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By Graeme White

Apprentice jockey Rebecca Bronett Prag has the plum ride on favourite Pioneer Lass in a two-pronged attack for trainer Matthew Smith in Sunday’s Bega Cheese Bega Cup (1600m).

Pioneer Lass ($4.20 fav NSW TAB) and stable mate Zambrero (($14) will represent the Warwick Farm trainer as he tries to capture the feature race for the first time.

Pioneer Lass has drawn wide while Zambrero (gate two) is drawn alongside another of the main hopes in One Aye.

Rebecca Bronnet Prag wins on Pioneer Lass (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Smith has a leaning towards Pioneer Lass who will carry only 55 kilograms after the claim for her rider.

Pioneer Lass, a four times winner, was successful with Bonnett Prag aboard at Kembla Grange on December 4 and since has bene placed at Gosford and Rosehill.

Her latest run behind Bootscooter at Rosehill over 1500 metres was enough to push her into favouritism.

Zambrero doesn’t have the same credentials as Pioneer Lass with four unplaced runs this campaign.

Meanwhile, One Aye will be the sole representative for Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones as they attempt to win the Cup for the fourth consecutive year.

Mercurial Lad, Room Number and Manderboss have been part of the triple treat with One Aye flying solo on Sunday.

One Aye was solid when third behind astable mate Zouatica in the Moruya Cup and needs to run top two to gain a spot in The Big Dance at Randwick in November.

In-form mare Patrika Mist has won two of her past three starts with her last start effort best to be overlooked according to trainer Joe Ible.

“She got into a speed battle up front and ran very fast sectionals early and had nothing left for the finish,” he said.

“This will be her tenth start this campaign. She is still going well, but I’m mindful she has had a bit of racing.”

Last start winner Prince Aurelius was scratched from Rosehill on Saturday to be saved for the $80,000 feature.

Trainer Theresa Bateup has the numbers on her side with The Guru, Crackalacka and Victory at Omaha.

“Crackalacka is probably my best chance and drops a lot in the weights from her last run,” she said.

“She has won two from three at the track and wasn’t far off Zouatica in the Moruya Cup.”

Cream Rises can provide an even bigger instant return for connections with the last start Wagga winner lining up for his second start for trainer Mitch Beer.

“The Bega Cup has always been his target and it was a fairly easy win last start,” he suggested.

Meanwhile, Iconic Dame is well within sight of winning another feature race when she lines up in the Bega Bobcats Sprint (1200m).

Iconic Dame took out the Moruya Town Plate over Kattegat who again opposes her on Sunday.

Wangaratta trainer Dan McCarthy has made the eight-hour trip to race at the carnival for the first time and will start Northernero.

He also has Ferlaxing starting in the Cup.

“Northerneo has been a great horse for the stable and the owners and you know he will run an honest race,” he said.

Northernero, Iconic Dame, Merc and Shalook are all last start winners.

Iconic Dame is the $3.10 fav with trainer Jamie Stewart sure his stable star will run her usual honest race.

“I would prefer the track was a bit soft for her, but it won’t be so we will run her and see how she goes,” he said.

All the entries, form and replays for Sunday’s Sapphire Coast meeting