Monmore Race 9

Ladbrokes Gold Cup 2026 -Heat 5

Prize Money: $1,389

SLINGSHOT POPPY (5) is impossible to fault lately, last start claiming a OR2 at Newcastle (28.02), making it four straight wins. Goes up another level but on recent form worth following up. GOLDCASH WARRIOR (2) is racing well, claiming a OR1 win two back before finishing third at his latest appearance in a OR at Monmore over 480m (28.74). Expected to measure up this easier company. AVARUA ZLATAN (3) had won three in a row before finishing fourth (30.31) last time at Hove. Form at this distance is sound. The form from his last run is stacking up nicely. A big run wouldn't surprise. ROMEO ASTRON (1) was in the money last time at Dunstall Park (28.56) in a OR1, finishing a head second. Has already won out of this trap.

Distance: 480m
Track: Good
Weather: -
Surface: All Weather
Class: OR1

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Romeo Astron (1) 216112
Trainer: T C Heilbron (Newcastle)
Prize Money: $4,932
Win / Place: 50% / 83%

1 yo Black D

Sire: ASTON RUPEE (AUS)

Dam: FABULOUS AZZURA (GB)

Rating

Stats

Career

6: 3-2-0

Distance

3: 2-1-0

Season

6: 3-2-0

Metro

3: 1-1-0

Country

3: 2-1-0

1st Up

1: 0-1-0

2nd Up

1: 1-0-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
0	3	0	0	0

Box History	1	2	3
STARTS	2	3	1
1st	1	2	0
2nd	1	1	0
3rd	0	0	0

Comments

Had won two on end but missed the hat-trick last start when second and beaten a head (28.56) in a OR1 over 480m at Dunstall Park. No surprise if he was back in the winners' list.

Expected Early Speed:Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
1st of 1	30/7/26	Monmore	480m	2	0:29.14	59.3 km/h	0L	$0.00	0:29.14		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Romeo Astron 2. 3.
2nd of 6	18/7/26	Dunstall Park	480m	1	0:28.56	60.5 km/h	0.2L	$1.40	0:28.54	0:28.04	OR1	$28,791	$1,919	7	1. Harton Whirlwind 2. Romeo Astron 3. Aero Clipper
1st of 4	11/7/26	Dunstall Park	480m	1	0:28.55	60.5 km/h	8.5L	$1.50	0:28.55	0:28.55	OR1	$1,440	$672	7	1. Romeo Astron 2. Keefill Sequoia 3. Untold Dinero
1st of 6	4/7/26	Dunstall Park	480m	2	0:28.68	60.3 km/h	6.8L	$2.50	0:28.68	0:28.65	OR1	$1,631	$672	8	1. Romeo Astron 2. Bonville Kane 3. Keefill Sequoia
6th of 6	26/6/26	Sunderland	450m	3	0:27.95	58.0 km/h	16.0L	$6.00	0:26.67	0:26.48	OR2	$18,727	$936	7	1. Annadown Chip 2. Taylor The Best 3. Annadown Wendy
1st of 6	19/6/26	Sunderland	450m	2	0:27.10	59.8 km/h	1.0L	$2.25	0:27.10	0:26.76	OR2	$1,301	$599	7	1. Romeo Astron 2. Annadown Wendy 3. Droopys Pioneer

Goldcash Warrior (2) 2132541223
Trainer: N J Hunt (Monmore)
Prize Money: $15,224
Win / Place: 45% / 83%

Box Specialist

2 yo Black D

Sire: GRANGEVIEW TEN (IRE)

Dam: WISE ERUPTION (IRE)

Rating

Stats

Career

24: 11-7-2

Distance

16: 10-3-1

Season

14: 4-5-2

Metro

8: 3-3-1

Country

16: 8-4-1

1st Up

2: 2-0-0

2nd Up

2: 1-1-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
0	10	1	0	0

Box History	1	2	3	4
STARTS	9	4	8	3
1st	5	2	3	1
2nd	1	1	3	2
3rd	1	0	1	0

Comments

Form has been sound without winning, placing at his last three starts, the latest when third (28.74) over 480m at Monmore. Fought on last time. Has the ability and right in the mix.

Expected Early Speed:Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
3rd of 5	1/8/26	Monmore	480m	3	0:28.74	60.1 km/h	3.3L	$3.00	0:28.48	0:28.19		$1,073	$125	27	1. Headford Cian 2. Armagh Daithi 3. Goldcash Warrior
1st of 1	25/7/26	Monmore	264m	2	0:15.64	60.8 km/h	0L	$0.00	0:15.64		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Goldcash Warrior 2. 3.
2nd of 2	18/7/26	Dunstall Park	270m	1	N/A	-	2.5L	$0.00	0:15.74		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Scooby Diamond 2. Goldcash Warrior 3.
2nd of 6	5/7/26	Sheffield Bags	660m	3	0:39.47	60.2 km/h	1.0L	$2.80	0:39.38	0:39.38	OR1	$28,791	$1,919	7	1. Fortanach Col 2. Goldcash Warrior 3. Cooladerrydancer
2nd of 6	28/6/26	Sheffield Bags	500m	1	0:29.20	61.6 km/h	1.0L	$1.13f	0:29.11	0:28.93	OR1	$2,399	$192	7	1. Cooladerrydancer 2. Goldcash Warrior 3. Toddys Tank
1st of 6	21/6/26	Sheffield Bags	480m	1	0:27.37	63.1 km/h	4.5L	$1.22f	0:27.37	0:27.37	OR1	$1,732	$936	15	1. Goldcash Warrior 2. Cooladerrydancer 3. Farneys Tearaway

