Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy has had his first stroke of luck for Sunday’s $150,000 Evergreen Turf South East Country Championships (1400m) at Nowra and he’s hoping his honest mare Sass ‘N’ Cheek can take full advantage.

Trainer Pat Murphy (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The scratching of one of the fancied runners Tavolo on Saturday morning paved the way for the six-year-old, who was first emergency, to secure a run.

“I always say things happen for a reason sometimes,’’ Murphy said.

“We planned this race after the Highway win, which is hard to do because of the timing but she’s ready to go.

“Obviously this area is hard and we took a punt to get in and it paid off so hopefully there’s a great result.”

Murphy had to work out the right path for Sass ‘N’ Cheek, $19 with TAB on Saturday, after she won a Highway at Rosehill in November and he spaced her runs banking on getting enough of a ratings boost to make the field in the traditionally strong district.

As it turned out her fourth placings at Randwick and Canterbury left her stranded as an emergency, leaving connections facing a wait until the Wild Card next month for their shot at a berth in the $1 million Final.

Now she’s in the field, Murphy sees her lead up as ideal and would welcome the expected genuine tempo at Nowra.

“I’ve been very happy with both runs, there were excuses in both. They were pass marks at the minimum,’’ he said.

“She could have won more races if she looked after herself better in the run. She’s not naughty, she’s just competitive and a few times she hasn’t switched off.

“We got too far back at Canterbury, you know what Canterbury is like and while the track has been racing well you can’t maintain a run from the 600m on.

“A high pressure race is better for her, she looks great and her gallop on Friday was lovely in preparation for this. She’s where she needs to be.”

There’s no doubt the scratching of Tavolo would have disappointed trainer Rob Potter but given it was on vet’s advice she will be eligible to run in the Wild Card at Goulburn on March 23.

The Canberra trainer still has Craving Magic headed to Nowra and he’s expecting the gelding to hold his own.

It was Potter’s plan to send Craving Magic to the Championships race second-up but he put in a head scratching performance when he resumed in the Bega Sprint at the Sapphire Coast.

So the five-year-old backed up a week after that run in the Preview at Nowra and convinced Potter that he was on target.

Sass 'N' Cheek runs fourth at Canterbury on January 17

“He trialled magnificently going into the first up run but on that track that day if you weren’t in the first four and you were back you weren’t making any ground,’’ he said.

“He was magnificent with 61.5kg in the Preview and he got beat a nose, and he just kept coming.

“He’s definitely going to run the 1400m and gate five is great for him.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Nowra