Saturday night is one of the biggest meetings of the year at Mat Rue's home track in Bathurst and he's got one of his stable stars in the feature event of the night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Rue won't be there, instead he'll be in action at Dubbo Harness Racing Club's annual Boxing Day meeting.
Rue has Fouroeight in the the Group 3 Shirley Turnbull Memorial (2795m) at Bathurst but stable driver Tom Pay, originally from Dubbo, will be in the gig.
Leading trainer-driver Rue had planned on giving Pay the drive for some time and the chance to be a part of such a prestigious event will be something of a late Christmas present for the youngster.
"With so many going to Dubbo it was just easier if I go," Rue said.
"He (Fouroeight) has been in great form and Tom's driven him a few times and I just know it's going to be the biggest race he's driven in.
"He's good friends with the whole Turnbull family as well so it will be a big thrill, especially with a horse that is a chance.
"He might be a $20 chance but he can beat anyone."
READ ALSO:
Rue has two chances in the $42,400 Shirley Turnbull and Nathan Turnbull will drive his second hope, Misterfreeze.
Rue has five drives at Dubbo and will contest two special memorial events.
The meeting is headlined by the Colleen O'Neill Memorial (2120m) and the Gerard Yeo Memorial (2120m), the latter being a race Rue has won previously.
He will have Goodtime Hero and Longueval in the Gerard Yeo Memorial this year.
Pay drove Goodtime Hero to victory at Bathurst last month while the six-year-old gelding ran third last time out.
He's expected to make use of his early speed well from gate three on Saturday and be a leading contender while Rue has the tricky task of promising driving Kiwi newcomer Longueval from gate seven.
"He's first-up in Australia but he had a really impressive trial so let's hope he takes that forward in races," Rue said, the four-year-old gelding having won a Bathurst trial earlier this week.
"It's never easy from seven and it makes it pretty difficult but I think he can win it.
"He's a progressive horse, hopefully. There's not a lot of him but there's a chance we might be able to win some nice races with him or take him to Menangle."
Rue will drive Let's Roll The Dice in the Colleen O'Neill Memorial and while he opened the early favourite his trainer admitted the gelding, while talented, has trouble focusing in his races at times.
Rue will also have Darabont and Nonchalant in the Life Members Two-Year-Old Pace (1720m).
He will drive Nonchalant, a new filly in his stables with just one start to her name, while Greg Rue will drive Darabont.
Racing starts 6.22pm on Saturday.
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
