3 minute read

Wily veteran Peter Sinclair reckons younger raiders have him covered in Friday’s historic $40,000 TAB Orica Moree Cup, but underestimating him in hometown features is the bush equivalent of underrating the late great Bart Cummings on the first Tuesday in November.

The celebrated local has won numerous Country features, the Moree Cup on three occasions, the quinella twice, the Boolooroo Picnic Cup an amazing 12 times, and late in 2019 landed four winners from 12 starters at Moree.

Unusually this year Sinclair is an outsider in Cup betting with discard Scout, sacked by two previous trainers with 55kg reduced by the 3kg claim for his apprentice Jacob Golden.

Sinclair is disappointed that stablemate Rumberella owned by his long-time mate Danny Bourke was balloted out.

"Danny owned my first Moree Cup winner Storm Boy in the early 1980s. I bought Scout, hoped we both have a runner in our home Cup," offered Peter, rising 58 years.

Scout was originally with the strong Edmonds stable on the Gold Coast, moved on to Mitch Beer at Albury but sacked again and Peter bought him online.

"Past years I've had the right horses and stronger form. Scout is probably out graded off mainly picnic form but no weight, drawn inside and on-pace gives us a rough hope.

"I've got better chances in other races, but he's in good order and you've got to be in it for the level of prizemoney.

"He did win at Doomben and the Gold Coast way back as a three-year-old. He's not near that form now, his Armidale placing was good in a lot weaker grade."

Sinclair maintains a substantial team and sustains it working as a 35-year Telstra technician.

"Never seen prizemoney like it - that's why the bigger stables are here for the Cup with the right horses. It's harder every year.

"But great to see, never seen it so good in country racing after those hard times. I've got better chances in other races; I always set a few for this day."

Peter mainly fancies Kiss and Tell (race 4) a last start Inverell winner, also ridden by Golden.

Pure inspiration is the Sinclairs. Peter's son Nathan was born with spina bifida, and Peter donated a life-saving kidney.

Nathan needs callipers but rides a trail bike and Peter taught him to train a couple.

A former top jockey, Peter still rides his own trackwork and is renowned for getting the best out of discards and rogues. Some have travelled to so many different trainers, they're just about float sick.

Rumberella, a six-year-old, started with Waterhouse and Bott at Randwick, offloaded to the Edmonds on the Gold Coast, then to Irishman Edward O'Rourke at Murwillumbah, banished to John Bourke at Moree.

And finally, to Peter for another day. And Peter is Scout's third trainer.

"When they've been moved around it doesn't mean they're finished, If they haven't had a lot of racing, sound and shown something, you can find winnable races out here.

"I've had some bargains. I'll place them in TAB meetings or picnic races, the way the prizemoney has gone up I've never seen anything like it.

"The Cup is tough, but Scout will win races out here. That Camp Rifle looks the horse to beat, placed Eagle Farm and Wyong and won that Bowraville Cup - good form for this."

Camp Rifle is a Godolphin discard with Tony Newing at Gosford.

William Freedman who won the Dubbo Gold Cup in his first season will also be hard to beat with lightly raced La Tigresa transferred from his father Richard and uncle Michael after winning Hawkesbury BM 64 and successive Newcastle placings.

The consistent Epaulette five-year-old is fitter for one run from a long spell and two trials. At present Moree is a Good 4 in fine weather.