NEWCOLOUR • NEWCOLOUR

By Tim Howard

South Grafton Cup winner Cepheus has confrmed its favouritism for November’s $3 million Big Dance with a win in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes 1500m at Rosehill.

The Murwillumbahbased galloper surfaced as a serious challenger for the big race on Melbourne Cup Day with his stunning South Cup win on July 9 and his run on September 23 only made the bookies’ job easier.

Trainer Matthew Dunn said he the program for his star six-year-old heading into the Big Dance, was fuid.

“We came into this race pretty confdent he was ready to run well. He may have looked a little plain last start, that was more so a ftness issue than anything,” said Dunn.

“So we gave him an easy time after we’d qualifed him for the Big Dance.

“He’s on track (for the Big Dance). That’s where he’ll go now, the path we take. It’s probably changed three times already and it will probably change again.

“Where we go to from here I’ll let him tell us, but provided he comes though this run well who rode three winners at Rosehill on Saturday, praised Cepheus for his desire to win, but said the gelding gave him some problems early in the race.

Early leader Cross Talk the run to the line.

“When I pushed the button he still had plenty left to give,” Rawiller said post race.

He fnished more than a length ahead of Williamsburg ($9.50) day, and his frst win in the Shannon Stakes. Rawiller hinted at some of the diffculties Cepheus has given jockeys and trainers.

“He gave me a bit of a hard time, from the time I got on him I don’t know why he was really above himself,” he said.

“On his day he does special things like that, the trainer (Matthew Dunn) can do that too. He wanted to win this race and he’s come and just blown them away.

“Great effort by the team there at Murwillumbah and he’s a horse that’s got good ability.” that’s his goal this prep and that’s where we’ll head.”

Jockey Nash Rawiller, set a cracking pace, but Rawiller spotted a rails run and battled to keep Cepheus in position for and Waterford ($3.40) third.

It secured Dunn a training double on the

Cepheus is now a $6 favourite with online bookmakers for the Big Dance on November 7.