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Cox Holds A Full Hand For Moruya

3 minute read

Victorian trainer Brian Cox is hoping history repeats when he makes a rare foray to the NSW south coast next Monday for the rich Narooma Cup meeting at Moruya.

Wodonga-based Cox is hoping to win the $30,000 Narooma Cup (1650m) for the second successive year with Full Hand, a gelding who has become an accomplished performer in country feature races over the last 12 months.

Cox made his first visit to Moruya 12 months ago and came away with the Narooma Cup trophy after Full Hand, ridden by top southern districts jockey Nick Souquet, beat the locally-trained pair Quichang and Flaming Star.

“We enjoyed the trip so much last year that I decided some time ago to set Full Hand for another shot at the Narooma Cup,” Cox said.

“I have been very happy with his recent form and Ï will be disappointed if he doesn’t go close to winning the Cup for a second time.”

Full Hand has blossomed since his Narooma Cup win, adding the Corowa Cup (1600m) in March to his record and finishing second at his last two starts in Gundagai’s Snake Gully Cup (1400m) and the Wodonga Cup (1590m) when he was beaten by stablemate Minnie Downs.

Cox, who has now won his hometown Wodonga Cup an amazing 11 times, will earn a place in the Moruya record books if Full Hand wins the Narooma Cup for the second successive year as the feat has only been achieved once in the race’s 28-year history.

Nowra trainer Robert Price won back to back Narooma Cups with Step Forward in 2008 and 2009, surpassing the two wins recorded by the former Moruya-trained star Old Man Sam who won the race twice in 2000 and 2002 for Brian Heffernan.

Cox could go a step further and be the first trainer to land the Narooma Cup quinella as he has also entered his evergreen veteran He’s An Angel for next Monday’s feature race, sponsored by the Narooma Sporting and Services Club.

He’s An Angel is now a 10-year-old but showed he retains his zest for racing with a last start success over1590m on his home track at Wodonga on Boxing Day for his 12th win in 78 starts.

Cox has nominated five horses for the Narooma Cup meeting including last start winners Bay Of Biscay and Dalrada and has booked talented young southern districts jockey Jason Collins to ride his team.

The Narooma Cup has attracted 22 entries with the other notable nominations including the Luke Pepper-trained Quichang, winner of the race in 2012 and runner-up to Full Hand last year.

Quichang, who gave Pepper successive wins in the Narooma Cup after his first success with Ilringya in 2011, returned to wining form at his last start when he won the Christmas Cup at Moruya on December 21 for his third win on his home track.

He is among five last start winners nominated for the Narooma Cup along with Albana, Brockman, Fourfortyfour and He’s An Angel.

Previous winning trainers with entries include Bede Murray, who won the first Narooma Cup in 1987 with Galaxy’s Image, his son Paul Murray, Robert Price, Luke Pepper and fellow Moruya trainer Steve Stephens.

The Murray clan are set to line up in opposite corners next Monday with Bede Murray represented by the well-performed Life Of Reilly and son Paul by Darci’s Money, a last start second to Quichang at Moruya.

Shoalhaven Heads trainer Terry Robinson will emulate his late father Kevin Robinson if last start Kembla Grange winner Albana lands the Narooma Cup. Kevin Robinson trained the 2005 winner Through.

International star Tommy Berry will be among the top Sydney jockeys riding at the Narooma Cup meeting. Tommy and his late brother Nathan Berry both rode winners when they competed at the Narooma Cup meeting for the first time in 2013.

Tommy Berry and Brian Cox will join other racing and sporting personalities for the Narooma Cup Calcutta at the Narooma Sports and Services Club from 7pm on Sunday night.

Racing and Sports

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