The Coffs Harbour-trained Poor Judge will line up for back-to-back country Cup wins in the Ballina Cup (1600m) on Friday.
Prepared by Anthony Honess, the Group winning seven-year-old is coming off a runaway win in the Moree Cup (1400m) on September 2 at only his second start since joining the Honess stable.
Poor Judge, owned by Philippine businessman Phillip Tjoeng, has been revitalised since joining Honess, a progressive young trainer quickly making his mark in racing.
Prior to the transfer, Poor Judge finished unplaced in his nine previous runs.
The gelding, a winner of 15 starts from 46 runs, boasts a third behind More Joyous in the Group One 2010 Toorak Handicap (1600m) on his resume.
“His only issue is his fetlocks. He’s got bad joints,” Honess said.
“I rarely work him on the track. He goes to the beach, swims, trots and canters. That keeps him fresh in the mind.
“Now he wants to be a racehorse.”
After trialling nicely behind the well performed Falklands, Poor Judge started first-up over 1250m at Taree on August 19, finishing fifth to My Elixa after racing wide throughout.
His Moree win next start was emphatic.
“He needed the run at Taree then he went to Moree and we couldn’t believe his price ($8 into $6),” Honess said.
“He won very well. To be honest he was a different class of horse to the ones he met at Moree.
“He’s come on great since then. His coat is good, he’s dappled up and his work on Monday was better than prior to when he won at Moree.
“I couldn’t be happier with him.”
If the gelding wins and pulls up well, Honess says there is every chance he will back up in Wednesday’s $150,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle.
