3 minute read
It was the wish of owner Dominic Neate to buy a horse capable enough of winning the Coonabarabran Cup because of his family’s connection to the area.
Neate, his wife Karen, trainer Peter Sinclair and jockey Ashley Morgan will have the perfect opportunity to make that dream a reality with Aesop's Fable ($6.50 on TAB) on Sunday.
Aesop's Fable will complete a rare trifecta of country cups if she is successful in the $75,000 Coonabarabran Bowling Club feature race at the Country howcase meeting.
She has already captured the $100,000 Dubbo Cup and $75,000 Coonamble Cup at her past two starts vindicating her owner's decision to purchase the mare and race her in the country.
Sinclair has played his part preparing the five-year-old to win two of her three starts for him after a first-up fourth over 1300 metres at Gunnedah.
The trainer said everything had fallen into place so far with some bonus Cup wins heading into the one that matters most.
"Dominic set out to buy a horse good enough to win the Coonabarabran Cup because his family is from here," Sinclair said.
"Helen's family are from Coonamble so the horse was able to win that Cup as well after Dubbo.
"She has certainly trained on well after her last win and if she has some luck from the draw she should be right in the finish again."
Aesop's Fable has to carry 59.5kg from gate 15 which is the same alley she jumped from at Coonamble when she carried 1.5kg less over the same distance. She captured her biggest victory in the Dubbo Cup with 55kg and just like at Coonamble and Coonabarabran the race was over a mile (1600m).
The Coonabarabran Cup brings together some of the regional cup winners with Wild Rocket ($5.50 favourite) taking out the Narromine Cup. Rich And Shameless ($7.50) will clash with Aesop's Fable again after finishing second beaten just under one length on October 10.
There is also Fast Talking ($6) who is due for a change of luck in the cups after being placed in the Bathurst and Dubbo editions. Oakfield Captain ($8.50) hasn't figured in the Coonamble and Dubbo Cups and would need to find something extra to turn the tables on his rivals.
While, Aesop's Fable has had the edge, racing being what it is often comes down to having the right luck and that is where it will be left up to the guidance of Morgan.
"The horse is spot on and I have a very good jockey. It is harder from barrier 15 at Coonabarabran than what it is at Coonamble and I expect her to be back a bit," Sinclair added. "I was impressed with how well she sprinted over the last 80 metres at Coonamble and if she has a bit of luck she should be right there."
Sinclair won the 2019 Coonabarabran Cup with prolific winner Free Billy and had never won the Dubbo or Coonamble Cups before this year. Aesop's Fable has set a high rating this season and has already earned over $80,000 in her three-start stint at her new home base at Moree.
"It's a credit to Racing NSW and the country clubs that horses like her can race for such good prizemoney in the country when they reach that level of racing that suits them," he enthused. The 57-year-old has 20 horses in training but will only have one starter on Sunday.
Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy could pose the biggest threat with her contender Wild Rocket. The mare was having her first start for several weeks when third at Coonamble on October 10.
She is back up to her most suitable distance and will again have leading country jockey Matthew Cahill aboard.
"She went really well last start and a little bit of rain would help her chances," Kennedy said. "She is very honest and is never far away and I'm glad Matthew has stuck with her again. He knows her style of racing and being drawn out wide suits her."
Meanwhile, On A Promise ($4) will aim for five straight wins in the other feature race – the $40,000 Futurity Shortshorns & Carolais Baradine Cup (1400m).
Rejuvenated sprinter Classy Rebel ($2.60 fav) will be out to extend his brilliant campaign in the $35,000 Coonabarabran Bakery Sprint (1100m). Classy Rebel has won eight of his 13 starts this preparation with the latest at odds of $10 in the Coonamble Sprint.
