2013 NEWCASTLE Horse of the Year Ultimate Art returns to Tamworth to complete a feature race double at the Paceway in tonight’s Tamworth City Cup but one Tamworth driver reckons he might just knock off the hotpot.
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The Michael Formosa-trained-and-driven Ultimate Art won last Sunday night’s Gold Nugget at Tamworth Paceway.
Soho Eros finished fourth to the Hunter Valley pacing star.
It was Ultimate Art’s fourth start at Tamworth and his fourth win.
Formosa is eying off the Chariots of Fire as his ultimate goal but has the Garrard’s Horse And Hounds Tamworth City Cup (2360m) as his immediate aim.
Ultimate Art has been a stellar performer for the Formosas, who also own him.
The last two years have seen the colt win the Newcastle Guineas and the double in Bathurst – the Gold Crown and the Gold Chalice – as well as a third in the NSW Derby.
Whilst he should be favourite he won’t do it easily after drawing barrier nine.
He will also have Joshua Osborn’s True Desire to contend with who ran second to him in the Nugget.
Four local horses will also be looking to take out the Cup.
Dean Chapple’s Princess Zara will be going from the inside, along with the Ken Natty-trained Jedi Superstar from barrier three and Peter Rippon’s Guny Ganu Grand from five.
The Anthony Missen-trained and Peter Missen- driven Soho Eros might be one of the locals’ best chances after winning three of his last five starts. He will start in the second row from barrier eight.
And Missen reckons that draw is perfect for him.
“In the Gold Nugget he drew inside us,” he said.
“This time he’s outside us and I don’t think he’ll be able to lead like he did last time. While he beat us well last time our bloke has done extremely well since.
“I worked him Wednesday and he clocked 54secs for his last lap sitting four deep.
“That’s sensational.”
Missen also drives Rachelle Shannon in the Starmaker 3YO Final and gives that filly a great chance.
“She sat in the death and only got beat a metre and a half and a metre in her heat.
“If she can get to the front she’ll take some running down.”
It will be the first running of the $12,000 Burke and Mead Lawyers Starmaker 3YO (1980m).
Local hope Onethingforcertain should feature in the finish after becoming the fastest two-year-old filly in the country last June, Tamworth acting chairman Mark Lowe said.
El Kay Grand is another local hope coming off a good win at the track, he said.
Tiz A Smokey comes into the race with the best form, with three wins and a second in its last five starts, although will have to come from the back after drawing the outside of the second row.
The nine-race program starts tonight at 5.53pm and is the premier meeting in NSW.
It also features a special demonstration race between Tamworth apprentice jockey Sophie Young and Gunnedah trainer/driver Sally Torrens.