RACING
TAREE trainer Ross Stitt admits he’s never won a race at Dubbo but Precise Timing could change all that.
The former Country Horse of the Year and the winner of more than $900,000 in prize money is one of 16 horses entered for the $45,000 Dubbo Gold Cup over 1600 metres on Sunday.
Final acceptors will be declared for the meeting today, along with starters for the first day of the Cup Carnival on Friday.
Stitt said on Tuesday the now nine-year-old gelding ‘isn’t as good as he used to be’ but on the strength of his record has to be considered.
“He’s 100 per cent sound but he’s getting on a bit (in age),” he said.
“Taree in June was his last start in the previous preparation before he came back with a win first up over 1250 metres at Taree and then was unplaced in the Sportsman Magic Mile at Wyong on Monday.
“You might like to know I’m a maiden performer at Dubbo so I haven’t trained a winner down there - maybe that will change on Sunday.”
Stitt brought Precise Timing down to Dubbo for the 2006 Dubbo Cup and with Robert Thompson in the saddle finished 4.2 lengths eighth in a race won by Cash Carter.
On Monday Precise Timing was the outsider of the field at Wyong and was beaten 8.2 lengths but the class of the Dubbo Cup won’t be near as strong.
He’s been a grand galloper for owner Max Stitt (brother of the trainer) having had 80 race starts for 18 wins and 20 placings.
Taree jockey Scott Thurlow is coming to Dubbo for the ride on Precise Timing and also has been booked for four other horses from the Stitt stable.
Thurlow said he’s won some great races on Precise Timing, a riding job he’s shared mostly with NSW Country’s champion jockey Robert Thompson.
“I’d like to think that one day he will get past the million dollar mark in prize money, but who knows,” Thurlow said.
“He’s been a grand old galloper and we’ll hoping he will go well this campaign.
“He’s a horse that likes to get well back in his races and often spots them big distances but has had a great finishing burst.
“I’m looking forward to Sunday at Dubbo, I’ve had some success there and it would be nice to do well there on Ross’ horses.”
A total of 145 nominations have been received for the Sunday TAB meeting of eight races.
However, two races - the Rating 72 Handicap (1400m) and Rating 67 (2200m) were left open until 11am yesterday in the hope of attracting more interest.
Dubbo Turf Club racing manager Mark Day said on Tuesday the meeting was building up to be a good one, although he was disappointed that the Friday TAB meeting would be held at Wellington.
“Apart from one section of the track which is quite damp after the rain late last week, the rest is rated at a four and improving,” Day said.
“The main day is Sunday and the Dubbo Gold Cup and we want to preserve the track for that racing meeting.”
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