Taree trainer Michael Byers has snapped up Hall Of Fame jockey Robert Thompson to try and turn around the disappointing form of mare Sheza Gypsy for the Harrington Hotel Harrington Cup (1300m) at Taree on Thursday.
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There were plenty of excuses for her lack lustre last start run at Bushland Drive Racecourse, Taree, in the Summer Cup over 1250m on December 18 despite the six-year-old looking a picture and being on her toes.
Chief stipendiary steward Drew Smith reported that she was “fractious in the barrier and on jumping, slipped losing two lengths.”
Once she couldn’t get into a comfortable position in the lead or near it, she virtually dug her toes in and was under the pump on the turn.
Byers did a blood count and found she was suffering from a virus.
“Also, she may have jarred herself when she slipped because she never put in.
“I have worked her in winkers since and she has really put in,” he said.
Scone gelding After All That won the race but another fancied runner which put in a bad performance was Port Macquarie gelding Laredo Hussler, trained at Port Macquarie by Neil Godbolt, and is backing up again.
“It is one of the mysteries of racing as he was last all the way (after a close third over the same distance at the track on November 28).”
“I couldn’t find an excuse, so I hope he goes much better as the 1300m is probably his pet distance,” said Godbolt.
Visiting gallopers from provincial centres normally prove too strong for the locals and one which is being groomed for the rich provincials heat of The Championships is four-year-old mare Single And Free, trained at Gosford by Angela Davies.
The mare was bought for $70,000 at the Magic Millions Sales and in six starts has recorded three wins, two of them at Taree, with one at the distance.
She was nominated for Wyong on Wednesday but Davies preferred to go to Taree where the mare won her maiden with Samantha Clenton on board on February 2 last year.
It then backed up at the track on December 18 in a Class 3 Handicap with a 1.5 lengths win over promising Hesco Gold from Taree and Fancy Nickers from Scone.
Single and Free’s jockey in her latest win was Newcastle hoop Andrew Gibbons and he again takes the mount.
Gibbons labelled her a Championships horse with plenty of ability.
“The 1400m of The Championships is for a tough horse and I would love to see her there.”
There is also strong form with four-year-old gelding Bakslap with four wins from its past eight starts for Wyong trainer Allan Denham and five-year-old Cessnock gelding Zadok The Priest.
