Local trainer Cameron Crockett will employ a tried and tested formula with Are You Sure in Sunday’s $35,000 Gooree Park Gooree Cup (1600m) at Mudgee Racing Club.
The eight-year-old has won two and finished runner-up once from eight starts at his home track.
On two of those occasions he was on a quick back-up from a metropolitan race and Crockett says his horse is at his consistent best following a last-start third at Canterbury Park.
“He’s going really well and I’m confident because he’s always raced well after a quick back-up at Mudgee off a city race,” Crockett said.
“I’d love to win a Gooree Cup with this bloke before he retires. He was my first city and cup winner and he loves his racing.”
Crockett’s only concern was that that son of Arena may be a bit dour at 1600 metres after two previous starts at 2100 metres and 1900 metres. However, he insisted that, like Royal Randwick, a tough horse was needed to win at a mile at Mudgee.
“It’s not a weak mile at Mudgee and you’ve got to be rock-hard fit to run it out and I know my bloke is,” Crockett said.
Crockett believes his 53-start veteran was racing like he could continue his career until he was 12 years old despite having not won since October 2104. Crockett said the biggest threat will be topweight Single Spirit.
“Ross Stitt seems to be able to set a horse for Mudgee. They grow another leg when they come to our circuit, so Single Spirit will be hard to beat,” he said.
Jay Ford gets back on board for the first time since he fell on Are You Sure in the Mudgee Cup on December 4.
The first of eight races at the TAB Saddle Up Sunday meeting jumps at 12:30pm, with the cup race to start at 4:05pm.
– Racing NSW
