Trainer Bernie Connell describes himself as a hobbyist who was fortunate enough to snare a double with the only two horses he took the track the last time he raced.
The oyster farmer from Batehaven on the South Coast will attempt to keep his winning tally on the positive side when he saddles up two of his three horse team at Moruya on Tuesday.
Connell won with Interventions and City Of Shadows at the Sapphire Coast on July 29 and will start the former as well as Chatober on Tuesday.
It wasn’t the first time Connell has finished with a 100 per cent record with his two starters and he agreed it was a good feeling going home with a float full of winners.
Connell admitted it will be harder to achieve the feat at Moruya, but he likes what he sees with Interventions and feels Chatober will benefit by the step up in distance.
“I only have three horses in training and two are last start winners and the other won a few starts back,” he said.
“It’s just a hobby to me outside of running my oyster farm.
“The horses are trained in the paddock at home and see plenty of kangaroos plus a few times a week I take them for fast work to Moruya.
“They love the environment and just roaming about the paddocks seems to work.”
Interventions was one of two winners for Bernie Connell at Sapphire Coast on 29th July. Credit: Bradley Photos.
Connell said City Of Shadows had the most ability and will start at Goulburn next week, while Interventions was up to winning again after breaking through for his first victory at his second start for him.
Interventions was purchased at the Magic Millions sales for $250,000 before finding his way to Queensland.
“I bought him online when he had ten placings from 17 starts. I got him cheap and thought he would be a good buy,” he said.
“He has had two runs for me for a third and a first - he finished off super last time.”
Connell isn’t writing off the chances of Chatober who steps up to 1650 metres when she won three starts back.
“She is honest and tries hard, but it’s a tough race,” he suggested.
The meeting will acknowledge last season’s premiership winning trainer Matthew Dale and jockey Jeff Penza.
Dale has a number of strong chances, but in the race named after him – the Open Hcp (1210m) – he doesn’t have a starter.
The interesting runner is Disturbance who is having his first start for Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones since arriving from New Zealand.
Disturbance has won four of his 27 starts and hasn’t raced since April.
View the fields and form (including replays) for Tuesday's Moruya meeting here.