Avarua Zlatan (3) 4125161114
Trainer: R P Rees (Hove)
Prize Money: $18,266
Win / Place: 20% / 60%

3 yo BDL D

Sire: PESTANA (IRE)

Dam: KILARA COAST (GB)

Rating

Stats

Career

68: 14-19-8

Distance

12: 3-4-1

Season

13: 5-2-1

Metro

58: 13-16-6

Country

10: 1-3-2

1st Up

3: 1-1-0

2nd Up

3: 1-1-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
2	7	5	0	0

Box History	1	2	3	4
STARTS	24	25	13	6
1st	5	7	2	0
2nd	8	7	2	2
3rd	2	4	2	0

Comments

Winner two starts back at Hove over 515m in 30.18. Last start missed the placings when 4th over 515m at Hove in OR1. Is a danger.

Expected Early Speed:Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
4th of 6	25/7/26	Hove	515m	4	0:30.31	61.2 km/h	1.6L	$23	0:30.18	0:30.17	OR1	$1,344	$144	7	1. Smokestack Saxon 2. Raebella Bullet 3. Droopys Graph
1st of 6	18/7/26	Hove	515m	2	0:30.18	61.4 km/h	0.8L	$2.90	0:30.18	0:29.76	OR1	$1,296	$576	7	1. Avarua Zlatan 2. Yougo Freddie 3. Westwood Shay
1st of 5	11/7/26	Hove	500m	2	0:29.29	61.5 km/h	3.5L	$2.80	0:29.29	0:29.29	OR	$1,075	$576	14	1. Avarua Zlatan 2. Rapido Benji 3. Jacktavern Chief
1st of 6	27/6/26	Central Park	491m	1	0:28.87	61.2 km/h	8.3L	$5.50	0:28.87	0:28.72	OR3	$1,873	$936	7	1. Avarua Zlatan 2. Lets Go Johnny 3. Ballymac Kobe
6th of 6	20/6/26	Central Park	277m	3	0:16.63	60.0 km/h	8.2L	$21	0:15.96	0:15.96	OR1	$1,592	$187	7	1. Shadow Storm 2. Pavilion Team 3. King Luther
1st of 6	13/6/26	Central Park	277m	1	0:16.29	61.2 km/h	0.5L	$5.50	0:16.29	0:15.98	OR1	$1,592	$655	9	1. Avarua Zlatan 2. Headford Cian 3. Ballinakill Liam

Holding Aero (4) 1456324654
Trainer: R Taberner (Monmore)
Prize Money: $7,212
Win / Place: 22% / 61%

2 yo BLU D

Sire: KING SHEERAN (GB)

Dam: IGNITE (GB)

Rating

Stats

Career

31: 7-6-6

Distance

24: 5-5-5

Season

27: 6-6-4

Metro

29: 7-6-6

Country

2: 0-0-0

1st Up

1: 1-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-0-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
0	5	2	0	0

Box History	3	4	5
STARTS	5	16	10
1st	2	2	3
2nd	1	4	1
3rd	0	5	1

Comments

Moderate effort last start when he finished 4th over 480m at Monmore beaten 8 lengths (29.42) behind Anglesey Milo in a OR on August 1. Others preferred on this occasion.

Expected Early Speed:Backmarker

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
4th of 6	1/8/26	Monmore	480m	5	0:29.42	58.7 km/h	8.5L	$15	0:28.74	0:28.19		$1,197	$125	5	1. Anglesey Milo 2. Flashing Fender 3. Newinn Tonic
5th of 6	27/7/26	Nottingham	500m	5	0:31.29	57.5 km/h	13.3L	$11	0:30.23	0:30.23	OR	$1,631	$192	9	1. Swift Kipper 2. Magical Supreme 3. Salacres Tipster
6th of 6	18/7/26	Monmore	480m	4	0:29.10	59.4 km/h	6.3L	$15	0:28.59	0:28.17		$1,200	$125	7	1. Toddys Tank 2. Wise Tournament 3. Aero Boris
4th of 6	11/7/26	Monmore	480m	5	0:28.98	59.6 km/h	6.8L	$29	0:28.43	0:28.43		$1,919	$192	7	1. Wise Tournament 2. Armagh Daithi 3. Anglesey Milo
2nd of 6	4/7/26	Monmore	480m	4	0:28.46	60.7 km/h	1.3L	$13	0:28.36	0:28.19		$1,200	$125	7	1. Wise Tournament 2. Holding Aero 3. Tullymurry Troy
3rd of 6	27/6/26	Monmore	480m	4	0:29.05	59.5 km/h	1.5L	$3.50	0:28.93	0:28.42	A1	$993	$122	9	1. Westway Macho 2. Tullymurry Troy 3. Holding Aero

