Theresa Bateup treks to Nowra today, with a team of runners headlined by Master Riley in the $65,000 Nowra Cup (1600m).
The feature event is also a Big Dance qualifier, meaning Master Riley‘s connections can dream of potentially racing the 5YO Hellbent gelding in the $3 Million Big Dance or the $750,000 Little Dance to be run at Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November.
First, today’s Nowra Cup awaits Master Riley, who will be ridden by Amy McLucas (54kg).
The three-time winner has drawn kindly with gate one, and two starts back, ran an eye-catching second in the 1500m Benchmark 74 Handicap at Kembla Grange.
On that effort, Master Riley will be every chance at Nowra, where bookmakers have kept him safe at $12 in an open market.
Also racing at Nowra for the Bateup stable is Kickamushu (Jess Taylor, 55kg) in the $35,000 Belle Of The South (1200m), a Benchmark 66 Handicap event for fillies and mares.
Three runs into her preparation, the 5YO Scissor Kick mare will be primed and ready for a big run at Nowra.
The team also has Hussy La Vista (Jess Taylor, 55.5kg), which has drawn gate two in the $30,000 Maiden Plate (1400m).
The 3YO Star Turn filly went around at big odds (60/1) at the Sapphire Coast last start and still ran a nice third in the 1200m Maiden Handicap.