PREMIER Port Macquarie jockey Peter Graham is favoured to take out the second leg of Taree-Wingham Race Club's big cups double on Our Mr Lord in the $20,000 Australia Hotel Sky Gold Wingham Cup (1412m) at Bushland Drive Racecourse this Sunday.
He was on Scone gelding With A Chance for an easy win in the first leg,the $60,000 Taree Leagues Sports Club Taree Cup in August and he has put his faith in Our Mr Lord to cap off the double after scoring on the eight-year-old gelding over 1600m at Taree on October 27.
After that win, Graham said: "He (Our Mr Lord) should win better races than today."
One of the beaten brigade that day was Mr Mumbles (third) which then came out and scored a nose win from stablemate, Igotthelastone, a big rival in Sunday's cup,to frank the form.
Before Our Mr Lord's last win, Graham was on the gelding when beaten just under a length by Chaperon Bay in the $25,000 Krambach Cup over 1600m.
On that occasion the Michael Byers-trained gelding carried 55kgs, then lumped 58kgs for the win,but on Sunday drops to a luxurious 54kgs.
"My horse is fresh as a daisy and has everything in his favour," Byers said.
"This is a much harder race but he is fresh for the 1400m,he has been working well and his foot has come good.
"I just hope he can do the right thing."
The nomination and non-acceptance of two Gold Coast trained gallopers Mystery City (Saturday in Brisbane) and Tellasecret from the stable of Alicia Willick with plenty of city wins under their belts,has helped compress the weights and another which has had the benefit is Igotthelastone which drops four kilos to 56kgs on its last run for Taree trainer Ross Stitt and his ace jockey, Cessnock's Robert Thompson.
Obviously Thompson had the choice of Stitt's runners, his other being nine-year-old gelding Precise Timing which has been partnered by the jockey in most of its country cups wins in netting prizemoney just over $900,000.
Stitt has set Igotthelastone for the cup and his galloper should be at or close to its best at its fourth run back from a spell.
Igotthelastone has also had nagging leg problems but according to Stitt: 'He is the best he has been for three years'-words of warning for rivals.
The gelding is a track specialist with five wins and six placings (five of them for second) in 12 tries at the track.
Any deterioration in the track conditions through rain will enhance his prospects whereas Our Mr Lord hasn't shone as well in this regard.
"The weight gives him a chance.
"He is a forward horse that likes to bowl and he can handle all types of going," Stitt said.
Igotthelastone has only had one win at the distance but showed dash before being collared by Mr Mumbles over 1600m last start whereas Our Mr Lord has five wins at the distance,three of them here.
As for Precise Timing,Stitt conceded his country champion 'is not the horse he was' but he hopes his gelding will 'run a race' with Taree hoop Scott Thurlow on board.
"My horse is bright as a button, is down in the weights and has been freshened up for this."
The blow-out entity could be Port Macquarie's Le Rhythm on the limit,a four-year-old gelding which showed plenty of promise early in stringing three wins together for trainer Neil Godbolt.
"He didn't have much luck last start when on the fence and made up good ground.
"At least,he can handle any track conditions and I am happy with the way he is going," Godbolt said.
He admitted that Le Rhythm 'wasn't himself' last campaign and the flashy-looking gelding was 'much brighter now'.
Port jockey Marlon Dolendo, in form after a winning double at Grafton last Saturday, takes over whereas Newcastle hoop Alan Robinson will be on Godbolt's other runner, seven-year-old gelding Windon
"He is happiest on top of the ground but his past couple of runs have been a bit better.
"If they were paying fourth prizemoney,it would be okay for his last few runs," Godbolt said.
Bonny Hills owner Russell Salt was unhappy when his 10-year-old gelding Ascotello, sent out a 7-4 favourite,was towards the rear rather than up on the pace last start and the galloper's effort for second to Our Mr Lord had merit.
That was on a good track and the prospects of a rain-affected one won't help his chances even though he drops three kilos here.
Much will depend on how the track plays as it was aerated after the Melbourne Cup meeting and with rain since, the grass cover will help.
Chief stipendiary steward Drew Smith said the work necessitated the rail being put out three metres. It is one of those races where an outsider could bob into a place but I think the winner will come from Our Mr Lord, Igotthelastone and Le Rhythm.
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