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Cody Morgan Hopes To Snare A Hat-Trick In Friday's Tamworth Cup

First, it was Unbiased, then Ligulate - now trainer Cody Morgan is looking for a three-peat with the in-form Wren’s Day ($5 on TAB) in the $200,000 Great Northern Tamworth Cup (1400m) on Friday.

If Morgan can complete the hat-trick it will go down as one remarkable training feat for one trainer to win the feature race three years running with three different horses.

Morgan won the Tamworth Cup in 2019 with Unbiased ($6) and then Ligulate ($2.60) last year.

Wren's Day (Koby Jennings) wins at Canberra when formerly owned by Godolphin. Image by Bradley Photographers

The 34-year-old won and rode in some feature country cups during his riding days and his close association with the Tamworth Cup as a trainer has him heading into territory he would never have imagined.

Wren’s Day is one of two starters for Morgan in the Cup – his other Bajan Gold ($34) – is resuming and likely to need more distance for upcoming feature races over winter, according to the trainer.

While Morgan will have his eyes fixed on his own two starters on Friday, his father Glenn will also be represented by Breakdance ($101) which is resuming from a spell.

The intrigue of the Cup - which has reverted to a Friday from a Sunday date – should also ensure a large crowd for Tamworth’s feature meeting. Morgan hopes for the Tamworth Club’s sake the switch of dates boosts crowd numbers.

“I have been fortunate to win the past two Tamworth Cups and Wren’s Day is a strong chance again,” he said. “I think it is going to work well for the Club having the meeting on a Friday when a lot of feature country cup races are run.”

As for his chances of winning a third straight Tamworth Cup, Morgan knows he has the right horse.

“He has been back from Brisbane for a few weeks and the gap between starts and the distance is ideal for him,” he said. “The big factor is the weight he has to carry.

“It will be a record win for the race if he can get up with 59.5 kilograms. He has to concede most of the other horses five and a half kilograms which is a lot of weight.”

Morgan can only worry about his own horse and feels Wren’s Day is right at his peak. The seven-year-old has raced three times for Morgan since he was acquired from Godolphin and former trainer James Cummings.

In that time, Wren’s Day has produced a win and two seconds from three starts at Eagle Farm. Back home and in his own environment, it will be something new for Wren’s Day to race in the country and Morgan feels it’s only the big weight that will prevent the gelding from leading his rival’s home.

The major danger to Wren’s Day is Tamworth Cup prelude winner Total Recall ($4.60) which is likely to start favourite. Total Recall is building a strong record with three wins, a second and a fourth from his past five starts.

Champion jockey Craig Williams will travel from Melbourne to ride Total Recall for the Paul Messara stable in a further show of strength for the progressive galloper. Williams will have several rides at Randwick the following day and will only ride Total Recall at Tamworth.

Total Recall was impressive last start at his first race run for five months after just the two trials. Morgan has respect for all of his rivals and was in particular taken by the win of Total Recall.

“He went very well last start and looks hard to beat,” he said. Morgan believes Wren’s Day is the equal of his past two Cup winners.

“He is right up there with them ability-wise, but he has 59.5 kilograms and my past two winners carried the minimum weight of 54 kilograms so that is my main concern,” he said.

It’s a spectacular day of racing for Tamworth with over $500,000 prizemoney on offer across eight races.

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

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