Latest News

By Tony Megahey

Western District’s rising young trainers Cameron Crockett and Clint Lundholm are primed to dominate Friday’s Dubbo Turf Club TAB meeting.

The form stables are represented in most of the eight races and will provide several favourites at an in-depth meeting.

Crockett has enjoyed recent metropolitan success with the flying Nictock while Lundholm won the Royal Randwick Highway on 16th September with Larlabrook. But before assessing his Dubbo prospects, the major news from the Crockett stable is that Nictock, despite five wins from six starts, will not contest the highly anticipated $200,000 Anniversary Highway over the Royal Randwick Spring Carnival in two weeks.

“He’s been brilliant and big hearted for us, and while the Anniversary and the Highway series have been fantastic concepts, he’s simply not a 1400m horse, and I’m not about to ruin him by being greedy, trying to find out,” Crockett explains.

Nictock’s wins have been over 1000m and 1100m at Canterbury Park and Warwick Farm.

Of Crockett’s numerous runners on Friday, he offers value as his best chance on the day. Turcotte contests the fifth event, a capacity field in the Dubbo Pet Medical Centre 1300m BM 56.

“Terrific scope for improvement, just so immature but he raced out of his skin in a decent race at Scone, he’s taken a lot of improvement from it, he’s drawn and I think he’ll eventually develop into a Country Cups horse,” Crockett said.

Mar Nero, a three-race winner contests the Air Pelican Spring Handicap 1400m.

“She’s going well, fitter with a couple of runs from a let-up, the 1400m is probably still a bit short for her, but she’s capable of running a good race with the right run, as she’ll be getting home strong.”

Meanwhile Lundholm rates Sissie’s Choice as a rapid improver in an early maiden. “She’s a speedy little thing, always shown us good ability, and she’ll run a race for sure,” Clint offered.

“She pulled up sore after her only start but she’s come back really nicely and in her right race.

“Tuncoona in the sixth, is well above average, we took her to Enngonia for a maiden for her owners and while it was a steady field, she did win by ten lengths, and she’s certainly up to better grade.”

Joey’s Destiny carries the impost of 62.5kg for Greg Ryan in the OSM Transportable Homes 1000m sprint.

“He’s got the big weight but he’s going well enough so we’re looking to bring him back to the city for another Highway.”

Dubbo will race on a good four track.

View the fields and form for Friday's Dubbo meeting here.