Sally Torrens heads to Moree for Sunday's transferred meeting from Armidale knowing her horses will have to be at their best.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
That's because of the Sinclair factor.
It was almost six with one of his hopes beaten a nose.
That quintet of wins elevated Sinclair to outright second on the Hunter and North West Racing Association trainer's premiership. Only the huge Kris Lees stable has more winners in the HNWRA this season.
Torrens goes in to the meeting with three wins for the HNWRA season after Supreme Goddess' win at Tamworth on Tuesday.
Winning at Moree is tough anytime.
The travelling is one factor, Torrens acknowledges. Two or three hours at least in trucks or floats for some trainers and a bit more for others.
But that factor is just part of the equation.
Sinclair doesn't just win at Moree because he's based at Moree and his horses only have to walk out their stable door and onto the Moree track.
It's also because he has proved himself to be one of the best trainers in the bush, said Torrens
READ ALSO:
"He's an outstanding trainer and one of the nicest people as well," she said after Tuesday's victory at Tamworth.
He's an astute and thorough trainer who has won many races over many seasons.
Just recently he took Free Billy to Coonabarabran for the Coonabarabran Cup and won that prestigious race.
He will take that gelding to Warren this week for the Cotton Cup as well as running 10 of his stable at Sunday's meeting.
That could include recent Moree winners Samphire Hoe and Mister Mcrae
Torrens could have four runners - Shot At the Reward, Reigning Supreme, Supreme Goddess and Swiftly Mango.
She was considering running Supreme Goddess in Sunday's Benchmark 58 Handicap after the eight-year-old mare won the $8000 Advanced Inland Security Benchmark 50 Handicap (1300m) at Tamworth.
The daughter of Supreme Class notched win number five at her 60th start when she ran down the Leon Cross-trained Beau Dancer. The Stephen Dixon prepared Penny's Bonitas was third.
Supreme Goddess, Torrens said, "put the writing on the wall at Gunnedah" where the mare was sixth to Babbinboon Boy but beaten less than a length and a half.
"She went super at Gunnedah," she said.
"Normally takes her a couple of runs to come up."
She had been freshened before Gunnedah, not running since a 12th at Tamworth back in late July.
"Daniel (Northey) said it was a soft win, had a cosy run in behind and ran home strong," she said.
Torrens has nine horses in work at Gunnedah and just whether Supreme Goddess runs Sunday will be determined on how "she pulls up"
"If she's okay we might back her up," she said.
