One of the most travelled horses in country South Australia will be hoping for stocking filler on Sunday when he lines up in the Murray Bridge Christmas Cup.
Jordan Frew’s Owl on the Prowl has covered 2,177km in his last six starts going from Port Augusta to Halidon, back to Jamestown, across to Manangatang, onto Wycheproof, then to Dunkeld and now to Murray Bridge. In those six starts he’s had four wins including a Wycheproof Cup victory and a third placing in the Dunkeld Cup.
He’ll carry 56kgs around his home track on Sunday after the claim from apprentice Kenny Lau and will drop back to the mile which he’s won at three times from five starts over his 33 start career. A natural leader, he should get a nice jump from barrier six and will be a genuine winning chance.
After a strong run from the tail of the field in the Strathalbyn Vignerons Cup, Little Akie will enjoy the step up to the mile on Sunday and Jason Holder sticks with the eleven-year-old after that fourth placing last start. While he hasn’t won for a long time, he is still the class runner of the field and if he can time his run nicely, he’ll be sure to feature in the finish.
Gary Searle’s Snowbrook was also running on strongly in the Vigneron’s Cup finishing one spot ahead of Little Akie and is another who looks like the extra distance will suit on Sunday. Fresh off a treble at Strathalbyn on Wednesday, Kayla Crowther will take the ride on the mare and will be one to watch for late.
Three visitors from the South East will also be hoping for a bit of a luck on Sunday as Bullet Kid, Hasta La Thomas and Tahnee Tiara make the trip across for the Christmas Cup.
Bullet Kid has now had two starts for Lindsay Cadzow after coming across from New South Wales. Earlier this year he contested the $150k Tamworth Cup and while he’s had more success over shorter trips, he’s got a good record third up with one win and one placing from two starts. Barrier 12 might be a bit tricky for Paul Marks but in this grade it’s a race he can definitely win.
Apprentice Academy Dux, Raquel Clark returns to the saddle this weekend and will ride the Sue Murphy trained Hasta La Thomas. This season, Clark has ridden six winners from 17 starts at the track at 35% including the Murray Bridge Cup aboard Von Costa Glass. Hasta La Thomas has been around the mark in his two runs back from a spell and is another with great third-up form with two wins and a placing from five runs.
The final South East visitor is the five-year-old mare Tahnee Tiara. She was a strong winner at Donald last start and while this is big step-up in grade that win was full of conviction and she has a great record at both the track and distance.
Trainer Chris Bieg loves Murray Bridge and his runner on Sunday, Wanted By All also has a great affinity with the track with three wins from six starts here. Last start at the track, Wanted By All was a strong, even money winner and while he was a touch disappointing last start in town he’ll be given every chance by Jamie Kah.
As always there will be plenty of locally trained chances in the Christmas Cup including Michael Hickmott’s Cannot Be Serios who gallantly tried to chase down Wanted By All last start here while leading trainer Grant Young could have two runners in the Cup with Boris in Ossory and Exalted Honey.
