explained Adrian Bott, who trains the horse in partnership with Gai Waterhouse.

“He can win a race of that quality at this time of year. But he is only second-up so he will probably improve again.”

Sir Lucan has historically performed well second-up, including a runner-up finish in this year’s Gosford Cup following a quiet first-up showing.

Should he win again, he’ll become only the third horse in the race’s long history to win the Winter Cup more than once — a feat previously achieved by Destiny’s Kiss and Royal Bark.

The stable also saddles up Bear On The Loose, who will be tested over 2400m for the first time since being imported from Europe, where he was successful up to 2112m.

Bear On The Loose arrives in good order following his last-start second in a 2000m event at Randwick behind Glory Daze.

“It was a good run last start. He is versatile in the conditions and should appreciate the trip,” Bott said.

“He is still lightly raced and still progressive.”

Fourteen runners are engaged in the Winter Cup, including topweight Changingoftheguard, who resumes with 59kg. Sir Lucan has 57kg, and Bear On The Loose has 53kg.

Changingoftheguard is first-up since finishing second in the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill last spring.