The last word on the 2024 Narrogin Cup

As the harness racing country cups continue to ramp up, the listed $35,000 TABtouch Narrogin Pacing Cup is just one day away on Saturday May 11, with the race shaping up to be one hell of a contest.

Pinny Tiger (Mach Three) will be looking to hold up in the feature, drawing barrier one for Michael Brennan and Chris Voak and looks the certain leader in the race. The stable is confident he can go all the way.

While They Pray is just third up after almost two years away from the track due to injury, but trainer Michael George is happy with how eight-year-old has returned and Lindsay Harper retains the reins for the third time this preparation. They’ve drawn barrier two and will be looking to take the sit on Lavra Joe when he heads around for the breeze.

Drawn in barrier three, Bettor Move Along will start as the roughie of the race for trainer Brian Wheeler, but Trent Wheeler will be aiming to get the rails as quickly as he can, looking for shortcuts on their run to the line.

Nullarbor Navajo will start from barrier four and the handy mare takes on the boys this week for trainer Corey Peterson with Stuart McDonald once again in the cart. Peterson is extremely happy with how the seven-year-old is going and wouldn’t be shocked to see her finish up in the placings in this race.

Trainer/driver Dylan Egerton-Green has To Fast To Serious in barrier five on Saturday night but isn’t confident of his chances and says he will need plenty of luck to get his hands on the Narrogin Cup.

Feeling Aces has been an exceptional purchase for Matt Scott, claiming the Williams Cup at just their third start together and went down narrowly in the Northam Cup back in late January this year, and with Shannon Suvaljko on, Scott wouldn’t be shocked to see his horse finishing in the top five, with the seven-year-old starting from barrier seven, the inside of the back line.

Master Leighton starts from barrier eight for Graham Gilbert and driver Jocelyn Young predicts the pair will end up three back on the pegs. The eight-year-old hasn’t won since June 2022 and has opened up at $126 on the TABtouch fixed odds market.

Lavra Joe was unlucky on Fremantle Cup night when he was a late scratching due to colic, and after being a late nomination on Monday night for the Narrogin Cup, all signs are positive for the WA star, with Ray Jones confident his horse is back to his best.

Trainer Ray Jones spoke with Tim Walker earlier in the week and by all reports, it looks like Lavra Joe will head to the breeze at some point. Gary Hall Jnr will have his first drive on the gelding.

Vultan Tin took home the Narrogin Cup in both 2021 and 2022, can he do it again in 2024? Frank is the war horse who’s as tough as they come and with Chris Voak on board Pinny Tiger, young Toby Lynn gets the drive this week for trainer Daniel Costello.

They’ll have to overcome the barrier draw (10), but what a fairytale it would be if Frank could claim his third Narrogin Cup at 12-years-old.

THE LAST WORD:

1. Pinny Tiger: “Has come through the Freo Cup exceptionally well. Barrier Draw is a huge plus and confident he will take some running down in front.” – Michael Brennan

2. While They Pray: “I couldn’t be happier with the way he’s come back and his first two runs. He’s good to go tonight and I’d say we will drive him very positive early and take the trail on Lavra Joe if he allows Lindsay to restrain him.” – Michael George

3. Better Move Along: “Looks to be a good race to be a part of, we’ll find the rail and hope to be running on at the end.” – Trent Wheeler

4. Nullarbor Navajo: “She’s going super. Needs luck from the draw but wouldn’t surprise me if she runs top 3.” – Corey Peterson

5. To Fast To Serious: “Needs to be fast, needs to be serious from a tough draw.” – Dylan Egerton-Green

6. Alcopony (SCRATCHED)

BL

7. Feeling Aces: “Perfect draw, loves the long distance and the pegs, top 5 finish wouldn’t surprise me.” – Matt Scott

8. Master Leighton: “Should be three back the pegs. A top 5 finish would be a great result.” – Jocelyn Young

9. Lavra Joe: “He will duck to the breeze and then we will see him fight out the finish.” – Ray Jones

10. Vultan Tin: “With the draw, they didn’t want us to win our fourth cup, so hopefully he runs a ripper for Toby (Lynn).” – Daniel Costello

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ashleigh Paikos, for RWWA