Dubbo trainers will be few and far between at Bathurst on Tuesday but the annual Anzac Day meeting is guaranteed to be another huge day of racing.
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The Bathurst RSL Club Soldier’s Saddle (1400m) is again the main event, with a number of hometown trainers looking to end a horror run for Bathurst locals in the feature.
Only one Bathurst trainer has ever won the Soldier’s Saddle in its 24-year history but
Paul Theobald is one Bathurst trainer who has narrowly missed out on the top prize in recent years with All Sixes (second in 2014 and third in 2015) and Bathurstian (fourth in 2016).
Six-year-old Tiger’s Story, who will line up from barrier eight on Tuesday, is no stranger to the event, having raced it back in 2015 (sixth), but like that occasion the gelding will be up against higher-rated competition.
Tiger’s Story will start widest of the eight runners but that’s of little concern to Theobald.
“His work's been really good of late and he’s ready to run 1400m. The race has really got to run to suit him,” he said.
“It all comes down to tactics in the run and he needs the speed to be on early, and he comes from behind. If they go too slow early then it won’t suit him.
“A lot his races haven’t been run to suit him and he’s had a nagging muscle problem, which has interrupted his preparation.
“He’s won at 1400m here, and that was a good day here last year. I’m hoping he can pull it off again.”
Dean Mirfin’s Super Pig is the other Bathurst-trained contender.
Theobald said Mirfin’s runner could provide that necessary early pace.
“I think Super Pig will go forward and set the pace. If that’s the case then he has a chance of coming from behind,” he said.
“I haven’t won this race yet but I’ll keep trying. It’s a Class 4 race now, which brings it back to our calibre of horse.”
The remaining six runners in the Soldier’s Saddle field represent a mix of Central West and provincial trainers, including Wellington’s Karen McCarroll with Smart Attire.
Darren Hyde is the only Dubbo trainer making the trip over, with Wacky Doo looking to go that bit further in the Kings Hotel Country Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1800m) after running either third or fourth in his past five starts.
Racing starts at Bathurst at 12.56pm with the Soldier’s Saddle at 3.56pm.
A number of orther Dubbo trainers will be at Nyngan’s non-TAB meeting on Tuesday. The Lunn foursome of Garry, Lee, Michael and Dar will have individual hopes while Catherine Chapman and Connie Greig will also be in action.
Nyngan’s six-race meeting gets underway at 1.45pm with the Anzac Centenary Cup the main event at 4.40pm.
