Local trainer Luke Pepper is reminding himself not to get carried away leading into Monday’s $22,000 Sporting & Services Club Narooma Cup (1650m) at Moruya.
Pepper considers he has all bases covered saddling up leading contenders Ilringya and Quichang.
“For me it’s an ideal situation,” Pepper said. “Both horses are flying, coming good at the right time for races they’ve been set for.
“I’ve got one horse (Quichang) who races right on the pace and puts himself into a race, and Ilringya who gets back but finishes his races of very well.
“Obviously pace in the race is the key. On paper I think I’ve got the bases covered but as we all know in racing, sometimes things never work out as they appear.
“There doesn’t look to be an abundance of speed but in the 1650 metres races, with a short run to the first turn, they usually go along early to get a position.”
The pair warmed up for Monday’s feature with slashing runs behind Lockmar in the Ted Ryder Cup (1600m) at Wagga on December 23 with Ilringya steaming home to be beaten a long neck into second and Quichang boxing on for third a further 1-3/4 lengths lengths away.
“They’ve both come on since Wagga,” Pepper said.
“Both are flying. In their work you couldn’t split them.”
Ilringya, a seven-year-old mare and winner of six from 49 starts, is the defending Narooma Cup winner, going on next start to also win the Moruya Cup, a program she will again follow this year.
“Apart from Rosehill (two starts back) when she got well back in a big field in a slowly run race, her runs have been super,” Pepper said.
“She spelled really well and came back a lot bigger than previously. She’s not usually a gross horse but it’s taken more time to get her fully fit.
“She’s a lot stronger too. This is the best I’ve had her.
“She’s spot on.
“Quichang is just a tough little horse that gives 110 per cent every times he goes around, not matter what sort of race.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed for both of them.”
Ilringya will back up in the $22,000 Moruya Cup (1930m) on January 23 while Quichang will head to the Sapphire Coast on February 5 for the $27,000 Bega Cup (1600m), a race he won in 2011 at his first start for Pepper.
AAP TURF
