Two locally trained gallopers have earned automatic entry into the Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) on October 7 after running first and second in Sunday’s Stowe Australia Cup Prelude.
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Sofin, one of only two horses that Shannon Fry trains at Coffs Harbour, was ultra impressive in winning the prelude after a first class ride from Ben Looker.
Don’t Nicme, having only his second run for Port Macquarie trainer Tas Morton after being switched to him from a provincial stable, overcame a tough run when trapped wide the whole way to run second.
Fry purposely restricts himself to only a small string to allow him to devote a lot of time to each horse and the hands on approach has worked a treat.
Sofin went into the race off a close sixth, beaten less than two lengths, behind Sense Of Occasion in the Listed Premier Cup at Rosehill four weeks ago.
“I was starting to wonder if she was training off and needed a break but obviously not,” Fry said.
“The beauty of having only one or two horses is that I can give them a lot of time and understand every little trait they have.
“That can be especially so with mares, they often need more attention.
“That was a great ride by Ben.”
After returning to scale, Looker turned to Fry and told him there was no way he was taking him off the horse in the Cup.
“I have been trying to get on to this horse for some time and I got the call about one and a half weeks ago asking if I wanted to ride him in the prelude,” Looker said.
“The Cup will be a big step up but that was a soft win and I think he will be better over 2000 metres.”
Peter Graham had no alternative than to sit three wide on Don’t Nicme from his wide gate and pushed forward mid race to hit the lead in the straight before being overhauled.
“Bring on the Cup,” was Morton’s comment after Don’t Nicme returned to scale.
“He is going to be even better for the Cup with another two weeks of work behind him.
“Pete rode him exactly as I asked.
“I knew he would be wide from that draw so I told Pete to make sure he went forward.
“The horse is owned by friends of mine and they wanted to target the cup with him so sent him to me and we are in it.”
Meanwhile Dual city winner Pirate Ben and Collateral, the imported English stayer that scored a runaway win in the Lismore cup last Thursday, are both headed to the Port Macquarie cup.
Pirate Ben, trained at Wyong by Damien Lane, won successive races at Randwick and Cantertbury before being given a freshen up and at his last run finished fourth in the Dubbo Cup.
“He wasn’t suited by the heavy track at Dubbo but he has done well since and the Port cup is his mission,” Lane said.
Collatoeral, trained at Coffs Harbour by Joanne Hardy for a Hong King based syndicate, finally found his English form win the Lismore cup (2100m) by ten and a half lengths.
The horse was bought in England by clients of the Chris Waller stable after he won five races but failed to fire in three runs, was put on the market and bought by Hardy for the syndicate.
He was having only his fourth start for her and his first over a suitable distance. ong Kong