Turnbull ready to strike with cheap purchase

After winning last year’s feature race at Blayney’s Carnival of Cups, Bathurst harness racing trainer Josh Turnbull is looking forward to returning to the track hoping that he can capture back-to-back wins in the Peter Marshall Memorial.

The Blayney Harness Racing Club will hold the first of its two-day TAB Carnival of Cups meetings on Sunday (Nov. 6) with two heats of the Peter Marshall Memorial featuring on an eight-race program.

Turnbull won the race last year with rank outsider Bell River Boy and this year has five runners in the series, including one of the favoured runners Roll The Seven (Roll With Joe), who will contest heat two.

To be driven by his sister Amanda, Roll The Seven is a relatively new acquisition to Turnbull’s stable, the former Dubbo pacer joining his team in June after being purchased by his wife Jess.

Since then, the gelding has performed well, winning three races, and finishing in the placings on five other occasions and despite being unplaced at his past four outings, Turnbull believes the eight-year-old can bounce back to form.

“We did not have to pay all that much for him,” said Turnbull.

“Martin Simmons (former trainer) did a good job with him and I felt the horse would suit our stable with the intention of just racing him around the country circuit.

“He is no superstar but is an honest fellow that always tries his best.

“He has won seven races and a stack of placings, yet he is still lowly assessed under the National Rating system.

“I love getting to Blayney to race, it is a great little track and is just up the road from home.”

After drawing gate one, Turnbull believes Roll The Seven is a realistic chance of winning his heat and then if he were to draw well in the final, could make his presence felt.

“Should he make the final and get the right run, with some luck I reckon he can give the race a real shake,” he said.

“We had some luck last year winning this race and it would be great to be able to do it again.

“Bernie Hewitt’s horse Promising ran a huge race at Parkes last week and is the hardest for us to beat today while Smooth Bon Bon, which is trained by my Dad Steve, should win the other heat and is favoured to take out the series.”

For complete race fields, click here.

by Michael Dumesny, for HRNSW