Stirling Osland is hopeful of launching a two-pronged assault on the Armidale Cup in March, with the stablemates who placed first and second in race one at Armidale on Sunday.
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Exilia Miss, an improving five-year-old Kiwi mare, edged Rage Against in the Tattersalls Hotel Armidale Benchmark 74 Handicap (1900 metres).
Ridden by three-kilogram-claiming apprentice Reece Jones, Exilia Miss came over the top of Rage Against, a six-year-old gelding, on the post. The favourite paid $2.10 for her eighth win in 36 starts.
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Exilia Miss was the first emergency in last year’s Armidale Cup but did not get a run. She has had three wins since then.
Osland said she would “definitely” qualify for this year’s Cup.
She has had six runs this preparation. Osland, yet to win an Armidale Cup, said he would probably “lighten up” the mare’s schedule, in a bid to have her right for this year’s Cup. “We sort of won’t rush through her runs – maybe just give her a bit of time between runs, and see where we get to,” he said.
“Obviously we’d like to look forward towards an Armidale Cup with her … but it might sort of depend on how we get there.”
Osland said Rage Against, the winner of seven of 33 starts, was “probably a bit too deep” into his preparation when he contested last year’s Armidale Cup. He finished last in a field of 12.
“So we’ll try and make a few adjustments this year and see if we can have the pair in it,” he said.
“He'll [Rage Against] probably be freshened up about four weeks between runs as well, so he won’t rush through his.”
Rage Against was ridden by Matthew McGuren on Sunday. Osland praised McGuren’s ride.
Osland, a trainer for just over four years, said “it would be nice” to win his home Cup.
Armidale Jockey Club staged a seven-race TAB meeting on Sunday.
