KEEPA Coming is one of two chances Tamworth trainer Troy O’Neile has running at Tamworth on Tuesday and he hopes the gelding can turn around some ordinary efforts of late and follow the performance of stablemate Try ‘N’ Run A Muck.
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Try ‘N’ Run A Muck won the Royal Hotel Warialda Benchmark 65 Handicap (1300m) at Moree last Friday for O’Neile and owner Dave Bastable – who is also a Tamworth Jockey Club committee member.
It was the gelding’s fourth race win in 23 starts and boosted his prizemoney to just shy of $70,000.
“He [Try ‘N’ Run A Muck] did win real well out there. I’m sure Dave wanted to get off at the 100 but get back on at the 25,” O’Neile laughed of the happy and generous owner.
“He’s a great bloke – loves the sport.”
Bastable is part of a Tamworth Jockey Club committee that has a big day awaiting racegoers at the Carlton Mid Melbourne Cup Raceday on Tuesday.
While there are only five non-TAB races at the meeting, it is always a huge day with buses transporting racegoers to and from the track while there is also the Savvy Birds Fashions on The Field which has some massive prizes on offer.
For Troy O’Neile, though, a win with either Keepa Coming or Lady Vidia is the focus.
Keepa Coming contests the $6000 Carlton Midstrength Benchmark 49 Handicap (1300m) and will jump from barrier six if the two emergencies come out.
But one question mark hanging over Keepa Coming is the gelding’s recent form.
“He hasn’t done much lately,” O’Neile said.
Keepa Coming finished last first-up this preparation before running 10th of 11 runners a week ago. Both starts were are Tamworth.
However, the 1300-metre race is an easier assignment for Keepa Coming than his past couple of races.
“Although, he has been racing in open company. Hopefully a drop back in grade will help,” O’Neile said.
Lady Vidia is a different proposition altogether when she runs in the second race of the day – the Courthouse Hotel Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
The mare has drawn well in barrier four with hoop Melissa Brown taking the ride on Lady Vidia.
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“She ran well at Armidale the other day,” O’Neile said.
“She’s a good chance back in a weaker grade.
“She broke her maiden when she won a Class 1 at Quirindi on Boxing Day but had a few underlying issues and injuries since that.
“She ran a nice third first-up and then fourth.
“I think she’s a good chance.”
The Tamworth Jockey Club program begins at 1.40pm with the Pig And Tinderbox Class 2 Handicap (1900m).
The free buses will transport racegoers to and from the track from 11.25am at the PCYC.
The big prize in the Savvy Birds Fashions On The Field is a weekend touring around in a convertible Range Rover.
The Tamworth meeting is one of 13 clubs in NSW and the ACT staging a race meeting on the day that a race – the Melbourne Cup – stops a nation.
It is also one of two Hunter and North West Racing Association clubs to race Tuesday with the Muswellbrook Race Club staging a seven-race TAB meeting.
The Muswellbrook fixture is highlighted by the sixth race of the day – the $22,000 Muswellbrook Coal Company Bowman Sprint raced over 900 metres.
