Luke Griffith is hoping diminutive mare Sugera can help his NSW country trainers’ premiership chances when she lines up at Muswellbrook on Tuesday.
Griffith is currently locked in a three-way tussle with Canberra’s Nick Olive and Brett Bellamy from Coffs Harbour for the title.
A win by Sugera in the Osborn Memorial South Muswellbrook Cup will keep the 43-year-old Scone trainer well in contention with just over a month of the season to go.
Sugera, a five-time winner from 13 starts, is coming off a 1300m win at Dubbo on May 9, a nose second to Classics over 1250m at Canterbury on May 29 and 4.8 lengths fifth to Recorrido over 1250m at the same track on June 8 – strong form lines for the Muswellbrook feature.
“She was unlucky two starts back at Canterbury,” Griffith said.
“She got a bump on the home turn and the jockey (Brenton Avdulla) lost an iron.
“You could say that was one that got away.
“Last start she got a long way back on a leaderish type track and it turned into a sit and sprint affair.
“The small field Tuesday and stepping up to 1450 metres should suit her.
“Her last couple of runs have been good. She deserves to win another race.”
Sugera, by Grandera out of Lady Toy, a mare trained by Griffith who won one race, is raced by her breeder, Sunshine Coast-based Mick Pavlinovich and his partner, Sally Tobin.
“She’s got no vices, an easy horse to train,” Griffith said.
“She’s one of those horses who puts in 100 per cent every time she goes around.
“Just a tough, game mare, very robust. What she lacks in size she makes up for in heart.
“She’s at her peak now. If she can win Tuesday we’ll probably go back to Sydney. A metro win against her name helps her stud value.
Griffith has engaged Grant Buckley for Sugera.
Buckley and Griffith shared plenty of success with retired 18-time race winner With A Chance.
AAP TURF