Forbes preview: Wet track hold no concern for trainer Garry Lunn as Margaret’s Missile zeros in on her maiden success

Buoyed by a solid third placing at her first run for the stable, trainer Garry Lunn feels Margaret’s Missile will take beating when she heads to Forbes.

Margaret's Missile can break through for her maiden win at Forbes. Picture: Bradley Photos

An encouraging run from Margaret’s Missile at her stable debut has trainer Garry Lunn confident she can break her maiden tag at Forbes.

The five-year-old joined Lunn’s Dubbo stable following a last of seven behind Out Anchorage over 2000m at Hawkesbury on July 21.

Following a freshen up Lunn dropped Margaret’s Missile back in distance and to country grade when she finished a closing third behind the promising Red Rags To Bulls over 1500m at Muswellbrook on August 22.

“Her run was quite good. Mikayla (Weir) come out of the gates with the intention to go forward and then grabbed hold as she thought they were going to run along,” said Lunn.

“Once she did take hold, they slowed up in front which didn’t suit her.

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“She had come down the worst part of the track yet still made ground to finish third.”

The daughter of Smart Missile is dropping back slightly in trip to 1400m when she contests the Maiden Plate but a wet track will work in her favour according to Lunn.

“She is probably looking for further than the 1400m but being on a heavy track, it will be like running a mile,” he said.

“Racing around Scone and Muswellbrook is pretty strong especially with Sydney and Newcastle horses going there.

“I think my mare will be very hard to beat and she is my best chance for the day.”

Another recent addition to Lunn’s stable is Loch Anton Lady who is also looking to break her maiden.

The seven-year-old mare has placed in 10 of her 24 starts behind some handy horses.

“It’s funny how she hasn’t won a race yet,” said Lunn.

“She did run third behind Elson Boy when he won his maiden at Orange and was also third to Musical Affair.

“A number of horses that she has raced against at her last three stats have gone on and won a couple of races.”

The daughter of Canford Cliffs hasn’t raced since finishing third behind Devine Chops and Cheap Gas at Orange last December.

She kicks off her career for Lunn in the Maiden Plate (1100m).

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“Her best form is on wet tracks. She has had four starts on the heavy for three second placings,” he said.

“I had her in at Narromine last Sunday and I thought she would have been a very good chance but unfortunately, the meeting was called off.

“She hasn’t drawn the best out in gate 10 but I don’t think it will matter too much.

“I suspect there will be a couple of scratchings and she will come in a couple of barriers.

“I’m confident that she will run a good race. Even though she will improve on the run, she is going there pretty fit.”

The third of Lunn’s trio is Lady Tino who has performed better than her form reads in her two starts for Lunn and can run well in the Benchmark 82 Handicap (1600m).

A winner of four of her eight starts in Victoria, the five-year-old ran her race in the barriers first-up according to Lunn then had no luck at Muswellbrook last start.

“Cobi Vitler said when she got in the gates at Dubbo first-up she stood there shaking. She ran her race beforehand,” he said.

“At Muswellbrook last start, she was a lot more settled and got back but copped a very bad check and lost three lengths at least.

“If not for that, she wouldn’t have been too far away. The winner won by three lengths but she should have been close the placings.”

WIDDUP OUT TO CONTINUE HOT START TO NEW SEASON

Trainer Brad Widdup has made a flying start to the new season with nine winners from just 31 runners and can add to that tally with two strong chances at Newcastle.

Leading the charge for Widdup is consistent mare Fun Sunday who is looking to make it back-to-back wins.

The daughter of Sebring has had a good campaign so far which started with a third behind Justela over 1500m at Kembla before finishing just behind the placegetters at Warwick Farm and Canterbury.

She returned to Kembla and stepped up to 2000m in a Benchmark 64 where she stormed home from well back to beat Koning and By Nines.

The five-year-old contests the Sharp Office Benchmark 64 Handicap (2260m) where she has drawn barrier 13 with Alysha Collett sticking with her.

“I think the 2260m will suit her even better,” said Widdup.

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“We had her in at Randwick last Saturday but elected to wait for this race.

“She is going really well and she has run second a mile and a half in Saturday city grade so you would like to think she will be competitive in a race like this.

“You can’t do much about the barriers. She will get back anyway and once you get past a mile, they don’t matter as mush either.”

Fun Sunday’s latest victory was her fourth overall while she also has 10 placings from =31 career starts.

“She has always been really genuine. It just took us a while that she wanted 2000m.” Widdup said.

“She has probably been a bit unlucky along the way too.

“Hopefully this can be her best campaign so far. She is a favourite around the stable as she always gives her best.”

Widdup’s other runner is Ramius in the opening race the Provincial Maiden Plate (1300m).

The four-year-old has been improving this preparation and has placed at his past two starts at Kembla and Hawkesbury.

“He is a bit of a frustrating horse,” said Widdup.

“He shows enough at home to win a race but he has struggled to find the winning post on race day.

“The horse looks very well and is in great order.

“You would imagine he gets his chance this week from a nice draw and the 2kg claim he gets with Zac (Wadick) could prove the difference.

“He is definitely going well enough and hopefully he can get the job done.