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Farooq looks fine for Penola Cup

Farooq will start warm favourite to land another South-East feature for Naracoorte trainer Sue Murphy in Sunday’s $22,500 DiGiorgio Family Wines Penola Cup over 2100m.

Farooq has been in fine form since resuming from a long break on New Year’s Day this year, highlighted by a win over 1600m at Morphettville on February 29, then a second placing – beaten less than a length behind War Tiger when heavily supported – at headquarters in a $60,000 race on Adelaide Cup Day.

Despite lugging the top weight of 62kg this Sunday, Farooq should prove extremely difficult to roll, given his recent record is far superior to any other runner in the field. And to underline his class edge, in 2018, when prepared by the McEvoy stable, Farooq finished second in the Listed Geelong Classic over 2200m, then a creditable ninth – beaten 6.65 lengths – in the Group 1 VRC Derby over 2500m at Flemington, behind Extra Brut.

Toughest opposition could come from the fit, in-form Dennis O’Leary runner Sentry Gate. The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding finally won his maiden at Strathalbyn over 2050m on March 25, romping home by 4.5 lengths, before backing up with another easy win just a few days later at Bordertown over 2000m. Jockey Dom Tourneur will again pilot Sentry Gate.

Mount Gambier-trained Centenary Shot was well ridden to win over this course two starts back, finishing a healthy margin clear of another of his Penola Cup rivals, Disco Rebel. Gun apprentice Lachie Neindorf takes the ride on Centenary Shot this weekend.

Bronski has finished a long way from the winner at his past two starts, but boasts a good record at Penola (4: 1-3-0) and in the South-East in general, while Wicked Academy would only need to recapture some of his best form to figure in the finish.

Selections: 1. Farooq; 2. Sentry Gate; 3. Centenary Shot; 4. Bronski.

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