Seven months after winning the Gundagai Cup, Paul Murray is out to complete a rare double in the Southern District on Friday.
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The Kembla trainer has in-form five-year-old Chief In Command prepared to tackle the $70,000 Snake Gully Cup (1400m) at Gundagai.
The feature race gives Murray the chance to add to the success he had at the same track back in April this year when Lord De Air raced away with the Gundagai Cup.
Murray was confident Chief In Command would put in a solid performance as he chases a first ever Snake Gully Cup for his family.
“On his two previous runs with the weight and the wins, it brings him right into it,” Murray said.
On his two previous runs with the weight and the wins, it brings him right into it
- Paul Murray
Chief In Command has been in career best form, with back-to-back Cup wins in his first two starts this preparation.
A son of Churchill Downs, Chief In Command won the Mollymook Cup at Nowra first up before heading to Goulburn to win the Anniversary Cup last start.
“He is probably not quite a city horse and he was getting high in the benchmarks so we targeted the Mollymook Cup and the owner Graeme Morrissey said we should go to the Anniversary,” Murray said.
“Then we looked at the prizemoney for the Snake Gully Cup and thought we will have to have a go at it.
“It’s a $70,000 race so it is a good incentive to have a crack at a country race.”
Chief In Command has been given 55.5kgs for the Snake Gully Cup.
A list of more than 350 horses were nominated for the two-day carnival where Friday’s Cup day meeting holds Showcase status.
“We welcomed the news of our meeting carrying Showcase status. They seem to be attracting very good horses, as well as strong crowds,” Gundagai Race Club’s Len Tozer told Racing NSW.
“We are anticipating more than 4000 people to attend Friday’s meeting.”
Meantime, Kyneton trainer George Osborne is not concerned about drawing the outside gate with well-performed mare Florelle.
“She is versatile and can go back or forward. There are only 12 starters and I can see her camping just off them and having one crack,” Osborne said.
“Her form is terrific and she hasn’t had any luck with track bias at her past couple of runs.”
Dean Holland will travel to Gundagai to take the ride on Florelle.
