UNDER The Thumb might just be the unluckiest horse Sue Grills has ever trained but the six-year-old gelding could win the Tamworth trainer her first $30,000 Whiskey Mountain Boys Country Music Cup at Tamworth on Thursday.
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The son of Falvelon, who has won four of his 27 starts, has drawn barrier one in the feature race, with Grant Buckley to ride him.
“He’s the unluckiest horse I’ve ever had,” Grills admitted.
“Don’t know how many times he’s got stuck on the rails in Sydney and couldn’t get out.
“At Inverell the other day he covered 10 lengths more ground than any other horse.”
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Under The Thumb was resuming from a five-week freshener in the Inverell Shorts and raced wide throughout to finish six lengths astern of Shorts winner Dylan’s Luck.
“[It would] be nice to win a Country Cup – never won here,” Grills said.
“He’ll be right in it too, just needs a little bit of luck.
“He’s only a little horse – strong but small.”
Therein lies part of Under The Thumb’s problem.
He’s able to put himself in positions to win but is at the mercy of bigger horses if they box him in.
Under The Thumb has won at Tamworth and has shown his versatility by also winning at other tracks such as Scone, Coonabarabran and Quirindi.
Grills is also experiencing a good season for herself.
She is currently second on the Hunter and North West Racing Association trainer’s premiership, one win behind Kris Lees.
Her apprentice, Wendy Peel, is also faring well.
Peel (19 points) is leading the apprentice’s premiership by nine wins from Reece Jones and Louise Day.
In the Country Music Cup, Peel will ride topweight Italian Derby winner Goldstream, for Tamworth trainer Cody Morgan.
Goldstream was given 65 kilograms but Peel claims 2kg.
Grills said she doesn’t know anything about Goldstream.
She hopes Buckley, who has ridden some recent winners for her, can continue his good season, aboard Under The Thumb.
Buckley is equal fourth on the HNWRA jockey’s premiership with Ben Looker (16 wins) – trailing perennial premiership winner Greg Ryan by 20 wins.
Ryan will ride the Allan Denham-trained Phuket in a Country Music Cup.
Last-start winner De La Hoya, trained by Mark Mason at Tamworth, has also drawn well for the Cup, in barrier three, with Matthew McGuren to ride.
Tamworth trainers Zach Hatch (Iwatani) and Craig Martin (Present Sense) also have chances in the race.
As do visiting trainers Shane Edmonds (Mishani Sleuth) and Rodney Northam (Professor Marx).
The race is sponsored by the Whiskey Mountain Boys, a Sunshine Coast covers band who will add their own unique piece of musical flavour to the big day.
The bands consists of Mozzie, Derek Trewren and Gary Doman.
