EVERY trainer wants to win a home track feature – and Ross McConville is no different.
He has set his sights on winning Illawarra Turf Club’s forthcoming major sprint, the $300,000 The Warra (1000m) – which has just gained Group 3 status – with his talented young sprinter South Of India.
But first things first.
McConville resumes the four-year-old at Royal Randwick on Tuesday chasing his sixth win on end in the Benchmark 84 Handicap (1000m).
Nash Rawiller again rides South Of India, having partnered the gelding for the first time at the same track and over the same distance in a Benchmark 78 Handicap in mid-July.
“The Warra at The Gong meeting at home on November 23 has been our aim all along with him,” McConville said on Monday morning.
“But he has had two nice trials and is ready to resume at Randwick.
“South Of India is jumping out of his skin.”
McConville bred the son of Churchill under his Tullimbar Pty Ltd banner, and has been patient with him.
He took over preparing the gelding following the passing of his late partner, iconic Kembla Grange trainer Gwenda Markwell two years ago, and there will be no shortage of emotion if South Of India keeps the “picket fence” going at Randwick.
Soon after Markwell’s death, McConville won with his first starter Nautical Miss at the very same meeting on November 1, 2022.
“We had to keep the fort going,” said McConville, who has since trained a further 25 winners, with South Of India of course being a real highlight.
South Of India finished sixth on debut at Kembla Grange in July last year at his only start as a two-year-old, and then reeled off five straight victories in his three-year-old season.
South Of India’s two recent Open trials have both been at Hawkesbury. He was just beaten by Tamerlane in an 800m heat on October 14 before winning a similar heat there a fortnight later.
McConville isn’t the only provincial trainer keen to taste further success at the Big Dance meeting at Randwick.
Newcastle’s Jason Deamer won the Choisir Benchmark 100 Handicap (1000m) last year with his stable flag-bearer Hard To Say, and is looking to do it again.
Whereas Hard To Say, with Ash Morgan aboard, scored last year with 53kg, he has a much steeper impost this time.
As a result, Deamer has booked Hawkesbury apprentice Zac Wadick to take advantage of his 3kg claim to lessen the gelding’s weight to 59kg.
Fellow provincial trainers Brad Widdup (Hawkesbury), Mark Minervini (Newcastle) and Tracey Bartley (Wyong) will be opposing Deamer in the Benchmark 100.
Widdup resumes the talented Jedibeel (Alysha Collett), Minervini has Quick Tempo (Ash Morgan), and Bartley runs Mabel (Reece Jones).
Story John Curtis, November 4, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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