Months of persistent rain and heavy tracks have proven a major source of frustration for many NSW north coast trainers.
However, in the case of the Danny Bowen-trained Eye Might, sodden racing surfaces have been a godsend.
On Sunday, the five-year-old gelding tackles the Murwillumbah Cup Prelude (1800m) as a precursor to a second attempt at winning the $28,000 Murwillumbah Cup (2000m) on June 26.
“Let’s face reality,” Bowen said.
“On dry tracks superior horses prove too classy for him but he’s super fit and loves it wet.
“On heavy surfaces he comes into his own.”
Eye Might will be ridden by Scott Seamer with the Ballina-based Caulfield-Melbourne Cup-winning jockey and macadamia nut farmer also accepting the ride on the Bowen-trained Monching in the Murwillumbah Newmarket Prelude (1200m).
Eye Might finished sixth to Rebounded in last year’s Murwillumbah Cup and since then the gelding has won five races.
“He’s a much more seasoned horse this year than last,” Bowen said.
“He keeps doing his best, appreciates heavy tracks and backs up every week.
“Wet tracks have been a pain in the butt, you can’t gallop horses and those that don’t handle it may as well be in the paddock.
“I’ve retired better horses than him (Eye Might) because of the conditions.
“Eye Might just appreciates his training regimen, racing constantly, and I don’t do a lot with him in between.
“He’s very sound and continues to thrive.
“I just hope they race on Sunday. It looks a nice race for him.”
Eye Might, owned by the Gundaroo Stud syndicate, has impressive heavy track form with six wins and six placings from 16 starts.
In his past four starts, the gelding has posted wins at Grafton (May 7) and Ballina (May 21), last time out finishing just over four lengths eighth to Desert Bunny over 1712m at Grafton on May 28 with the good track not suiting the son of Ekraar.
“If he gets wet conditions in the Murwillumbah Cup, he’ll be a chance there too,” Bowen said.
“He’s tough, a tough wet tracker.”
AAP TURF
