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By Tony Megahey

Tamworth racing doyen Sue Grills achieved a remarkable training feat with her star sprinter Just in Reach ($3.60 on TAB), strongly fancied for the TAB Spring Cup at her home track on Monday in preference to Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Always hard to beat and primed with the comforts of home and no travel, Sue has other contenders aside from the $27,000 Cup sponsored by Agri Office Solutions.

Just in Reach (Dylan Gibbons) scores at Royal Randwick. Image by Bradley Photographers

Spirit of Vomo, formerly with the Waterhouse and Bott stables and a Pakenham maiden winner is in the fourth event, and ex-Kris Lees Lady Chartwell ($7.50), a Doomben placegetter contests the opening maiden.

But five-race winner Just in Reach is a comeback of proportions.

The six-year-old won the recent Moree Town Plate first-up up and not having raced since winning a Royal Randwick TAB Highway in late December. Near nine months!

“I thought he was good enough for the Kosciuszko, the way he was progressing but unbelievably he somehow fractured his jaw,” Sue explained.

“We don’t know how he did it spelling, just a mess, had to have it wired for a couple of months and he lost so much condition.

“But thankfully it didn’t affect his confidence, he’s come back as good as ever, just so genuine.

“There’s still a slot left in the Kosciuszko, so if he happens to win well, who knows. Moree was his barrier trial for this after such a long-time without a race.”

Just in Reach powered in near record time for the 950m Town Plate with Ashley Morgan who was keen to retain the ride for Tamworth where the impeccably bred Outreach protégé by Justine, a Lonhro mare, has 57.5kg and barrier five.

“Really strong Cup, always are country opens, ‘Ash’ has won on him twice, we’re drawn and still fresh enough off that 900m. We’ll be right on the pace at 1200m."

Lady Chartwell resumes and offers a Doomben placing as strong form back to a country maiden: “Not a lot of her but nice enough mare and her work has been good for this grade.”

An early Pakenham win by Spirit of Vomo is a strong form line for Tamworth but might need more time third-up.

“He’ll need all of the 1400m and wants soft tracks, but he does have ability.”

At present Tamworth will race on a Good 4 track in dry and hot conditions recently.

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