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By Graeme White

If you are looking for an omen bet in the $50,000 Riverview Hotel Murwillumbah Cup on Friday then mark down Macchina Volante at double-figure odds.

Local trainer Stewart Campbell has only started one other galloper in the Murwillumbah Cup and that was when Bernie Of Babylon won at odds of $7 in 2015.

Macchina Volante (Blake Spriggs) parades at Hawkesbury when previously trained at Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Macchina Volante is rated a $10 hope on the NSW TAB after not having the best of fortune when a closing fourth at his previous start in the Casino Cup.

Ironically, Bernie Of Babylon also ran fourth in the Casino Cup and some of the same owners remain in both horses.

Campbell only trains two racehorses floating them every morning with his wife Fran to the local track.

His other cup day runner is Pride Of Pyingerra ($6.50) who will contest the XXXX Dry Benchmark 58 (1100m).

“I knock back training more horses than I actually train,” Campbell said.

“I only have one race photo on the wall at home and that was when Bernie Of Babylon won the Cup – he was my one and only ever starter in our local cup.

“One of the owners, Mick Ratcliff, bought both horses and helped form syndicates that race the two horses I have starting on Friday

“They are primarily members of Punters Clubs and have had a lot of fun – Pride Of Pyingerra has won two his past three for them as well so we have had a bit of luck.”

It’s a difficult assignment for Macchina Volante who will be ridden by jockey Ben Looker from barrier eight.

Last start winner Ready To Rumble ($3 NSW TAB) is rated on top for Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn marginally ahead of Willo Titto ($3.10).

Dunn finished fourth in last year’s Murwillumbah Cup with Saxton Rock behind Exclusive.

Willo Titto provides trainer Michael Costa with an outstanding hope of winning another northern rivers cup after taking out the Grafton Cup in July. The cup topweight ran third in the Coffs Harbour Cup last start.

The only horse from last year’s cup contesting the race again on Friday is Nothingforthepress ($18), while last year’s cup-winning jockey Kirk Matheson will be aboard Dunn’s other representative, Storm Attack ($16). Murwillumbah trainer Neville Boyle will start cup outsider Kijito ($101).

Campbell feels the home track advantage could assist Macchina Volante who is unbeaten in two starts at Murwillumbah.

“The first time he won at the track he would have won at most places that day because he was flying,” he suggested.

“He has got a light weight and from that start, I think I may have to have him ridden a bit closer as there is good speed in the race. He normally gets back a bit, but on Friday I expect him to be a bit closer.”

When he isn’t attending to his horses, Campbell works at a local hospital and has no plans to extend his stable number of two.

“It’s pretty good to have your only two horses racing on cup day for some great owners,” he said. “It’s going to be different again this year with no public allowed, but we are fortunate to be racing. If we could get a winner then even better.”

Meanwhile, trainer Donna Grisedale will be hoping to extend her winning sequence with Dollson in the Boutique Thoroughbreds Murwillumbah Newmarket (1200m). Grisedale has been successful with her past three starters which includes a winning double at Grafton on Monday.

Dollson is rated a $7 hope behind last start winner Rari ($3.20) for Grafton trainer Scott Henley. Grisedale previously the 2019 Newmarket with Waltzing Willie which defeated Snitz – who won four straight races later that year.

The cup meeting will have a different look with only a few Queensland trainers represented which will enhance the chances of many of the northern NSW trainers. Dunn has a huge presence at the meeting with six early favourites.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Murwillumbah here