TAREE five-year-old gelding Casino Mondial ($10) showed his versatility in stepping up to 1890m at Newcastle last week for a narrow win-a feat which has trainer Michael Byers entertaining bigger things for the galloper.
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Connections are now looking at the gelding starting in the $24,500 Wingham Cup over 1600m at Taree on June 5 or the $29,000 Wauchope Cup over 1500m at Port Macquarie on June 14, or both races.
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"Ultimately, I think he can make a country cups horse over 2000m later this year but firstly a win in the Wauchope Cup puts him into the South Grafton Cup at the start of the Grafton Cup carnival," Byers said.
"His target will be the Taree Cup in August and of his six wins in 16 starts four of them have been at Taree.
Casino Mondial was an unlucky second to Port's Magnalane in the Country Championships Qualifier at Taree then won over 1600m at Taree the next start.
"Jockey Mitchell Bell (rode gelding at Newcastle) believes my horse can run 2000m,'' Byers said.
"Casino Mondial has come a long way since being operated on for a tumour in his groin before he raced...he was out for eight months recovering.
"He can stay in work with his races spaced but most country races are out of play due to his likely increase in weight."
He said he also trained Casino Mondial's mother, Mondial Dame, which won six races, one of them thought to be the Wingham Cup.
