Peter Moody is prepared to give Pounding one last attempt at a feature autumn race while the tracks remain on the good side.
Pounding heads to Flemington on Saturday to run in the Group 1 Australian Cup, only his second attempt at 2000m.
The four-year-old has had a long, drawn-out campaign that started over 1200m at Caulfield last July with Saturday’s run being the gelding’s 13th run for the preparation.
The Australian Cup was only thought about on Sunday after Pounding pulled-up so well after his sixth-place finish in the All Star Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley last Saturday.
“Was it (the Australian Cup) on the radar, no,” Moody said.
“Was the All-Star Mile and his previous runs on the radar, no, but I think his run in All-Star Mile and his overall form warrants a crack at it.
“And with the Tancred Stakes (2400m at Rosehill) and the Australian Cup being on the same day, it has got to split the quality a bit.”
Moody said the decision to tackle the Australian Cup came about after Pounding came home after the All-Star Mile at ate up.
“He ate up on Saturday night and that was probably the catalyst for us nominating him,” Moody said.
“He’s had a good week and he spent the early part of it down the beach and after he had pleased us up until Wednesday morning when acceptances were taken, we’ve decided to run.”
Prior to the All-Star Mile, Pounding had won the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Sandown on February 11 before running second to Australian Cup contender Nonconformist in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 4.
Moody said Pounding’s only try at 2000m was on a heavy track, which the gelding hated.
He said Saturday’s line-up did not boast a stand-out weight-for-age performer.
“There’s probably 15 handicappers in the race, like him, and his weight-for-age form is probably as good as most of them,” Moody said.
“He won the Carlyon Cup, he ran second in the Blamey which is usually good form for the Australian Cup and he ran well in the All-Star Mile.
“He deserves his chance.”