Gunnedah trainer Gavin Groth will be eyeing a berth in the NSW Picnic Champion Series final for his veteran gelding Danspur when racing returns to his home track on Saturday.
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With Brent Evans in the saddle, the eight-year-old will contest the Kamilaroi Open Trophy Handicap (1600m) at the Riverside Racecourse.
"We're hoping he can win tomorrow [Saturday] to gain enough points" to contest the Picnic Champion Series final at Coonamble on October 10, Groth said.
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"But the negative for him is he's not a strong 1600m horse - he's a really good 1400m horse," Groth added.
"But if you have a look at his form at home, it's really impeccable."
He added: "I think if he's ever gonna run and win a 1600, it will be tomorrow."
Danspur has four wins from 44 starts, for more than $66,000 in prize money.
Two of those wins were at Gunnedah in 2018, while he finished second there over 1300m on September 26 last year.
Groth will have another veteran gelding in action at Gunnedah Jockey Club's six-race non-TAB meeting.
Epic Decision will return from almost a year off to contest the Koala Capital Open Trophy Handicap (1000m).
The eight-year-old, to be ridden by Evans, is the top weight at 71kg - with the Mark Schmetzer-trained Military Bay (Rowena Dillon) the second top weight with 65kg.
"He's on his home track and he's won over the distance at the track before," Groth said of Epic Decision. "I'd be disappointed if he wasn't in the first three."
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