By Jonny Turner
Bruce Negus is looking to get a head start on next year’s Country Cup Championship.
Negus will line up Corravally Star in Sunday’s Kurow Cup, a qualifying event for the 2023 Country Cup Championship at Addington.
Negus’s four-year-old missed out on a start in this year’s $100,000 feature by just one point and the trainer wants to get plenty of points on the board next time around.
“He had an awful amount of bad luck in those cup races last year, he has got to be looked after because he can’t be three-wide with a mile to go,” Negus said.
“So we looked after him, but he didn’t get a lot of luck and he missed out on the final by one point.”
Corravally Star starts first up since April in the Kurow Cup with just one trial under his belt, which was run in sedate overall time.
Negus thinks his entire is forward enough to run a decent race.
“Arguably he will get fitter, but I would expect him to be a hope.”
Negus sent Katherine to Wyndham last week and she made the trip worthwhile with a tidy win.
The trainer expects the mare to be hard to beat again in race 6 on Sunday.
“I dear say she won at Wyndham because she got such a good run and she was very well driven.”
“I actually believe this is a weaker field and I would be disappointed if she didn’t run first or second.”
Foveaux Gambler will be out to continue his great form for the Negus stable in race 10 at Oamaru.
The three-year-old charged home in his latest outing at Ashburton when returning following a freshen up.
“He has got better.”
“We gave him a break after his two wins because you just don’t want to get through the classes too quick.”
“We are really happy with him.”
“He is pretty much staying in standing starts because he is such a good beginner.”
“I think he is pretty classy, actually.”
Phone Tap has trialled to prepare for her return in race 4, following a disappointing effort at Addington earlier this month
Though she ran last of seven in her trial, Negus was pleased with her performance.
“Phone Tap has a lot more ability than people think.”
“Even though she ran last in her trial, I was very happy with her.”
“She was only there to have a hopple up and to make sure we had the gear right on her because she does steer a little bit funny.”
“I think she is a pretty good place chance in that race.”
Negus has taken over the training of Paige who needs to bring her manners to race 2 to be competitive.
The trainer also lines up Shards Fury in race 7 who could offer some value for punters.
Negus said if the pacer gets an economical run from barrier 9 he could run a big race after competing in much stronger fields recently.
