Sinclair sweats on a cup run – at Moree and Gunnedah
LAST-start Tamworth winner Rockatorio will run in a cup race this weekend – just whether it is at Moree on Saturday or Gunnedah on Sunday is yet to be decided.
Nathan Sinclair prepares the seven-year-old gelding at Moree for Tamworth owners Trevor and Barb Davis and has accepted with Rockatorio in Saturday’s $5000 B&W Rural Boolooroo Picnic Cup (1400m) at the Moree picnics, round one of bush racing’s Golden Triangle.
He has also nominated Rockatorio for Sunday’s $40,000 Hope Fuel Gunnedah Showcase Cup (1600m).
However Rockatorio is second emergency in Sunday’s Cup at Gunnedah, a race Nathan Sinclair is “sweating” on a start.
“Yeah, hope he might get a run there but it doesn’t look like it,” Sinclair said.
Moree trainer Nathan Sinclair at Warialda with owners Trevor and Barb Davis after Rockatorio won the inaugural Darren Jones Memorial Warialda Sprint in April (Image Copyright Bill Poulos).
“That sort of race is one where no one would want to scratch. That’s the hard part. Whether I start at Moree on Saturday or I scratch and hope for a start at Gunnedah is something I I can leave until 7.30am (Saturday).”
Sinclair is also yet to book a jockey for the Boolooroo Cup.
“He will run a good race (wherever he starts) though. He raced well at Tamworth the other day. I was a little bit worried about jumping from the 1200m (at Coonabarabran) to the 1600m but he did it well,” Sinclair said.
Rockatorio has had just the three starts for Sinclair after owner Trevor Davis rang him recently to see if he was interested in leasing the gelding.
Sinclair was, and in three starts for the young Moree trainer has won at Warialda and Tamworth as well as second at Coonabarabran.
If Sinclair doesn’t start Rockatorio in the Boolooroo Cup at Moree he will still have a runner.
“Deceitful Don,” Sinclair said.
“He will race well.”
His father, Peter, also has two runners in the Boolooroo Cup.
“Track Flash will be hard to beat on his run at Quambone,” Nathan said.
“Real Blonde will be hard to beat too if she puts her mind to it. Depends on which one turns up.”
Meanwhile, Warwick Farm-based trainer Greg Hickman has also confirmed Dream Folk will run in Sunday’s Gunnedah Cup, chasing a win in his home town Cup.
“Aaron Bullock will ride him,” Hickman said.
“He’s a great rider. We’ll get back – just how far we’ll see.”
Hickman started Dream Folk last year but finished midfield.
“I’ve had a couple of cracks at winning the cup now. I’ll win it one day, whether it’s this year or next, I’ll win it one day.
“It’s a great excuse to come home.”
Words: Geoff Newling
Image: Copyright Bill Poulos