Trainer Jarrod Austin identified the Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush as a target race for his handy sprinter Inanup several months ago and he has the gelding primed for a bold first-up showing.
Inanup has a strong fresh record with three wins from seven attempts and Austin has given the lightly-raced seven-year-old the groundwork to further enhance that statistic.
“We set him for this race many months ago, it has been a bit of a plan,” Austin said.
“He’s ready to go first up. I was very happy with his trial the other day, he normally runs well fresh and I think we’ve got him pretty close to spot-on.”
Inanup’s biggest hurdle could be an awkward barrier draw.
He has gate 11 in the field of 14 but will jump from nine if the three emergencies don’t gain starts.
The horse has been one of the mainstays of Austin’s yard for several seasons and has been well managed to win eight of his 28 starts.
The trainer believes he has returned to work as good as ever and is hopeful of another consistent preparation.
“For a seven-year-old horse, he hasn’t been overly raced or overly taxed and he has handled everything quite well,” Austin said.
“We have been really lucky with him, he has always been sound and he’s come back in as good as ever.”
Inanup is a $9 chance but markets will be set for a reshuffle if current favourite and third emergency Athiri doesn’t gain a start.
She is also an acceptor for the
for which she is a clear-cut elect.
