Lightly-raced 4-year-old Mr Tipsy can revive the fortunes of New Zealanders in the Sydney Cup and give co-trainer Murray Baker his second win in the race in 17 years.
The last Kiwi to navigate the Tasman and land the prize was Honor Babe six years ago but a proven recordat 3200 metres provides the foundation of support for Mr Tipsy.
The Montjeu gelding is quoted at A$8 for the Cup with only Fiumicino (A$6.50) and Master O'Reilly (A$7.50) ahead of him in TAB Sportsbet's market last night.
Last start Mr Tipsy was unlucky not to finish closer than fifth to Fiumicino in The BMW (2400m) and drops from 58.5kg to just 51kg tomorrow.
That is also a kilo less than he carried when he finished a two-length second to Spin Around in the Auckland Cup (3200m) two starts ago.
Baker, who won the Sydney Cup with My Eagle Eye in 1992, shares the training of Mr Tipsy with his son Bjorn who is getting more confident as the wet weather hits Sydney.
"He likes it wet and he is going well," Bjorn Baker said.
He said the BMW topped Mr Tipsy off for the Cup and he would be much better suited under the handicap conditions.
"With 51kg, he's going to enjoy that," Baker said. "He is an out-and-out stayer and overall we were happy with the run in the BMW.
"He covered a bit of ground and probably should have finished fourth."
Baker said the three-week gap between the BMW and Sydney Cup, coming after a month's break between the Auckland Cup and the BMW, was by design as much as opportunity.
"It was up to us whether we wanted to line him up in races in between and risk him getting a re-handicap, but we thought it was better going straight into the Cup," Baker said.
"He was guaranteed a start and it has all been fitting into place nicely.
"He has done a good job as he had his first race start at the end of July last year."
Lightweight jockey Corey Brown replaces Michael Rodd on Mr Tipsy who has won six of his 12 starts and been placed on another four occasions.
