Thebudgiesmugla seeks to maintain perfect distance record

A prominent contender in metropolitan races, Thebudgiesmugla has an impeccable record of five wins from five starts over 2400 metres and is aiming to extend this streak to six in the Drinkwise Cup at Randwick.

This six-year-old gelding was one of the notable performers of the off-season, achieving victory in three of his four starts between May and July. These wins included the prestigious Winter Cup at Randwick and the Caloundra Cup in Queensland, both races contested over the same 2400-metre journey as Saturday's event.

Benefitting from a recent fourth-place finish behind Boniface in a middle-distance race, Thebudgiesmugla is expected to be a difficult horse to beat at Randwick.

"He was great first-up and he's five from five at the 2400 and gets 2400 again on Saturday," trainer Bjorn Baker's racing manager, Luke Hilton, stated.

"It wasn't always in our mind to run Saturday. We were going to give him a bit of time into the Newcastle Cup, but this race came up, and it looked so good for him we decided to run him."

"He is obviously a bit better with his toe in the ground, but he's putting together some good performances on better ground as well."

Early betting markets for The Metropolitan place Thebudgiesmugla on the fourth line at $11, while he is the firm $2.25 favourite for the Drinkwise Cup.

His most significant challenge may come from his stablemate, So You Are.

So You Are, a more recent addition to the Baker stable, was separated by less than a length from Thebudgiesmugla in both the Winter and Caloundra Cups. Additionally, So You Are finished ahead of his stablemate in their last respective starts.

However, Hilton suggests that "Thebudgie", as he is affectionately known, has more room for improvement.

"So You Are had a little bit more residual fitness than TheBudgie first-up," he commented.

"He's going to strip a bit fitter as well, but I'd say TheBudgie has got a bit more improvement to come."

In a curious turn, Baker only secured his first city winner of the season on Wednesday with Appeared at Warwick Farm. The prominent trainer had endured a run of misfortune at the start of the new term, recording seven second placings, two of which were achieved by the speedy filly Blue Door in stakes races.

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