Country Cup specialist chasing first Kalgoorlie Cup

She’s currently rated an $18 chance by Tabtouch, but trainer Darryn Pateman can see no reason why Native Chimes can’t be a major player in the XXXX Kalgoorlie Cup (2200m) on Saturday.

Pateman’s high confidence levels is largely driven by the mares recent form, but he expects her to step up to Listed grade and be competitive after her Carnarvon Cup (2000m) heroics.

Posting her third straight win in the Carnarvon Cup for Pateman’s son, Aaron, Native Chimes overcame big weight and a wide barrier to post a dominant two length victory.

“She’s in form and everyone knows what mares are like,” Pateman told The Races WA.

“They get their mindset right and get happy and content and keep racing well, she’s going good.

“I give her a genuine chance and so does Kyra (Yuill), she’s right into it.

“She said she was just so tough.

“What she did in Carnarvon you don’t see mares do very often.

“60kg, outside barrier, mare, raced on pace and they all had their chance to beat her and couldn’t.

“It was a good Carnarvon Cup field too when you go through it, there were six or seven cup winners out of it.

“The Roebourne Cup winner was in it, the Port Hedland Cup winner was in it, the Broome Cup winner was in it, the Junction Cup winner was in it, they were all there.”

Pateman is not shy in making a case for his second runner in the Kalgoorlie Cup: Ombudsman.

The eight-year-old took out the Broome Cup two starts back before a sixth in the Carnarvon Cup.

At $101, he’s the rank outsider in the Kalgoorlie Cup.

“He’s going really good and he worked well this morning (Wednesday).

“He’s fit and well.”

Native Chimes starts from barrier eight for Yuill and drops to 54kg.

Ombudsman, drawn in barrier four, carries 54kg, a drop of 5 ½ kg from the Carnarvon Cup.

S imone Altieri maintains the ride.

Affectionately referred to as the “King Of Country Racing” after more than 37 years travelling the north-west circuit, particularly Broome, Pateman is hopeful of landing his first Kalgoorlie Cup.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a Kalgoorlie Cup runner,” Pateman said.

“I reckon I haven’t been to Kalgoorlie for about 15 years.

“It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been there.

“Hopefully it will be a good time.”