The small township of Tuncurry situated on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales boasting a popular of over 6,000 people will come alive on Friday 7th September as Trainers, Owners and Horses from far and wide will pack the grounds of the Forster Tuncurry Jockey Club who will host the annual XXXX Gold Cup 8 race card meeting.
Nominations for the races are large and from trainers travelling from Newcastle, Wyong, Gosford, Scone, Cessnock, Grafton, Hawkesbury and even city trainers from Randwick making the long trek to take on local trainers including Terry Evans on Tuncurry’s biggest race day of the year. The acceptances will be finalised and released tomorrow morning, we will then know which of team JSR have made the final fields.
Here is a run down on the runners we are looking at loading up onto the truck and hopefully coming back victorious.
The Evermore Pearl Benchmark 66 Handicap 1200m
The inaugural running of this new race added to the meeting will see our own pearl HIGH TRANQUILITY line up to tackle some fancied local chances with Winona Costin on board for the sprint journey of 1200m. High Tranquility is a 5yr old High Chaparral mare that broke her maiden status in her 2nd start and will be looking for win number 3 in her 11th career start.
Bellevue Hotel Golden Mile Benchmark 58 Handicap 1500m
MARIA VICTORIA (Medaglia D’Oro x Zagalia) will step up in distance to the 1500m and will be paired up again with Winona Costin, who steered her to victory when breaking her maiden status at Bathurst last start. A four year old mare that has been consistent in picking up prizemoney cheques for her connections having placed 6 times and won once from 10 starts will look to add to her winning streak and continue to go up the grades.
Maria Victoria is also nominated for the Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club Class 1 Handicap over 1400m. Should the mare be accepted in this race she will again be partnered by Winona, stay tuned to find out where the consistent galloper will head.
Schweppes Maiden Plate 1200m
A sprint race for the maideners and a race that has attracted 35 nominations, John has put two of our very own maidens into the mix:
MISSILE ATTACK (Smart Missile x Rose Darmore)- looking to break through to as they say “get the monkey off his back”, Missile Attack will be partnered with Winona Costin for his 10th career start for a large group of owners.
TYRRHENIAN (Ocean Park x Italian Princess)- a 3yr old gelding that has shown good ability in his trials will step out again at the same distance as his debut run and will be partnered with top female jockey Rachel King who knows him well from his trials and debut run. The big chestnut will be looking to also break his maiden early in his career for his group of owners that include Segenhoe Stud and some very long term and loyal owners for the stable including John’s brother Guy Sargent.
Both the above horses are also nominated for the Club Forster Maiden Handicap over 1400m, a decision will be made after acceptances as to which race they will line up in.
With victories on Friday it could also be the beginning of a big weekend for the team as we have a team of 3 headed to Kembla Grange on Saturday- promising 3yr old colt and full brother to Showtime HOME WIN, along with SATIRICAL KNIGHT and HOME MADE (both Home horses being targeted toward the VRC Derby). Potentially the team also having a runner at Rosehill on Run To The Rose day with Wagga Guineas winner TINKERMOSA potentially lining up in the Group 2 Shearco Stakes over 1200m.
It is definitely a time to be following the stable as the Sydney weather begins to warm up to match the quality of racing on the track.
Good Luck to all connections with the above mentioned horses in their respective races, stay tuned for final acceptances.
