THE Leon Davies-trained Kurtley will return to the scene of one of his most memorable wins on Sunday when he lines up in the Mitavite Mile Series Final (1620m) at Dubbo Turf Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The talented five-year-old took out the 2013 Dubbo Gold Cup and will be looking to take out Sunday's feature event for his Tamworth-based trainer.
As well as winning the Gold Cup in the past, Kurtley has won in twice in the city at Canterbury and raced at renowned tracks like Randwick, Rosehill and Doomben.
But things haven't been quite as perfect this time around with an 11th and seventh placed finish in his past two starts.
"He's just got to find form again," Davies said.
"Fitness has been a bit of an issue this time around and that's why I took him to trial Muswellbrook, so he could get some confidence back up.
"It was a wet track that day too but he hit the line and pulled up well after that."
The trial win has given Davies, who admitted 2000m is Kurtley's preferred distance, renewed hope of victory on Sunday.
continued page 20
A top two finish will see Kurtley's career earnings go past $200,000 but a benchmark rating of 81 means he will carry the top weight and his trainer admits that's a worry.
Apprentice jockey James Innes Jnr will be onboard but even his 1.5kg allowance means the progeny of Dane Shadow and Blue Lyric will still be carrying 58kg.
"It's certainly always a concern, he's only a little horse and that's why we've put James on there, to ease it up a bit," Davies said.
"But hopefully there's a bit of pace and he can roll forward."
Innes Jnr has recently made Dubbo home as he is on loan to the Peter Nestor stable for the rest of the season from Godolphin and trainer John O'Shea.
The up-and-coming jockey has ridden for Davies in the past and the trainer has no doubts he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level.
"He's a great little kid and that's a big reason why he's in with O'Shea," he said.
"He listens, he's never ridden a bad race for us and he's had a bit of luck too so he'll go a long way."
The fields for Sunday's seven race meeting were released yesterday and Davies will have only one other galloper in action after opting to race Gelsomina in Newcastle rather than the Reeve Wheeler Memorial (1320m).
Davies other chance on Sunday will be Miss Anna, who will jump from barrier seven in one of the day's other special races, the Tom Mulholland Memorial (1320m).
"She's going good, it was a tough race last start and before that she had six weeks off for a foot abscess but she's improved and Greg Ryan will ride her so she should be competitive," he said.
The first race of Dubbo Turf Club's meeting on Sunday will jump at 1.01pm with the Mitavite Mile set for 2.51pm.