WAGGA trainer Tim Donnelly has taken a universal approach to this year's Gold Cup carnival.
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Donnelly will saddle up six horses over the two days with them all hailing from different parts of the globe.
The group-one winning trainer has began to get his hands on more overseas imports, something that is highlighted by his six carnival chances being bred in France, the United States, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
One of his most interesting runners at Wagga will be the Richard Pegum-owned Kitzbuhel, who will have his first Australian start in the Class One & Maiden Plate (1600m) on Thursday.
His first seven starts have been in the United Kingdom, where he has enjoyed one win over 2400 metres.
Donnelly was happy to welcome another of Pegum's imports to his stable.
"Richard raced him in England. He brought three horses out, that he owned over there, and two horses went to Waller and this bloke came to me," Donnelly explained.
"He's a nice horse. He's a pretty ordinary track worker so we don't get a good guide on him there. He trailled ok, I was happy enough with his trial. Nick pulled the stick on him and made him go a bit. He trialled better than he works, which is good.
"It's a good race. It's just whether he's sharp enough for the 1600. You don't get a real good guide on the work because he's probably hasn't adjusted to our work just yet. Whereas if I work him over 2000 and went 13 to the furlong, he'd beat every horse in Australia. But the way we do it, he probably wouldn't beat any horses in the stable.
"He is a nice horse though and all the experts say they are better after one preparation, too. Other than what he's shown on the track, I'm happy with him."
Another overseas-bred horse that Donnelly has high hopes for is Pontmain.
Raced by Tony and Bill Barton, Pontmain has only had two starts for a 1600m win on debut, then a close second over 1800m in a Highway Handicap.
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Ahead of his return to racing after more than 800 days off the scene due to injury, Donnelly labelled Pontmain the best horse he's trained in the 17 years he's been back in Wagga.
"He's the best horse I've had since I've been in Wagga," he said.
Pontmain will contest the last race at Wagga on Thursday, the Class Two Showcase Handicap (1400m). Donnelly's only concern is it will be too short for his seven-year-old.
"It probably is. Originally I was going to run him in the other 1600, I was going to split the two horses up but when he missed that trial at Wagga, it just put a doubt in my mind as to whether he was ready for the 1600," Donnelly said.
"The 1400 is short of his best but he's a bloody good horse and good horses overcome these things."
Donnelly also has high hopes for Participator, a two-year-old he purchased from the Ready to Run sales in New Zealand.
He is in Thursday's 2YO Handicap (1200m) but Donnelly's preference is the Country Showcase Maiden Plate (1200m) on Friday, where he is the second emergency.
"If he looked to get a run on Friday, he'll run on the Friday. I want to run in a maiden," he said.
"He's a nice horse. He goes well. Mentally, he's not there yet but he's got good ability. I really like him."
Would Be King, who has been in great form, and Jodhpur are likely to have their last start for the stable over the carnival. Both horses are entered in next week's Inglis Digital sales.
Donnelly would not be surprised if either went out on a winning note.
"Would Be King, he's going well. Honestly, he's looking like he's looking for the 2000," he said.
"The key to him is racing in the lead and in the shorter races, he wasn't able to get to the lead and now that we stepped him up, he gets to the lead. He keeps battling on, he's got no turn of foot but he's very honest. All of his runs this prep, he's had 10 of them, all of his runs have been good. He'll run a good race again.
"Jodhpur, he might improve. We've been taking him out to the university and taking him over the jumps hoping that will sharpen him up. At his best, he could win that race."
Donnelly's other runner is Picadilly Star, a three-year-old filly on debut on Thursday. He said she will get better over further.
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