Balfour aims to be Cashed up at the Valley

A lot of hard work has gone into getting Adelaide sprinter Cashed back into winning form.

The Ryan Balfour-trained gelding won his first race in 15 months at Morphettville on December 17 and will be out to back that up in the William Hill Handicap at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Feet problems hampered Cashed during his last campaign, a preparation during which he contested Adelaide’s top sprint races leading up to The Goodwood in May in which he was unplaced.

He had another three starts before a spell.

Balfour said the break allowed Cashed to grow his feet and enable the farrier to attend his problems.

“He’s got four white feet and that can spell danger,” Balfour said.

“Like any good horse they have management issues but that’s part of a training stable to keep on top of them.

“The farrier has done a great job and every day we take all the preventative measures we can to make sure he doesn’t move a shoe.”

Balfour said Cashed was unlucky at his first two runs back and went into his last start a forgotten horse.

The trainer said his work on Tuesday was better than before his last start but Balfour is not shying away from what is going to be a tough assignment on Saturday.

However he knows Cashed is up to the task if he can reproduce his effort to finish second to Alpha Miss in the Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield last year.

Dwayne Dunn rode him that day and is back aboard on Saturday.

“In any Melbourne grade Saturday race you can’t be going over being arrogant,” Balfour said.

“You know you have to go over and hope your horse gets a good run, be in top condition and hope things go your way, and if it does it’s very lucrative.

“Dwayne’s nearly won a Group Two on him but he’s drawn out a bit further than I would have liked but being the last race, maybe it’s not the worst thing.

“He’s got to settle in the first half of the race and then we’ll get a big finish out of him.”

Cashed is rated a $10 chance in an open betting race with Rock ‘N’ Gold the $5 favourite ahead of Olivier at $5.50.