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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Dean Mirfin says the timing is right to give Island Press his shot at Big Dance eligibility via next month’s Dubbo Cup if he can continue on his winning way at Dubbo on Sunday.

Trainer Dean Mirfin (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The five-year-old is attempting to repeat his success in the Dubbo City Toyota & Gilgandra Toyota Dubbo Cup Prelude (1418m) but unlike in 2022, Mirfin has his sights set on the Cup now that he’s a more mature horse.

It’s not going to be an easy task, though, as Island Press will carry 8kg more than he did a year ago but a win will tell the Bathurst trainer that he’s worthy of fronting up to vie for a spot in the $3m Big Dance or $750,000 Little Dance at Randwick in November.

Mirfin is expecting the Dubbo Cup to feature a number of city trained gallopers but isn’t going to shy away from taking them on.

“He’s going to carry 60kg in this race and that’s where he’d be weighted in an open handicap in the bush,’’ Mirfin said.

“If you want to bring him down in the weights he has to run in stronger races.

“These (city) horses travel long distances to get to these Cups and they don’t always win so you can’t be frightened off by them.

"If he gets into the Dubbo Cup he will be competitive. It’s worth good prizemoney so I’m not expecting it to be easy.”

The $100,000 Dubbo Cup (1600m) is run on September 10 and Mirfin said he feels Island Press, $6 with TAB on Saturday, is set up much better now to run out a strong mile.

He returned from break to score a narrow, but tough, win over 1400m at Wellington two weeks ago and it impressed the trainer who was a little easy on the gelding leading in.

“He went into the race with just one trial, and it wasn’t a particularly hard trial, so I thought he may be vulnerable at the end of the race but he was going well so we were confident he’d run well,’’ he said.

“He needed to get picked up for the last 100m and he definitely responded to Aaron’s riding. That was pleasing to see that he’s toughened up a bit.

“I think he’s a more seasoned horse now, in his early days he was a bit fierce to run out a strong 1600m or 1700m.

"He seems more relaxed these days and we hope that means he can stretch out a bit further.”

Scopics backs up from a cheeky effort at Kembla Grange last weekend and Mirfin said while he has top weight to carry in the Ellsberg at Murrulla Stud Handicap (1418m) he’s well suited.

The four-year-old was narrowly beaten on his home track prior to the trip east.

“He hit a bit of a flat spot when they turned into the straight and lost momentum,’’ Mirfin said.

Island Press wins at Wellington on July 31

“Olivia (Chambers) pulled him back to the outside and he finished the race off well. He’s done very well through the week and we’re happy to back him up."

Dean Mirfin on Kimmylee (race 5): “She just found opposition that was too good for her at Canterbury. She’s creeped up in the weights in these races but she has won with 68kg on picnic tracks. We expect her to be boxing on somewhere, if she gets the sort of run where she’s poised and is presented with not much to do she can sprint.”

On Bulla Vinaka (race 7): “He's turned the corner since his second trial. His run the other day was real good. He was looking like he was going to run last, throwing his head around and being green and dumb, but once he focused he finished the race off strongly. He’s up to a preferable trip but unfortunately he’s drawn the car park. If he gets back (the draw) won’t make much difference.”

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday's Dubbo meeting