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By Mark Brassel

A Sydney cast-off can continue an incredible run by Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer in Thursday’s $150,000 Carlton Dry Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).

Deamer has landed five winners from his last 10 starters with victories at Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Taree, Scone and Coffs Harbour.

Greek Hero (Jay Ford) in winning form at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

The latest was Greek Hero who captured the Sawtell Cup [1515m] at Coffs Harbour with 60kg on July 24.

“I am always happy to travel and I’m lucky Dad [John] has a horse transport business which helps with moving my horses around,” Deamer said.

Deamer has only had Greek Hero for three runs, the six-year-old having previously been trained in Sydney by Richard and Michael Freedman.

“The horse is owned by Dynamic Syndications and I already trainer a number of horses for them, so they sent Greek Hero up to me.”

At his first run for the Deamer stable, the horse finished seventh to Dream Circle at Royal Randwick when trapped wide throughout, before running last to O’mudgee at Canterbury Park.

“The run at Randwick was very good as he was three-deep for most of the trip and only tired late,” Deamer explained.

“Then the Canterbury failure was just a complete forget run. It was a funny race as they put on the speed then slowed up – and he also pulled up sore.

“I gave him a bit of extra time after that run and a freshen-up and it worked out.”

Greek Hero powered home to claim the Sawtell Cup [1515m] at Coffs Harbour with 60kg at his first run for four weeks.

“He has taken plenty of benefit from the win and has come along nicely since. The Coffs Harbour Cup now looks the perfect race for him.”

Although Greek Hero has won twice at 1500m in Australia, he has won over 1611m at Musselburgh and 1608m at Thirsk in the United Kingdom.

Christian Reith rode Greek Hero in the Sawtell Cup but has taken another mount in the Cup: “He’s jumped ship!” Deamer said. “I’ve booked Ashley Morgan and he is riding plenty of winners.” Morgan rode a double at Scone last Monday and another double at Taree on Tuesday.

Deamer said he will go up and back to Coffs Harbour from Newcastle on the day: “It’s only four hours so we’ll go up in the morning and come straight back home afterwards.”

Thursday’s Coffs Harbour Cup will be the 56th running of the race which is a Racing NSW Country Showcase program boasting $430,000 in prizemoney. The Cup is supported by the $50,000 Coffs Harbour Toyota Daniel Baker Showcase Sprint (1200m) and the $50,000 Driscoll’s Australia Ken Howard Showcase Cup (2000m).

Coffs Harbour Racing Club’s CEO, Tim Saladine, said the Club is overwhelmed by the public’s response to attending: “We are now fully sold out in accordance with the Public Health restrictions as we have reached our 2500 limit,” Saladine said.

“With the restrictions on Sydney and the Queensland border shut, the response from the Coffs racing community has been phenomenal – we totally sold out the event one week from Cup day.

“There’ll be a COVID-safe Fashions on the Field and we’ve received outstanding nominations with almost 200 horses entered from all areas of the state.”

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY MEETINGS
Monday: Gundagai
Tuesday: Scone, Moruya
Thursday: Coffs Harbour (Cup)
Friday: Tamworth
Saturday: Casino (Cup)
Sunday: Wagga, Dubbo