GOSFORD’S BENCHMARK 78 MIGHT BE ALL HUNKY DORY

TRAINERS like to win their hometown Cup – and Adam Duggan is no different.

The Gosford trainer gave serious thought to starting former Hong Kong gelding All Hunky Dory in Saturday’s $300,000 Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m) at The Entertainment Grounds, but is leaning toward an easier assignment on the program.

“It would be a pretty special feat to win my local Cup with an eight-year-old,” Duggan said today.

“But it’s come up a pretty strong race, and the Benchmark 78 Handicap over the same distance is probably the way we will go.

“All Hunky Dory is second emergency but there is already one scratching and it’s looking as though he will get a start.

“That appears the more suitable race for him.”

Duggan has booked Tyler Schiller for the Benchmark 78 Handicap, and has his good mate Andrew Gibbons on standby for the Cup.

As has been the case with numerous Hong Kong rejects he has trained for TCR Racing (Derek Tam and Peter Coffey), Duggan has done a splendid job with All Hunky Dory.

In six starts for him, he hasn’t missed a place – and has won three races (at Taree twice, and Port Macquarie).

All Hunky Dory had not raced since June 2021 when unplaced at Happy Valley over 2200m when Duggan took him to Tamworth on December 2 for a 1400m Maiden Plate.

“He drew the inside barrier and I thought he would be hard to beat, but he ran into Magic Stalker, who then won his next two starts at Scone and Kembla Grange,” Duggan recalled.

All Hunky Dory then reeled off wins at Taree (December 22 and January 7, both over 1600m, and Port Macquarie (March 3 over 1509m after a brief let-up).

He has subsequently been placed in provincial company in two Benchmark 64 Handicaps (2100m and 2130m) at Wyong last month.

“I’m really pleased with All Hunky Dory,” Duggan said. “He is racing in great heart, and worked well earlier in the week on the course proper.

“He has drawn well in both races, but at this stage I’m favoring the Benchmark 78.”

In an open market, All Hunky Dory on Thursday morning was at $7.50, with Cormac T the $4.80 favorite on TAB.com.au.

It’s a much different story in the Cup, being an $81 chance.

Meanwhile, Duggan has his stable star Diamond Diesel back, preparing for another campaign.

The rising nine-year-old has won eight races under Duggan’s care after winning a Rosehill Gardens trial for Team Hawkes in early 2020, and then being returned to New South Wales after finishing seventh at his only Hong Kong start at Sha Tin in June 2021.

Diamond Diesel last winter won the Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Warwick Farm, and was spelled after finishing seventh to subsequent Group 1 winner Briasa in the $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on November 16.

“Diamond Diesel had a good break, and will have a jumpout on Monday and then trial later in the month,” Duggan said.

“But he isn’t going to be an easy horse to place this time.”

Story John Curtis, May 8, 2025