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By Julieanne Horsman

It’s been 15 years since Barbara Joseph won the Snake Gully Cup with an old gelding named Medicine. John Scorse was the jockey, saluting by more than two lengths.  Now in a training partnership with eldest son Paul, Barbara is due for another win and she’s got two chances to do it tomorrow.

Rock On Zariz booked her place in the Snake Gully Cup with an impressive win in the Stan Sadleir Stakes at Wagga on 3^rd November. Under the guidance of Carly Frater-Hill, she crept up the rails to pinch victory in the last stride.

Medicine won the 2002 Snake Gully Cup.

“That was a great ride for Carly to get through that little gap,” Barbara said. “She is a horse that usually comes down the outside but that time she got pushed to the inside. She came through it really well though.

“She’s a backmarker but if she gets some luck in running she will be flying home. She will need to be on heels at the second turn but she has that short, sharp sprint to call on.”

Stablemate Mercurial Lad will be one of the likely leaders in the $70,000 feature at Gundagai-Adelong Racing Club. He’s drawn ideally in barrier four, which is the barrier Medicine won from in 2002.

“He will take a lot of running down and the short straight at Gundagai will be advantageous to him,” Barbara said.

“I think Nick Olive’s horse, Bring A Secret, will be hard to beat and Ruthless Agent is very good too.

“I’ve had a lot of seconds in the Snake Gully Cup over the years and if I don’t get a winner soon I might have to get John Scorse out of retirement!”

The Joseph Jones stable will saddle up five other runners on the day including I’m A Jewel who was brilliant on debut at Wagga on 3^rd November. She was unlucky to come fourth in a four-way photo-finish after copping some interference but will have her chance in the $40,000 Tooheys Extra Dry Country Maiden Plate 1100m.

“I was initially disappointed when she drew barrier 12 but she jumped well last time and has the speed to get across and be in the first couple,” Barbara said. “I have high hopes for her.”

Another promising filly, Dutchesse Moshe, will fly the flag in the Wattle Hire Class 1 Handicap 1400m. She won convincingly on debut in August and was defeated by a flared nostril two starts ago.

“She’s drawn wide too and will need some luck to get across,” Barbara said. “I do expect her to be competitive but she will go out for a spell after this race regardless of the outcome so she can be ready for Autumn.”

Mercurial Lad and Kayla Nisbet reunite in the Snake Gully Cup. Credit: Bradley Photographers.

All Too Familiar will make her debut in the Wiley Maiden Handicap 1180m.  She had an easy trial in open company at Sapphire Coast on 2^nd November, finishing eight lengths off the winner.

“We didn’t put her under any pressure in the trial,” Barbara said. “This is all new for her but I think she is an each-way chance tomorrow. She will be a nice filly in the future.”

Critical Touch lines up in the Clevedon Pastoral Benchmark 60 Handicap 1400m and apprentice jockey Patrick Scorse provides 2kg relief from the 61.5kg impost.

He’s had two good seconds at his last two starts and will be aiming for one better tomorrow.

“He’s going to be let run and will love going around the tight Gundagai track,” Barbara said.

Former Sydney galloper, Wonderbolt, rounds out the team in the$35,000 Martin Hay Earthmoving Snake Gully Flying 1000m. We haven’t seen him since February as he has had a few problems but if he lives up to how good he looks, Barbara Joseph says he will be hard to beat.

“He’s been on the water walker, is at his right racing weight and looks a million bucks,” she said. “For him we’d like some moisture on the track but not too much.

“We’ve got some great chances at Snake Gully but I don’t want to think like that because that’s when things go wrong.

“Either way we are looking forward to a fantastic day because the Snake Gully Cup Carnival has really become of the best country meetings in the state.

A calcutta for the XXXX Gold Snake Gully Cup will be held at the Gundagai Services Club from 8pm tonight and everyone is welcome.

View the fields and form (including race replays) for Gundagai's Friday meeting here.