PRIOR Baron might be nine years of age and having his 63rd start in today’s $20,000 XXXX Gold South Muswellbrook Cup (1450m) but the Scone gelding is on trial today.
The former Gunnedah and Walcha Cups winner is having his second run back this spell and if he impresses trainer Rod Northam enough he will then head to the November 6 $60,000 Muswellbrook Cup (1500m).
“If he does run well (in today’s Cup) he will go to the Muswellbrook Cup,” Northam said. “So it’s a little bit of a trial for him.”
10 wins and 18 placings have come Prior Baron’s way since the son of Langfuhr began his racing career for his Japanese owner.
More recently Northam has leased him to race under his R and R Racing syndicate.
His last win was at Gosford back in April and he spelled after running 12th of 12 to Riva de Lago at Scone’s May Cup Carnival.
Northam then brought him back at Canterbury on September 26 when he was beaten four and half lengths by Scandalize in a Benchmark 75 over 1100m.
“It wasn’t too bad a run,” Northam said yesterday.
“He got caught wide and the girl might have taken off a little early but I was happy enough with him.
“He’ll be fitter for that and has been working well.
“But he’s been a great old horse for us.
“He’s won a Gunnedah Cup and a Walcha Cup and was unlucky in a Scone Cup.”
Daniel Northey will have his first race ride on Prior Baron today but has been riding him in track work.
“He’s been riding a bit of work for me,” Northam said.
“He rides him in all his track work so he knows him well.”
Northam will also start Runs Deep in the final race on today’s eight-race TAB card, the Valley Hotel Muswellbrook Class 2 Plate but doesn’t have a runner nominated for Friday’s meeting at Tamworth.
He’s heading to Taree instead with a couple.
“It’s a bit softer over there, track-wise and quality-wise,” Northam said.
“I’ve had a bit of luck there too,” he said of a venue which takes a drive of around four hours from his Scone stable.
