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Experienced trainer Darryn Pateman can’t exactly repeat his Moora Cup heroics from 12-months ago, but he’ll be doing his bit to go next best.
Darryn Pateman celebrated a rare and unique achievement in last year's Moora Cup (1800m) when he trained the first three place getters.
Leading Pateman's race trifecta was Andreini who raced away to defeat Ombudsman by 3 ¾ lengths with Tell Me This finishing third.
Pateman will saddle up two runners in Saturday's $25,000 Moora Cup and plans for a one-two finish with Ombudsman and Macavity.
Pateman says very little separates his pair, but he gives the nod to Ombudsman in his bid to win successive Moora Cups.
He rates Ombudsman's recent form as slightly superior to his stable mate
The seven-year-old won over 1800m at Broome in July and ran placings in the Junction Cup (1900m) and Carnarvon Cup (2000m).
Spoiling a run of top three placings from his past five starts, Ombudsman finished ahead of two runners in the Toodyay Cup (1850m).
But Pateman offers an alibi and says the son of Reliable Man wasn't afforded the best run.
He expects him to bounce back.
"Forget the Toodyay Cup," Pateman says.
"He got held up and was shuffled back.
"He wasn't suited by the rail and needs to stay away from the fence.
"He's a freewheeling type of horse and is better out in the open and moving
"I thought going in he could win the race.
"He's a bit of an enigma and I'm not sure how genuine he is, but he looks good.
"The other thing he has is a run at the track while others haven't.
"If he gets the right run he can be in it."
Ombudsman has drawn barrier five in the 10-horse field. Jessica Gray retains the ride.
Macavity can add the Moora Cup to his racing resume after claiming the Junction Cup (1900m) a year back.
He made up good ground from the back of the field when a close third to Taxi over 1900 at Toodyay last start.
"He just missed out, but is going well," Pateman said.
"There is not much between them.
"One will be out the back and one will be out in front.
"Hopefully one of them gets past the post first."
Macavity has drawn barrier two and will be ridden by Mollie Clark.
