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By Graeme White

Wild Rocket – the mare so aptly named by her owners because of their connection to aviation – is set to do some flying of her own in the QUBE Narromine Cup (1600m) on Sunday.

The five-year-old carries a rocket brand on her shoulder like the other horses owned by Alan and Sarah De Nooy of Mittagong.

Wild Rocket (Matthew Cahill) lands the cash at Narromine. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

Wild Rocket will need to produce her customary powerful finish from back in the field in the feature race for jockey Matthew Cahill who has a strong association with the mare.

Trainer Kylie Kennedy is one of a few trainers who prepare her horses at Narromine which races five times a year, but there is no bigger day than cup day in the town although Sunday’s meeting will be conducted under strict COVID restrictions.

Kennedy’s only other attempt at winning the Narromine Cup was in 2008 when Prince Raheed ran second as a $15 chance.

The odds won’t be as lucrative about Wild Rocket ($5.50 on TAB) who looms as the main danger to the in-form, From The Bush ($2.80 favourite).

They met two weeks ago in the Forbes Cup when From The Bush won and Wild Rocket finished seventh beaten more than three lengths after having excuses, according to her trainer.

“She drew one and got cluttered up and then came through on the inside part of the track which wasn’t suitable for her,” she said.

“This time she has drawn the outside barrier which isn’t good for most horses, but it is for her. She can settle back and then swoop late.”

Wild Rocket’s owners have only seen her race once live and Kennedy would love to win her hometown Cup for a number of reasons.

“The owners have been with me for ten years and they bred Wild Rocket and also another one with the stable name of Jet,” she said.

“Alan was a pilot and that is why they have those names and the freeze brand which looks like a rocket with 747 on it. They reckon she used to run around the place like a rocket so that is how she got her name.”

Wild Rocket has won five times from 20 starts for earnings of $125,000 with Cahill in the saddle most of the time. She has put together a consistent record after taking several starts to win a race and also has history at Narromine where she has a win and second from three attempts.

The race bears a close resemblance to the Forbes Cup with From The Bush (first), Reward Seeker (second, $3) and Toulon Brook (third, $14) lining up.

Kennedy feels Wild Rocket is capable of winning or at least finishing closer than when she didn’t “have the race run to suit” at Forbes.

“She is a backmarker and it took us a few starts to work that out. Matthew knows how to ride her best and he will be able to do that from where she is drawn,” she suggested.

“I don’t have to overwork her between starts because she is lightly framed. She does race well at Narromine and works at the track as well.”

Kylie will also saddle up Smart Lass ($6.50) and Lord Of Helican ($26) on Cup day, while her father Wayne Collison has Money Not My God ($3.10) and Niccolon ($5) starting.

Money Not My God and Lord Of Helicon will race against each other in the Soul Food Design Depot & Gallery Maiden (1300m), while Smart Lass will be having her first start under Kennedy’s training.

Meanwhile, Western District Racing chairman of stewards Todd Smith will officiate at one of his final meetings after more than two decades as a steward.

Smith has the final race on Cup day – The Thank You and Farewell Todd Smith Benchmark 58 (1300m) – named after him. He has been a steward at several racing centres after commencing his career in Sydney.

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