Scone mare digs deep at Tamworth

RUNS Deep ran deep to to win yesterday’s $35,000 2TM Jardel Cup (1200m) in track record time.

On a day where Sarah’s Son also ran a track record to win the 2TM Country Music Cup (see page 25), Runs Deep overcame an awkward draw and a tough run to suggest she is a mare with plenty of “upside” according to her Scone trainer Rod Northam.

“That was great, a track record too, brilliant,” Northam said from a Sydney sale.

“Hopefully she can kick on from here.”

Jockey Robert Thompson believes she can.

“She’s a nice little filly,” Thompson said after her short head win from the Neil Godbolt-trained Al Nova.

“She sat three deep but travelled well.”

She finished doggedly “but probably had had enough on the line”, Thompson added.

‘That was a good little effort, and a good training effort too.”

 Northam had backed the four-year-old mare up from Gunnedah where she had won a 1000m Class 3 last Monday.

To run wide and then run a track record 1min 8.09secs was impressive.

Runs Deep bettered the previous track record set by Bold Flush in winning at Tamworth on February 6, 2004.

She also bettered Graciosa’s Jardel Cup mark of 1min 8.9secs set in winning the 2010 version.

“She’s only had the eight starts,” Northam said.

“She’s now won four – that’s pretty good. 

“And she’s improved a bit every time she’s gone around.

“Running the 1200m out today was a big plus and she did it sitting wide too.

“There’s a little bit of upside there for her.”

He said she might have to look at a Sydney metro start now.

“She’s probably going to have go to a mideweeker or a no metro wins.”

The Jardel Cup/Country Music Cup meeting started off in “record” fashion when Coffs Harbour gelding So Too bettered a longstanding class record in the very first race.

The Peter Roach-trained four-year-old rushed home for a half length win in the 2TM Class 3 Handicap (1600m) from the Leon Davies-trained Kurtley in a class record 1min 35.17ecs.

While He’s Full Of It holds the 1600m Tamworth track record at 1min 34.58secs.

Land Tax had held the class record at 1min 36.14secs, Tamworth Jockey Club president Tim Coates said.

“So Too smashed that, ran 1min 35.17secs,” Coates said.

“That class record had stood for 17 years.”