Michael Pay knows he’s got two outsiders but that hasn’t stopped him from feeling quietly confident about his chances in Sunday’s Canola Cup heats at Eugowra.
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Plenty of attention is on Eugowra this time of year, with the Canola Cup final on the October long weekend being the richest C0 category race in Australia.
Pay has two chances lining on Sunday, with the five heats headlining the 10-race meeting.
Im Super Sophie will contest the first of the day while Joanandi will be in action in the fourth heat.
Joanandi will go from gate nine in one of the toughest heats of the day but if she starts well then Pay knows she could well feature in the finish.
The first two past the post in each advance to the $30,600 final.
The four-year-old galloped at the start in her debut earlier this month but still managed to run home well to finish fifth and show there is something for Pay to work with.
“She goes quite good. She just gets a little too excited at the gates and that’s why she galloped last time,” the Dubbo trainer said.
“It’s a good heat and it’s quite strong but you can’t win sitting here at home.
“She’s going to be a nice little horse for us and she just needs racing. I knew this was coming up so I thought we’d throw her in the deep end and see how she comes out.
“She’s always shown a bit of ability.”
Im Super Sophie is also a mare who has shown promise without breaking through.
She’s more experienced than Joanandi and has scored six placings from 15 career starts.
“She had a bit of an injury a year or two ago but she goes good,” Pay said.
“She’s in the heat with probably the favourite for the final but I think she can run top three or four.
“If she doesn't make the final we’d definitely take her back for the consolation and she’s not without hope.
“Both (horses) will be nice in the next three or four months. We’ll have a lot of fun with them.”
As is often the case, there is a real family feel for Pay and the two hopes.
The trainer’s oldest son, Tom, will drive both on Sunday, while all the trackwork and trials have been done his younger son, Jack.
Jack has been showing plenty of promise in the gig, spending time with Turnbulls in Bathurst in school holidays, and is set to start taking drives in races once he turns 16.
Racing starts at 12.14pm on Sunday.