Moruya preview: Trainer Joe Cleary backs Up Trumpz, Rothenburg to get job done in the Town Plate

Joe Cleary is banking on stable stalwart Up Trumpz and welcome recruit Rothenburg to fight out the finish of Monday’s Moruya Showcase Town Plate (1200m).

The popular Queanbeyan trainer has his pair primed for the occasion with plans of even bigger riches for both as we head further into 2021.

Up Trumpz is something akin to the Cleary stable ‘captain’ having flown the flag admirably season after season winning over $250,000 in his 41 starts to date.

“He has been a great horse for the Shire family,’’ Cleary said. “Young Sam bred the horse and it has just been a really good ride from day one, he has been a super consistent horse without being a world-beater.

“He is probably just two or three lengths of top class. He has run behind Dirty Work and some other good horses and has been a great little money spinner for the Shires family and I can’t see it stopping on Monday.’’

Up Trumpz has the opportunity to add another $22,000 to his account in the Town Plate provided the 61 kilogram impost doesn’t slow his progress.

Cleary has two solid chances in the Moruya Town Plate.Source:News Corp Australia

“This is just the perfect race him, he is rated to his best, but we are going to target this race and then the Town Plate at Bega at the end of the month,’’ Cleary said.

“He is actually down at the Moruya stable having a bit of time in the water and all the reports are that he has a really good week down there.’’

Cleary says the prospect of a Heavy track won’t harm Up Trumpz chances nor that of his new stablemate Rothenburg who is having his first run under new management.

“First run for me, he came from Matthew Dunn and he’s on a Country Championships path,’’ Cleary said.

“He will race at Goulburn at the end of the month and then third-up at the end of the month in the Country Championship heat at Nowra.

“I am training him for another good family friends in the Sessarago family, they are based on the Gold Coast — Craig and his brother Darren — but when Matty became a Metropolitan stable, they chose to send the horse down to me for the Country Championships.

“He is very adaptable and a beautiful horse to go with it,’’ said Cleary. “ I have had him work for about ten or eleven weeks and he has had a really good base, he had a nice trial, and probably beats the handicapper on Monday with 55 kilos and the senior rider (Matthew Cahill) is definitely a bonus.’’

Cleary is naturally eager to add another win to the combined tally of himself and industry giant Gerry Harvey who front-up with last start winner Disconcerted in the Ruc In Turner Class 1 Handicap (1425m).

Racing heads to Moruya in NSW on a Monday afternoon. Picture: Jenny EvansSource:News Corp Australia

“I have got a lot of time for this filly,’’ the trainer says. “ I gave her a kill first-up at Queanbeyan on Boxing Day and had this race targeted for her.

“I am not really worried about the outside barrier because she can be a bit fractious in the gates so Matthew (Cahill) can just get her a little bit of cover and she is way over the odds, I think they were betting $21 about her.’’

NATALIE’S RAIN DANCE

Local trainer Natalie Jarvis’ chances of defending her win in last year’s hometown feature soared with every inch of rain that fell on the track in the days leading up to Monday’s Cup.

Jarvis saddles-up the in-form Hay Bale alongside last year’s winner Airfree who has two of her three starts on a heavy track.

Airfree hasn’t been able to win again since her 2020 triumph but has been building-up quietly to an encore performance.

“She received an enormous amount of benchmark points last year when she won the Cup so she has been struggling a little bit since then to perform well at that grade,’’ Jarvis says. ‘’ But now that she is back down on a low weight and on her home-track, where she goes especially well, we think she is a good chance.’’

Airfree certainly fits the bill as a ‘local’ having been bred and raised at the nearby Meringo Stud where the great Takeover Target saw first light.

In fact, her sire, Wilful Default, is a half brother to Joe Janiak’s epic sprinter.

As for Hay Bale, he meets Monday’s Moruya Cup in sterling form having finished a close second in the Christmas Cup at the same venue at his most recent start on December 20.

Hay Bale has raced three times on a heavy track for two wins and a second.

‘’He only just got run down in the last couple of strides last start,’’ Jarvis said. “He has been in our stable for a while now and I really think he is working the best he has since we have trained him.’’

Horse Racing: With only a few strides to go the heavily backed favourite has slammed on the brakes leaving punters heartbroken….

Horse Racing: With only a few strides to go the heavily backed favourite has slammed on the brakes leaving punters heartbroken.

Jarvis is represented in arguably the ‘race of the day’ by Kattegat who tackles a quality laden Country Magic Class 3 (1200m) after some eye-catching performances in a recent string of TAB Highways.

‘’He has raced on heavy tracks before in Sydney quite a few times, he doesn’t mind it, but he doesn’t really like the dirt hitting him in the face so he needs to get a clear path,’’ Jarvis explained.

‘’He has been a great horse that we have managed to pick-up at the tried sales and has done a really good job since he arrived here.’’

Originally published asMoruya preview: Trainer playing his Trumpz cards

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