Journeyman trainer hoping for Clifford Park spoils

Scone trainer Brett Cavanough boasts a strong hand of runners at Clifford Park’s Melbourne Cup day picnic races.

Scherzare (left) hopes to go one better at Clifford Park after running second on Saturday. Picture: Nev Madsen

RACING: He’ll have horses across four tracks today, and Brett Cavanough is hoping Clifford Park can gift him Melbourne Cup day delights.

The Scone trainer has horses accepted in four of the five races on today’s picnic card, to go along with runners at Tamworth, Muswelbrook and Dubbo.

Fresh after six runners on Saturday night, Cavanough is backing up five of his runners today in the hopes of jagging a winner before they return back over the border.

“They’re all still in Toowoomba, so of the six that raced on Saturday, five will back up,” Cavanough said.

“We planned to race them there across the two days, and hopefully we have a bit more luck today.”

Scherzare was the best placed of his charge on Saturday, running second by a head to Simply Splashing, with a over three and a half lengths back to track specialist and metropolitan winner Rosendahl Red.

Cavanough said he gets in well for The Event Group Class 3 Plate (1000m) to kick off the day, but conceded the gelding would have to handle the drop back from 1300m.

“He’s coming back from 1300 to 1000 which looks to be his only concern,” he said.

The feature race of the day has attracted a field of five, with Scherzare earning top weight.

Two-time Clifford Park winner Remember Mary is second-up in the event, after finding the 800m at Dalby too sharp last time out.

Today continues a trend of the NSW trainer bringing more horses across the border to chase wins at Clifford Park.

“We’ve always had a lot of luck in Toowoomba,” he said.

“They’re racing for $10,000 (first prize) and it’s a good seven-hour drive straight up the highway.

“It’s a good track to work on, and one that has always been very kind to horses. We’re in a drought and have been chasing some softer tracks and trying to vary things up a bit.

“There’s no weak racing. You only have to look at the Saturday meeting with Kris Lees bringing a winner up.”

The five-race card commences at 1.05pm with full bookmaker and TAB facilities, and the Melbourne Cup to be shown at 2pm.

A special 12-page Melbourne Cup feature, including full form, appears in today’s The Chronicle.

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