Wagga trainer Gary Colvin hopes Noble Descent can further justify his Gold Cup claims with another big run at Murrumbidgee Turf Club on Sunday.
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The pressure is off the Colvin stable to qualify Noble Descent for the $170,000 Wagga Gold Cup after he gained exemption from the ballot with a win in the Albury Mile.
Noble Descent will have his final lead-up run in Sunday's $37,000 Kooringal Stud 2019 Murrumbidgee Cup (1800m).
The winner of Sunday's Cup prelude will also gain exemption for the feature on May 3 but that is not something the connections of Noble Descent have to worry about.
"We've already got our start in the Cup but it would be nice to run a good race. We're out to win it that's for sure," Colvin said.
"We might be making the numbers up in the Cup, I don't know, but we'll have a crack at it and see how we go. You don't always get the chance to have a runner in your home Cup, so it's good.
"I think he's right in it on Sunday. I hope he will be right in the finish. On his work he should be thereabouts and he's got to show us something heading into the Cup."
Noble Descent has been in brilliant form this preparation since returning with a dominant victory back in October.
He has had a couple of freshen ups in between, but has won four of his seven starts this campaign, including wins in the $35,000 Corowa Cup (1600m) and $40,000 Albury Mile (1600m) at his last two runs.
Jake Duffy will take the ride on Sunday, replacing Mathew Cahill, who rides Ruby Skye for Craig Widdison. Duffy rode Noble Descent a lot early in his career but has not been aboard the gelding since May last year.
Noble Descent has drawn 14 of 16 but Colvin is not too concerned by the barrier.
"We've drawn bad but he gets back anyway," he said.
"We'll ride for a bit of luck and hope there is some pace on."
Colvin will also saddle up Superoo in the $32,000 Prized Icon 2019 Wagga Town Plate Prelude (1200m).
Duffy will also take the ride there, from barrier 12.
Superoo has not won in his six starts this preparations but produced his best run last start when third behind Stone Cold in the Flying Handicap (1000m) at Wagga.
"It was a very good run," Colvin said.
"We've always had a bit of a problem with his hoof and as soon as we get that under control he runs good races.
"It was a really good run last time, he was three or four wide facing the breeze and just got beat. Hopefully he can repeat that and go close again."
It shapes as a big weekend for Colvin, who will also head to Holbrook on Saturday for the Cup meeting.
He has Danetrille in the Elders Commander Holbrook Cup (1400m).
Nick Heywood will take the ride in his first day back at the races after being sidelined for four months with an ankle injury.
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