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McArdle: Track conditions will decide Kilmore Cup
Connor Scanlon ⹠ November 23rd, 2025 1:22 pm
John McArdle has two of the five runners in $200,000 Kilmore Cup today â Regal Zeus and El Rocko.
Both McArdleâs runners top the market, but there isnât much to split the pair in Race 8 at Kilmore.
While the trainer is confident that one of his two will win, he believes that the track conditions will ultimately decide which horse will win the race.
âBased on their work Tuesday morning it would be Regal Zeus (to win) but depending on how chopped up and wet the track is, the more El Rocko becomes the one,â McArdle told RSNâs Correct Weight.
âThere is very little between them, only about .3 of a second difference in their work on Tuesday.
âOn a firmer surface I would lean towards Regal Zeus, but if thereâs a better give in the track, the old horse comes right into play.â
When speaking about the race shape, McArdle revealed that Regal Zeus will most likely lead the short field, while El Rocko will sit off him in second.
âIâd think that Regal Zeus will lead. El Rocko isnât as a manic leader as Regal Zeus is,â the trainer said.
âRegal Zeus really gets out there and rolls along, whereas El Rocko can sit second, third, fourth.
âBut I would assume the two of them would be out there being the first two in the running.
âIâm backing from the 500m it will be a best horse wins scenario.â
Despite the stablemates both having amazing chances to win this Listed Race, they originally werenât meant to be run against each other.
âThe plan was to never run them against each other,â McArdle admitted.
âThe plan was always to run one in the Cranbourne Cup and one in the Kilmore Cup. But the way the race was panning out at 7am yesterday, we decided to run them both against each other.
âMainly because the rain was coming for El Rocko.
âItâs probably worked out that weâve ended up in the right race with just five runners.â
Regal Zeus is currently the $3.50 favourite with Sportsbet, while El Rocko is at $3.90.
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Odds correct when published at 11:20am.
