Smith takes two contenders to tackle Gilgandra Cup
Orange-based trainer Alison Smith is relying on strength in numbers to dominate Sunday’s $50,000 Gilgandra Services Club Gilgandra Cup (1600m).
Smith is not afraid to travel with his horses and will start the consistent How’s It Kev alongside stablemate Turgenev in the feature event at Gilgandra.
The race returns to Gilgandra on Sunday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Jockey Kody Nestor rides How’s It Kev; The galloper won as he moved on from this preparation spell, holding off his Gilgandra Cup rival, the Brett Robb-trained Rouge Moulin.
Smith then took How’s It Kev to Randwick where he finished sixth and took second place in the Orange. The eight-year-old finished fifth in the Mudgee Cup before finishing third last start at Warwick Farm.
Turgenev is a seven-year-old I Am Invincible gelding who will be accompanied by apprentice Siena Grima in the Gilgandra Cup. Grima is currently loaned out to head trainer Chris Waller and Turgenev started his career in Waller’s stable.
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He has had a number of trainers since then and was a winner on his first start at the Smith stable at Orange in March last year. His best recent effort was second in a small field at Orange two starts ago, and he finished sixth at the same track on Tuesday this week.
Rouge Moulin will be ridden by Clayton Gallagher in the Gilgandra Cup, while Robb will have runners in the other six races on the Gilgandra, with apprentice Izzy Neale partnering each of the six runners.
Romantic Love, Paint N Plus and CC Dental Surgery are in the Class 2 Hurdle (1200m), while Vino Rapido is in the WDI Clinic Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1600m).
