WHILE trainer Sue Grills will be looking to claim back-to-back Glen Innes Cup wins with Keep It Danish today, another Tamworth galloper Sambora will be looking to improve on his bridesmaid tag in the feature last year.
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Keep It Danish and Sambora registered the quinella in 2014, only a half length separating the two gallopers.
Keep It Danish will be hot on the heels of her last-start third to stablemate Monashee Woods in the New Year’s Day $30,000 Inverell Cup (1400m) while the Karen Fox-trained Sambora will be resuming from a short spell.
But that should work in the seven-year-old’s favour. Back in September, Sambora stormed home over the top of rivals to win the 1400m Barraba Cup when resuming from a 20 week spell.
Grills though will have a double dip at today’s cup. She’ll also saddle up top weight Jet Style who will be having his second start back from a spell in the feature.
And while the eight-year-old was unimpressive when resuming with a ninth to Capitano in the recent 1010m Shorts Handicap at Inverell, he can boast two wins from five second-up attempts.
Grills has engaged jockey Darren Jones to ride Keep It Danish and Glenn Lynch to guide Jet Style, while Sambora will be ridden by apprentice jockey Sophie Young.
Probably no surprises, but Grills prefers the chances on “in form” Keep It Danish today.
“She’s a lot fitter and hasn’t really done much since Inverell,” she said.
“But she’s honest and will run a good race. And on paper, Glen probably isn’t as hard as Inverell.
“She’s seven now though, and this could be her last prep.”
Possibly having his last prep too will be eight-year-old Jet Style.
“He’s been a good horse, but sustained a major injury earlier in his career. If he doesn’t do any good, he’ll probably be retired.”
With the dust settled on the Glen Innes track today, Grills will focus on Gunnedah Jockey Club’s eight-race card Monday.
Features she has targeted are the 2050m Somerton Cup and Keith Swan Memorial BM 50 over 1400m.
She’ll saddle up last-start winner Pixie Miss in the Swan Memorial and Couperin, a winner of two of his last five starts, in the $15,000 Somerton Cup. Both gallopers will be ridden by apprentice Sophie Young.
Despite the many horses Sue Grills has saddled up at Gunnedah Riverside course, she hasn’t won a Somerton Cup or Keith Swan Memorial.
“Couperin should go all right, though he’s been over-racing a bit. The main thing is to try and get him to settle more.
“Pixie Miss won her last start, but it was at a non-TAB meeting. She’ll probably find Gunnedah a bit harder.”
