Bookmakers will be on the lookout when Kinnaird returns to Nowra on Sunday for the Greenwell Point Cup.
The Peter McGregor-trained gelding ripped plenty from the bagmen when winning his first two starts at Nowra this preparation, starting at $5 on December 31 and backed from $4 to $3 favouritism on January 10.
“The boys (owners) cleaned them (bookmakers) up when he won first and second-up at Nowra,” McGregor said.
“There aren’t many bookies there but the owners like a bet and gave them a real hiding.
“Everyone was over the moon.”
The five-year-old, purchased as a maiden from Rod Craig for $4000 after 15 starts and part-owned by professional golfer Shane Puckett, has shown a liking for Nowra’s Archer racecourse recording two wins and a third from three starts.
McGregor intended tipping the gelding out after his last-start 1-1/2-length fifth to Bruadar over 1500m at Hawkesbury on March 31 but had a change of mind.
“He pulled up tremendous after Hawkesbury,” McGregor said.
“I was going to spell him but he’s done enormous, trained on terrific.
“He couldn’t hold his position at Hawkesbury, got back to second last turning for home but ran on good.
“I said to the boys we may as well go to Nowra for decent prizemoney ($14,000), a track he likes with a longer straight, rather than him being in a paddock.
“It would be nice to go out on a winning note.”
Kinnaird has accrued nearly $38,000 in prizemoney, the vast majority since transferring to McGregor.
Initially McGregor, considering the gelding is by noted staying sire Carnegie, thought Kinnaird was better over 2000 metres and beyond.
“He’s pretty versatile as his record shows,” McGregor said.
“He’s probably most effective around 1600 metres to 2000 metres.
“I would have preferred a mile (1600m) Sunday but hopefully he can weave his way through the field at the right time.
“The longer straight is going to suit him. He’s in good order.”
McGregor nominated Lay Down Sally, who beat Kinnaird over Sunday’s distance of 1400m at Nowra two starts back, as the main danger.
AAP TURF
