IN A WINK has drawn ideally in Sunday’s $100,000 Corey’s Catering Tamworth Cup (1400m) as she battles her way to not only reverse an unlucky third in last year’s feature race but win a race her father went so close to winning a decade ago.
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Now trained at Muswellbrook by Justin McIntosh, In A Wink, the daughter of Tamworth-based stallion Ready As, finished a luckless third to Chrysolaus and Pera Pera last year.
She was trained by now-retired Scone trainer Greg Bennett at that stage for Tamworth owner/breeders Gwen and Errol Leicht.
Bennett won a stakes race with her at Scone along the way.
But injury has been a constant companion.
Transferred to McIntosh, she has thrived in recent weeks.
She returned to the winners list at Taree earlier this month when she flashed home from back in the field to win the Gloucester Cup (1237m) at big odds.
It was her fifth win in 25 starts and took her prizemoney to $206,405.
And it was McIntosh’s second race win as a trainer.
The 23-year-old had won his first at Gunnedah in mid-December with her little brother, In A Spring.
He has only had his trainer’s licence since August last year.
“I think she’s a good chance in the Tamworth Cup,” he said.
“I feel she’s on top of her game and been working very well. I’m very confident.”
He is also excited about having her fit, healthy and happy, and is thrilled to have a runner in such a big race so early in his career.
“It’s a privilege to have her in my stable,” he said.
In A Wink having a chance to win a Tamworth Cup sits well with Erin Park studmaster Steve Miller.
He has stood Ready As for the past half dozen years at his Hallsville stud on the Tamworth outskirts and always thought he would be the next Youthful Legs and become an outstanding ”cut price” stallion.
“He was a good horse,” Miller said of Ready As, a son of More Than Ready.
“Just didn’t get enough mares. “
The days of small studs competing against the major operations in the Hunter Valley are slowly dying, Steve added.
“Hopefully we can find a home for him,” he said of a stallion for sale.