Orange trainer Mick Plummer’s enjoyed a purple patch recently and he’s hoping it continues at Golden Rose Stakes day at Rosehill on Saturday, where he’ll have two runners chasing a TAB Highway Handicap win.
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When they’re going along well, there’s never any harm in sending them down.
- Mick Plummer
He’s sending recent winners Lily’s Little Girl and Justice Honor to town for the 1500-metre highway race because, in his words, “when they’re going along well, there’s never any harm in sending them down for a crack”.
Both sets of owners are based out of Hawkesbury as well, and it presents them the opportunity to get behind their charges on a Group 1 race day too.
“It’s quite a big thing to have runners running on these Group 1 days, particularly this one being Golden Rose Stakes day,” Plummer said.
“I’d imagine the owners will make a fair day of it, get their family and friends out there and that’s what it’s all about really, some fun and excitement. You’ve got to enjoy your horses don’t you?”
That’s not to say the pair is going down without a chance, far from it.
“Having a look, they’re both suited to this one in terms of track and distance,” Plummer explained.
“You’ll find most of the shorter races in town will be dominated by horses looking at The Kosciuszko.
“These longer ones certainly aren’t weak races, it’s a pretty strong field on Saturday, but they do suit a bit more and it probably isn’t much tougher than say, heading to Bathurst and running against the city-based trainers that all head there.”
Lily’s Little Girl and Justice Honor have both drawn well for Saturday’s $75,000 run too, they’ll jump from barriers three and four respectively.
For the former in particular, that bodes well considering her recent form from far wider recently. She’s drawn barrier 10 in her last two runs, but still finished third and second respectively.
Justice Honor on the other hand, well, he’s just class if you ask Plummer.
“Justice Honor has been going along really well and in terms of ratings he’s [fifth] on the list, so I certainly don’t think he’ll disgrace himself, he’s probably one of the nicer horses in the stable at the moment,” Plummer said.
“Lily’s Little Girl especially, her draws haven’t been the best her last couple of runs, but she’s run really, really strong races anyway. Hopefully she can get in behind them and stay on the pace.”
As Plummer said it’s far from a weak field on Saturday, his runners will face the likes of last-start winners Burrangong, Electric Shadow and Footmark – trained by John Rolfe, John Bateman and Jodie Bohr respectively.
Danny Williams’ My Blue Jeans is the top-rater and top-weight in the field too, while Terry Robinson’s Risk And Reward is running too.
Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy and Winx’s regular jockey Hugh Bowman are both set to ride in the race too, the former on Williams’ charge and the latter on Joseph Ible’s Seeblume.
Racing starts at Rosehill at 12.10pm on Saturday, the highway is the second at 12.50pm and the main event, the De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) jumps at 3.50pm.