GUNNEDAH trainer Gavin Groth might not have a runner at Tamworth this Monday but he could win a second successive Narrabri Cup on Saturday.
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Groth has About Time entered in Saturday’s $12,000 Santos Narrabri Cup (1200m) and believes the seven-year-old gelding son of Danehill Express can win.
“He won it last year,” Groth said. “[We’re] going for back-to-back Cups. He’s in quite good order too and in a race that suits him.
“He’s won on the track and at the distance and I expect him to be competitive. My personal opinion is that whatever beats Brett Thompson’s horse wins the race.”
Gulgong-based Thompson brings Attalea north to race in the Narrabri Cup after winning over 1100m at Naromine and then finishing third at Mudgee last time out.
Attalea has drawn barrier three, has 59kg and will have Jake Pracey-Holmes aboard while Leanne Henry jumps About Time from barrier four and will carry 59.5kg.
Groth also starts Danspur (R1), Crimson Sun (R2) and Blue Boy Jag (R6) at Narrabri.
“I’ve been struggling with Crimson Sun to find a bit of form with him,” Groth said. “We’ve changed a few things. Blue Boy Jag is fourth up from a spell after an injury but doesn’t want to let down. We’ll give him every opportunity back in grade and the 1900m suit.”
About Time is his best chance and will break through the $100,000 prizemoney barrier if he wins his second Narrabri Cup.
The winner of eight of his 46 starts, he has amassed $97,475 in prizemoney. Two runs back he was second in the Bingara Cup and last time out he was fifth to Sudden Blitz at Tamworth but was beaten by less than two lengths.
Top weight in the Narrabri Cup is the Sue Grills-trained Star Of Legs. The Walcha-owned gelding has to carry 62kg and jumps from barrier two with Rasit Yetimova on board.
Star Of Legs is Grills’ only runner at Narrabri on Saturday while she has four lining up at Tamworth on Monday.
Montana Pines is fourth emergency while Moonlight spy will back up from Armidale. Fashion Stage has drawn badly in 15 and will be ridden by Grant Buckley.
Grills’ other runner, Boolaroo, has 56kg in the Mercure Tamworth Cup Sunday April 29 Benchmark 65 Handicap (1600m). The six-year-old gelding son of Dubleo Boolaroo has drawn barrier two with Grant Buckley to ride.
Buckley was on board when Boolaroo won over 1600m at Tamworth two starts back and was in control again when he was fourth to St Luke at Scone at his latest outing.
