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By Graeme White

Prima Stella couldn’t have better credentials to win the $30,000 The Hotel Cecil Casino Gold Cup (1400m) on Saturday and trainer Rocky Simonetta believes the plan will go to script.

The proven performer is ideally placed after finishing second at his past two starts in the Maclean and Sawtell Cups.

“I think he should win. He has drawn a good barrier, the field isn’t as strong as what he has been racing and this is his best distance,” he enthused.

The 62-year-old isn’t being over confident, but facts and figures point to Prima Stella winning.

Leading jockey Matthew McGuren will take the ride on the eight-year-old from barrier three and Simonette believes everything is in place for a break through win.

The galloper is one of a handful of horses he trains at Kempsey having returned to the training ranks after many years assisting the late Rick Worthington with his horses at Warwick Farm.

Simonette didn’t train in his own right for several years preferring to assist Worthington with a number of high class gallopers.

“I really enjoyed my time working with Rick and I wanted to stay in racing so I took out my licence again and have been back for a little while,” he said.

“I have had one winner back with Monte Di Rose and actually train three horses from the same dam – two geldings and a sister.

“I also trained their dam when I was in Queensland so I have had a bit to do with them.”

Prima Stella runs second at Coffs Harbour on July 24

Simonetta has trained Prima Stella in his own name for his past two starts, but prior to that was in partnership with Daniel Simonetta.

“We had a third with him first-up at Coffs Harbour then he has been close with seconds at his past two runs,” he said.

“He did it tough both times after a first-up start with 63 kilograms – that was also a top run.

“I’m due to win one after going close at his past couple.”

Prima Stella will go back up in the weights slightly this time and McGuren will take over from the suspended John Grisedale.

Simonetta hopes a win in the Casino Cup will maintain the stable’s consistency since he returned to training

“I trained in Queensland before that, but didn’t have a starter since 2014 before I came back,” he said.

Simonetta has saddled up six horses in his own name since for a win, three seconds a fourth and a sixth when he claims the “fourth should have been a winner”.

Prima Stella has raced 47 times for six wins and 12 placings and his recent record puts him well above that of his rivals.

Some of his opponents are also down in class and Simonetta hopes the form around his galloper holds up.

His last start second behind Greek Hero in the Sawtell Cup at Coffs Harbour has been backed up with that galloper running second in the Coffs Harbour Cup on Thursday.

“The horse is in tip top condition and I expect him to get a nice run from the draw and be very hard to beat,” he added.

“The horse has been to Casino three times for two seconds and a third so he is due to win one.”

Prima Stella ran third in last year’s edition of the Casino Cup behind Powerline and Nothingforthepress – the latter is attempting to go one spot better on Saturday.

The veteran has been close-up in most country cups he has contested and also won last year’s Wauchope Cup at Port Macquarie.

He was also placed in the Casino Beef Week Cup and Bowraville Cup prior to his last two runner-up cheques in country cups.

To say Prima Stella is due to win another cup is stating the obvious.

“I think he will win – the more money you put on the more you will get back,” his trainer enthused.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Casino Cup meeting