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By Ray Hickson

Taree trainer Tony Ball can’t hide his excitement about the future for lightly raced galloper Debussy and expects the gelding to make light work of a wide gate in Sunday’s Komatsu Wayne Glenn Pink Silks Cup (1213m) at Coffs Harbour.

Trainer Tony Ball

The four-year-old has only been with Ball for two starts for a first-up win at Newcastle in a Class 1 and a game third at Gosford in a Benchmark 64 so thrusting him into country open company at his eighth start is a bullish move.

But he’s confident Debussy, with a 6kg weight drop, is up to it.

“I’m hoping he proves me right because I think he’s pretty talented,’’ Ball said.

“The 1200m won’t be problem, he’ll sit just behind the lead, and even Aaron (Bullock) the other day said he’s looking for 1200m. Just camp in behind them, peel out, and go bang.

“Luke (Rolls) rides pretty well for me, he’ll just let him work into his gears and go through his gears.

“I’m not Toby Edmonds or Chris Waller, I’m a country trainer and things are going all right for me at the moment. I’ve got to hope he can produce the goods and put me on the map.”

Toby Edmonds was Debussy’s original trainer and he earned high praise from jockey Robbie Fradd after his debut win at Eagle Farm back in April 2021.

He went straight to Group 3 company for his second start but after that initial preparation went into the wilderness until it was recommended to Ball that he take over the training and give the gelding a change of scenery.

“One of the owners, Bamboo Bloodstock, said to me this horse would be worth buying and if I bought him they’d keep half and three-quarters of the owners ended up staying in him,’’ he said.

“I rang Toby and asked what the problem was and he said there’s no problem, he just couldn’t get him back.

“His breathing was all out of whack and the girls who ride work for me here have done a great job and they have him breathing properly.

“He won first-up at Newcastle and he ran a good third the other day, it’s a pretty smart horse that horse that beat him (Latenighttoughguy).”

Given his relatively recent transfer into the Taree stable, Debussy isn’t eligible for a Country Championships campaign but he will likely appear in a Highway next month after he ticks the three start criteria box on Sunday.

Debussy runs third at Gosford on December 28

Stablemate Into The Fire is also new to Ball’s stable having had three starts since transferring from Cameron Crockett and the trainer said something different will be tried after he knocked up in the Latenighttoughguy race at Gosford.

“He can run 1200m, he went too hard at Gosford in the same race as Debussy,’’ he said.

“Kerrin (McEvoy) came back and said we’re doing the wrong thing, let him begin where he’s happy and don’t dig him up and get him running.”

Debussy was $4.60 with TAB on Saturday, Into The Fire at $10.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Coffs Harbour meeting