Dubai Tycoon's injury history means he can't be locked in to start next month's Flying Handicap feature, but if he does make the trip to Dubbo again he'll be a major contender.
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Dubai Tycoon won the John McKinnon Memorial Cup Sprint Prelude (1120m) on Sunday afternoon for Scone trainer Brett Cavanough, giving him an automictic spot in the $50,000 Flying Handicap on September 12.
It's been a welcome return to form for the now six-year-old, after a chequered past 12 months for Cavanough.
A highly-regarded sprinter with feature wins at Bathurst, Moree, and Tamworth to his name, Dubai Tycoon has spent plenty of time in the paddock recently but he returned to the track with a promising second in last month's Bengalla Cup (1280m) at Muswellbrook.
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He went one better on Sunday as apprentice Madeline Owen sat on the pace before finishing over the top of $2.10 favourite Classy Rebel.
"He was plagued with injures all last preparation," Cavanough told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
"This is the first time he's been sound. I said to his owners we should just hook into him and back him up.
"He was nice and fresh and sound at trackwork yesterday (Saturday) morning.
"Minus three kilos, Maddi did a good job and parked on the back of three of them and they burnt each other out and she had the drop on them."
Dubai Tycoon won as a $2.40 chance on Sunday and got to the post almost half-a-length ahead of Dar Lunn's Classy Rebel while Campari Soda ($21) was third for Bryan Dixon.
Cavanough confirmed he'll keep taking it "week-by-week" with Dubai Tycoon rather sat any plans in stone.
The main event on Sunday, the John Nestor Memorial Dubbo Cup Prelude (1420m) was also won by a horse who is no certainty to return for the main event.
The $100,000 Gold Cup headlines next month's meeting and Heza Gentleman can line up if trainers Mitchell and Desiree Kearney wish after he won Sunday's race.
The only question mark for the Hawkesbury team is the distance, with the Gold Cup run over 1600m.
Desiree Kearney hinted they could return for the main event, saying "there's only way to find out" if Heza Gentleman can get it done.
The five-year-old gelding indicated he could get over more ground on Sunday as he finished the best to win a thrilling prelude.
It was a fantastic battle down the straight and it appeared at one point Cavanough could do a double as Eiger ($2.20 favourite) led the field but he was mowed down by both Heza Gentleman and The Bald Eagle ($19) in the final strides.
It took a photo to declare the winner but Kearney was confident her hope had got the job done after rattling home along the outside.
"I thought we got it and everyone was saying no but we definitely did," she said post-race.
"Hopefully he'll take some confidence out of that.
"He's racing really well at the moment. He's quite happy and fit and if we can keep him that way hopefully he'll keep racing that way."
Dubbo trainers Brett Robb and Garry Lunn also enjoyed success on Sunday.
Robb had Messy Miss ($5) win the Jockey Celebration Day Benchmark 58 Handicap (1120m) while Ollivander ($3.20 favourite) took out the Tony Wall Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap (1620m) for Lunn.
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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.
