Durrant doubles up in Mt Barker Cup

Leading trainer Adam Durrant will chase a third Mt Barker Cup when he sends two runners down to contest Saturday’s 2019 edition of the long-running feature race at Mt Barker Turf Club.

A small field of eight will compete in the $35,000 Tabtouch Mt Barker Cup (2000m) with State Prosecutor and Press The Petal making up Durrant’s team as he looks to add to his previous success with Marden (2015) and Hibernian (2012).

Last season’s Belmont Guineas winner State Prosecutor will carry 60kg with jockey Peter Hall in the saddle and Durrant is hopeful the four-year-old can recapture some of his best form.

“On his old form, yes, he can win,” Durrant, pictured, said.

“Whether I have got him back to that I’m not sure.

“His trial was good the other day but his first-up run was a fraction disappointing.

“He sat at the tail but his sectionals weren’t too bad on a day when they didn’t make much ground up.

“I just want to see him again under race pressure and then determine where to from there but he is well in himself and doing everything right.”

State Prosecutor finished ninth at his last start beaten more than eight lengths over 1600m on March 9 but prior to that tackled listed company in the Kalgoorlie and Boulder cups.

Press The Petal has won five of 29 career starts and has been running in Saturday metropolitan staying races this campaign.

Julien Kokotajlo takes the mount with the six-year-old to carry 57kg from gate two in the feature.

“She has been struggling in those higher-rating races,” Durrant said.

“This is her level and she gets a slight pull in the weights.

“It looks like a winnable race for her for sure.”

Hall is aiming for a fourth Mt Barker Cup crown, having ridden both of Durrant’s winners along with Steve Wolfe’s sole triumph in the race, Juene’s Fantasy back in 2002.

Wolfe will attempt to end his long drought in the race with consistent type Gauged, who finished eighth in the recent Albany Cup.

The meeting will coincide with Karrakatta Plate day at Ascot, with the Mt Barker Cup set for 4.40pm.