Lismore preview: Trainer Brett Dodson hopes Gobbled can eat up his entree before a possible main course in the Casino Cup

Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson is hoping a wide draw won’t derail the winning prospects of Gobbled at Lismore.

Gobbled just needs a bit of luck early from his wide gate at Lismore. Picture: Bradley Photos

Sturdy gelding Gobbled will be covering plenty of ground in the next few days and weeks but his trainer Brett Dodson is hoping for a cheap run from a cheap seat in the Somerville Handicap (1410m) at Lismore.

The Victorian-bred son of Star Witness came up with barrier 17 of 18 and even with scratchings, Dodson’s galloper will need things to fall into place early.

“It is an awful draw but it’s not a bad run from the 1400m, they’ve got a fair while to get over,” Dodson said.

“If he can get across cheaply, he is going to be hard to beat because he’s just so tough.

“He did it tough last start and still fought back in probably a stronger race.

“By the time they get to the 1000m mark when they start turning, that’s when we are going to find out how tough it is going to be for him but he loves to get in the fight.

Gobbled hangs on to score!

Matthew Bennett in the saddle for Brett Dodson. pic.twitter.com/27lhiNDOL6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 1, 2022

“Any sort of cheap run will help him.”

Gobbled is about to line up for his 46 start but has lost none of his appetite for racing, in fact, appetite full stop.

“He is a really gross doer and if I give him too long in between runs, he just gets away on me so rather than go into the next one underdone, he’ll go to Lismore and he might even back up the week after in the Casino Cup and then may go out to something like the Bingara Cup,” he said.

“I think those Bush Cups will suit him because he races on speed and is very tough.”

Gobbled will have company in the race from Much More Torque whose racing pattern is completely opposite to his younger stablemate.

“He doesn’t make his own luck that’s for sure,” Dodson said.

“I was going to try him at the mile because of the way he races but he just had that little foot issue so we backed off him and left him at the 1400m and he will go to a mile next start.

“If the pace is on up front which it looks like it will be, especially if Gobbled is in the race, it gives him every chance to run on.

The photo goes the way of Much More Torque!📸

Luke Rolls in the saddle for Glen Hodge. pic.twitter.com/hRZkXquUxa

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 9, 2023

“He has been chasing some fair ones and he hit the line really nicely last start, I was happy with his run and he was probably on the worst part of the track as well.

“He drew inside and he had to stay there and everything was coming out wide.

“With an even run on Friday and a bit of luck, he is the sort of horse that will be finishing on.”

Dodson is planning to bookend the Northern Rivers career of the well-bred Star Harmony who will down tools after the Lismore Workers Club Class 1 is completed.

“She is going to stud after this run so hopefully she will go out a winner,” Dodson said.

“She’ll improve on a drier track and I think the 1500m will suit her so there’s a few positives for her.”

Star Harmony was purchased online by Coolarest Farm for $20,000, a fraction of what service fee her sire Zoustar commands each season.

On top of that, Star Harmony is a sister to the Group 3 placed Zouluminous and hails from the same family as champion racehorses and sires, Fappiano and Quiet American.

TAYLOR REMAIN QUIETLY CONFIDENT DESPITE WIDE DRAWS

Coffs Harbour based Grafton Cup winning trainer Sally Taylor remains upbeat about the prospects of her Lismore-bound pair Rodeo Dealer and Montana Sands despite the dreaded visitors draw for both.

Rodeo Dealer is pushing for favouritism in the Jockeys Celebration Day Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1310m) even with barrier 9 in the field of 11 and stepping out beyond 1175m for the first time.

“I think he has been crying out for it,” Taylor said.

“We just need to get a bit of luck from the gate though, that’s a bit of a concern.

“It depends on how he jumps, he usually jumps fairly good, if he can be one-out and one-back I think that would be perfect if he can cross them.”

Montana Rising resumes with a good win!

Jon Grisedale strong in the saddle for Sally Taylor.@gtpark_markpic.twitter.com/UnFYTQ3DRz

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 29, 2023

Rodeo Dealer has sent out some positive indicators that he will see out Friday’s trip in the past with a couple of fast finishes as opposed to his Grafton Cup Day fading fifth.

“There was no intention to lead last start at Grafton but if you draw barrier one you kind of have to use it,” Taylor explained.

“He was a bit weak late but the time and the sectionals he ran were still quite impressive.

“Obviously the horses that ran one-two are from town so I think it had a bit of merit to it.”

Taylor saddles-up one of the more interesting and most promising horses on the crowded Lismore card in the aforementioned Montana Rising.

The daughter of Pride Of Jenni’s sire, Pride Of Dubai, is one for one under Taylor’s care thanks to a sustained show of pace and speed in a Port Macquarie on May 29 despite some breathing issues at the time.

“She has since gone and had a tie-back operation and she’s come back in good,” Taylor said.

“Obviously she is first-up from a very long spell but she’s had plenty of work and a trial under her belt.

“We had a little bit of a look at the calendar to see if we could maybe go somewhere else but there is not really a lot around for a Class 1 horse so we are going to start from the (wide) gate and hopefully ride her for a bit of luck.

“She did jump from barrier 12 when she won her Maiden so if she shows enough speed, ideally hopefully she can slot in somewhere.”

Originally published as Lismore preview: Trainer Brett Dodson hopes Gobbled can eat up his entree before a possible main course in the Casino Cup