Kalgoorlie Cup winner Gondorff and Hannan’s Handicap placegetter Tudor Lad look set to battle it out in Sunday’s XXXX Gold Northam Cup.

Gondorff resumes following a stellar Goldfields campaign that netted the Montjeu gelding a win in the Kalgoorlie Cup and two second placings behind Reverend Lovejoy in the Coolgardie and Boulder Cups.

He has reportedly returned in fine fettle and was forward enough in condition that trainer Mark Reed elected to bypass a barrier trial earlier in the week.

His record this preparation has been impeccable with three wins and three placings from six starts and if he can reproduce his Kalgoorlie form he will take a power of beating and more than likely head towards a Perth Cup campaign. 

Also targeting a possible Perth Cup start is the consistent galloper Tudor Lad. 

Trainer Ross Price and connections are convinced the five-year-old has the ability and pedigree to run out a strong 2400 metres and the Northam Cup is stage one of their plan.

He goes into the race on the back of excellent form including a close-up third to McLurch in the Hannan’s Handicap two starts back and a stylish win over King Kool Kat at Belmont Park a fortnight ago.

He has yet to miss the money in 11 career starts and only a brave punter would suggest he won’t be picking up a cheque again on Sunday.

Lambton Castle put in a slashing effort when fifth behind Megatic in last week’s Listed Northerly Stakes at Ascot.

The Blackfriars gelding was doing his best work late and he will pose a serious threat to Gondorff and Tudor Lad.

He will strip fitter for the run and Lindsey Smith will have him cherry-ripe for the race.

The stable is in red-hot form and a Lambton Castle win will not surprise.

Hadabeclorka hasn’t exactly set the world on fire in two starts back this campaign with a sixth placing behind London and a last-start ninth to Megatic.

But I have a nagging doubt he could pull something out of the fire on Sunday and this race is slightly easier than what he has faced recently.

In a change of tactics trainer Brent Larsson is stepping him up to the mile for the first time and from barrier one he should be able to take a forward position and be ready to strike when the whips are cracking.

I can’t declare him but I can’t leave him out of the novelties.

The interesting runner in the race is former Queensland galloper Majorca who will be making his Western Australian debut.

He did win a mile race at Caulfield four years ago when ridden by Dan Nikolic and was placed at recent barrier trial at Belmont Park but faces a tough task at his debut.

Selections: Tudor Lad-Gondorff-Lambton Castle-Hadabeclorka.

Happy Punting!!