GAVIN Groth makes a “maiden voyage” to the Bingara Cup meeting on Saturday but hopes to do it with a win or two from tomorrow’s Tamworth meeting.
The Gunnedah trainer has four runners at Tamworth tomorrow, including last-start winner Steel Fixer in the $15,000 Freight Specialists Benchmark 60 Handicap (1600m).
“I have four in at Tamworth,” Groth said yesterday.
“Three have drawn seven (barrier) and the other 13 of 13.
“Our Boy Danny has drawn 13 in the first race but the other three have all drawn in the middle and drawn well.
“Steel Fixer has done well since his win at Gunnedah.
“Both he and Steel Academy (who is is also a last-start Gunnedah winner) have trained on well and keen when they go out on the track to work. I expect them to both run well.
“They both drew wide at Gunnedah too and a better draw at Tamworth will hopefully make them competitive again.”
Steel Fixer is a four-year-old gelding son of More Than Ready.
He has won two of his 12 starts and carried 58.5kg to victory when Sue Bigg claimed 3kg at Gunnedah earlier this month.
He has 58.5kg again tomorrow with Bigg on board again and claiming 3kg as well.
He does match up against a good field, including Cups bridesmaid Kwilas Law.
Kwilas Law, trained by Luke Griffith at Scone, has won eight of his 81 starts as well as running an amazing 22 seconds.
For Groth it’s a busy weekend too, with Bingara beckoning on Saturday.
“It’s my maiden voyage,” he admitted yesterday.
“I did have Schlager in the Cup too but they said they only race 10 there so he would have missed a start (20 nominations) and will start in the 1100m.
“He’s got a ton of ability but it’s just whether or not he puts in on the day or not.”
Schlager is going as something of a travelling companion for Liege Law.
“She’s in the mile race,” Groth said.
“She’s been working well and she has run a couple of good races of late.
“She should run well up there.”
Being a Bingara novice, all he knows and has been told is “that it’s a bit up and down like Armidale”.
