A LAST-minute track inspection will determine whether a Wallabadah Cup, Inverell Cup double will even be possible for Tamworth trainer Craig Martin.
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Martin has a runner in each cup, with Cricklewood his hope in Wallabadah and Present Sense potentially running in Inverell.
However, Martin said the condition of the Inverell track would lead to his final decision.
“I’m still very much weighing up if he [Present Sense] will run or not,” Martin said.
“It all comes down to whether the track holds up with this heat and the previous six races before the cup.”
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Martin said Cricklewood was a strong chance to win the Wallabadah cup “if he turns up to race”.
“You really don’t know what you’re going to get with him sometimes,” he said.
“If he turns up to race he is as good as any on his day, if he doesn’t, he will let you know.
“I reckon if they both end up running they are certainly a chance and I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t be nice to win both.”
Apprentice jockey Sophia Thatcher will have the duties aboard Cricklewood and will be aiming for her second career victory.
“In a lot of ways the run at Wallabadah is less about victory for Cricklewood as it is about experience for Sophia,” Martin said.
“She’s pretty keen and has really shown some promise, so hopefully it will be a good experience.”
Martin said Cricklewood’s race strategy would be left in the hands of Thatcher.
“It’s a little bit tough to really work out a plan for Wallabadah given we only race there once a year,” he said.
“I have only ever had one runner in the cup before and it came second and I wasn’t actually there, so it’s a bit of an unknown.
“We have gone over some stuff with Sophia but the strategy side of things will be largely left up to her.”
- The Wallabadah Cup begins at 4.55pm on New Year’s Day while the Inverell Cup jumps at 5.04pm.
Billy Jupp
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land.
