By Alex Nolan
Trainer Nicole Connell has enjoyed many Melbourne Cup days track side at Capalaba but, with any luck, she hopes this year will be her favourite of them all.
Connell will box the ultra-consistent Ferocity in Tuesday’s annual Capelbourne Cup, looking for redemption after receiving little luck in the Group 3 Capalaba Cup earlier this month.
Ferocity ran a bottler to finish second behind Sacred Stance in a heat of the club’s pinnacle event, before he was hammered pillar to post in the Final and finished last.
He bounced back to win the following start over 431 metres at Ipswich with an uninterrupted passage from box one, then ran into some more trouble last start over the same track and trip from box two, but dusted himself off to finish second.
Ferocity has drawn box eight for the non-TAB feature, which Connell says will suit him to a tee.
“Untouched, this dog can run,” she said.
“He’s a dog that needs luck in the race and not to get knocked about.
“That’s exactly what happened in the Capalaba Cup.
"I was so excited to have box eight but when those good dogs come across quick, he got banged three or four times and it put him out.
“It was heart breaking, but that’s racing and it was a hot field.”
Connell has already painted her nails pink in anticipation of Tuesday's event, where her charge is set to take on the likes of Beck And Call, Fernando Grand, Burnt Briar, Tira Mira, On the Radar and Champagne Jazzy.
“I head to the races on Tuesday feeling confident, but not cocky,” Connell said.
“He trialled very hot on Friday morning when I slipped him over 300 metres, he went 13.7 seconds, which is very good and a couple slips prior he went as low as 13.57 seconds.
“I think if he can jump, get across to the middle and go straight then he’s a terrific chance.”