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Speed ‘N’ Reef is the oldest and most experienced horse in Saturday’s Tabtouch Carnarvon Cup, but trainer Jacquelyn Scott holds out strong hope he still has plenty of life left in his legs.
"He is racing well and is pulling up well after his races," Jacquelyn Scott told The Races WA.
"He gets well looked after and gets in a lot of beach work.
"He also loves the racing and environment in the north-west.
"I think he has got another campaign left in him.
"We'll see how it all goes after the Carnarvon Cup.
"But he always gives his best and tries his heart out."
Scott is under no illusion about the task facing Speed 'N' Reef to triumph for a second time in Carnarvon.
He won the 2018 Carnarvon Cup by 2 ¾ lengths when prepared by Bob Bell and ridden by Peta Edwards.
Scott said Broome raiders, headed by Rob Gulberti's Staaden, pose the biggest threats.
Staaden, a Blackfriars gelding, will have an army of admirers after claiming the Broome Cup-Port Hedland Cup double.
An on pace runner, he has drawn ideally in barrier one and carries 59.5kg for jockey Colin Haddon.
"He is only 4 ½ kg of the minimum and has the perfect barrier," Scott said.
"He is in form and is going to be right up there.
"He is going to be very hard to beat."
Scott took charge of Speed 'N' Reef in January and after a slow start in Geraldton, the veteran galloper has hit his straps with placings from his past three runs.
He ran third in the Roebourne Cup (2200m) and Port Hedland Cup (2200m) and last start in the Newman Cup (2100m) he finished 4 ¼ lengths second.
"I wasn't too concerned by his earlier form," Scott said.
"He was always going to get better over more ground.
"The shorter races at Geraldton didn't suit.
"He was also coming off a long break and some time off.
"I wasn't disheartened."
Speed 'N' Reef first raced in Sydney and in a 98 start career he has collected 13 wins and 25 placings.
In WA he has won the Carnarvon Cup (2000m), the Mt Magnet Cup (1800m) and the Moora Cup (1800m),
Scott hopes she can win her first Carnarvon Cup and Speed 'N' Reef his second.
"You can only ask him to do his best," Scott said.
"But I think he can be in the first three.
"If he could do that I would be more than happy."
Speed 'N' Reef carries 55kg for Tyla Becker. He will jump from barrier eight.