Slingshot Poppy (5) 5111161111
Trainer: B Fairbairn (Newcastle)
Prize Money: $57,396
Win / Place: 64% / 74%

Box Specialist

Dominant Win Last Start

2 yo BDL B

Sire: GRANGEVIEW TEN (IRE)

Dam: GLOBAL GLENGAR (IRE)

100

Rating

Stats

Career

31: 20-3-0

Distance

16: 8-3-0

Season

13: 10-0-0

Metro

21: 15-1-0

Country

10: 5-2-0

1st Up

2: 1-0-0

2nd Up

2: 1-0-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
2	18	0	0	0

Box History	1	2	3	4	5
STARTS	1	3	6	11	10
1st	1	1	4	8	6
2nd	0	1	0	1	1
3rd	0	0	0	0	0

Comments

Good win last start as odds-on favourite by 5 lengths over 480m at Newcastle in a handy 28.02, beating Coppice Saphire. Has a very good strike-rate out of trap 5, scoring six times. Go close.

Expected Early Speed:Front Runner

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
1st of 6	23/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	4	0:28.02	61.7 km/h	5.3L	$1.10	0:28.02	0:28.01	OR2	$19,194	$14,395	7	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. Coppice Saphire 3. Fabulous Harmony
1st of 6	16/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	4	0:27.95	61.8 km/h	11.5L	$1.10	0:27.95	0:27.95	OR2	$1,248	$576	7	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. Fabulous Harmony 3. Ballymac Camilla
1st of 6	9/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	5	0:28.13	61.4 km/h	12.3L	$1.10	0:28.13	0:28.13	OR2	$1,248	$576	13	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. Fabulous Harmony 3. Travel Safe
1st of 1	2/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	4	0:28.22	61.2 km/h	0L	$0.00	0:28.22		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. 3.
1st of 6	26/6/26	Sunderland	450m	5	0:26.48	61.2 km/h	3.8L	$1.30f	0:26.48	0:26.48	IV	$2,341	$1,404	27	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. Cunnigar King 3. Sunnyside Gurkha
1st of 1	12/6/26	Sunderland	450m	4	0:26.91	60.2 km/h	0L	$0.00	0:26.91		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. 3.

Droopys Link (6) 5454461126
Trainer: T C Heilbron (Newcastle)
Prize Money: $12,954
Win / Place: 18% / 48%

2 yo Black D

Sire: KING SHEERAN (GB)

Dam: CIELO (IRE)

Rating

Stats

Career

33: 6-5-5

Distance

21: 5-4-3

Season

23: 4-3-3

Metro

33: 6-5-5

1st Up

1: 0-0-0

2nd Up

1: 1-0-0

Winning Distances
<400	400+	500+	600+	700+
0	6	0	0	0

Box History	2	3	4	5	6
STARTS	1	1	2	6	23
1st	1	0	1	0	4
2nd	0	0	0	0	5
3rd	0	0	1	2	2

Comments

Form slipped last start when he finished last on July 23 over 480m at Newcastle behind Woltemade beaten 9 lengths (28.82) in a OR1. Would be better placed in something easier.

Expected Early Speed:Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Box	Ran	Avg. Speed	Margin	SP	Win Time	BON	Class	Prize	Prize Won	Days	Result
1st of 2	30/7/26	Monmore	480m	6	0:28.72	60.2 km/h	5.5L	$0.00	0:28.72		Trial	$0	-	-	1. Droopys Link 2. Unanimous Leo 3.
6th of 6	23/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	6	0:28.82	60.0 km/h	9.7L	$19	0:28.01	0:28.01	OR1	$33,589	$1,919	7	1. Woltemade 2. Wicky Ned 3. Deerjet Rocket
2nd of 6	16/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	6	0:28.73	60.1 km/h	4.8L	$4.50	0:28.35	0:27.95	OR1	$1,344	$192	7	1. Deerjet Rocket 2. Droopys Link 3. Kellies Emerald
1st of 6	9/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	6	0:28.58	60.5 km/h	0.8L	$9.00	0:28.58	0:28.13	OR1	$1,296	$576	7	1. Droopys Link 2. Naochra 3. Ballymac Sargie
1st of 6	2/7/26	Newcastle Uk	480m	6	0:28.80	60.0 km/h	5.5L	$11	0:28.80	0:28.72	OR	$1,631	$672	6	1. Droopys Link 2. Bramble Shelby 3. Naochra
6th of 6	26/6/26	Sunderland	450m	6	0:27.69	58.5 km/h	15.0L	$23	0:26.48	0:26.48	IV	$2,341	$187	8	1. Slingshot Poppy 2. Cunnigar King 3. Sunnyside Gurkha

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