Trainers and organisers are hoping the forecast rain stays away on Saturday at Armidale for the Guyra Cup.
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Kingston Time – with 116 starts under his belt – will contest the Armidale Cup Prelude this Saturday at the Guyra Cup race meeting.
Trainer Paul Grills, Black Mountain, said he was one of a handful of local horses to run on Saturday.
“He won three starts back at Scone, but didn’t do much in Grafton,” Grills said.
“The Armidale racecourse doesn’t suit him that well – he prefers a big long straight – but he is a good campaigner.”
Grills’ only other runner is Cliveden in the 1100m, after he scratched Muddy Hole from the Class 1 Handicap.
“Cliveden is a very fast horse,” Grills said.
“I expect he will be up near the lead the whole way. The Armidale track will suit him and I think he’ll be hard to beat on the day.”
Guyra Hotel publican and local trainer Ian Cook has the six-year-old gelding Our Blevic entered in the Guyra Cup.
After a lengthy spell, Our Blevic had two fourth placings at Grafton recently.
Cook is not sure how Our Blevic will perform on Saturday on the Armidale track.
“It’s uphill and down dale and the horses are turning all the time,” he said.
“Our Blevic always gives his best – he is a real trier.
“If Saturday’s race was on the Grafton track I’d say he would nearly be a certainty.”
Cook’s other starter for the day will be Sathern, entered in the 1300m maiden, and ridden by Geoffrey Snowden.
“He’s a bit camera shy when he hits the lead,” Cook said.
“If he puts his best foot forward he is in with a chance.
“It should be a good day as long as it’s not too wet and he doesn’t draw a barrier any further out than eight.”
Another Guyra trainer Terry Vidler also has two horses nominated – Mondays Expert in the Guyra Cup and Victory Vibes in the maiden.
Vidler wasn’t sure yesterday if Mondays Expert would make the cut as 27 horses were nominated for the cup.
His other horse, Victory Vibes, was still very green, he said. “I’m not expecting much from him. I took him to Moree the other day and he finished fourth.”