Orange, Port Macquarie previews: Roy McCabe hoping for Orange Gold Cup win with Renalot before she heads home

Roy McCabe won’t have Renalot for much longer but she’s already given him so much.

McCabe is currently leasing Renalot from city trainer David Pfieffer and he’s trying to win the $75,000 Orange Cup (2100m) on Friday before she heads back to Pfieffer’s stable.

She’s already given McCabe his first provincial winner and now can give him his first Orange Cup.

She won the Orange Cup Prelude two runs ago then ran a luckless third last time in the Wellington Cup (1700m).

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Jockey Jay Ford will partner Renalot in the Orange Gold Cup. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

McCabe naturally has a soft spot for her and says she’s ready to give Friday’s main race a shake where she will be ridden by Jay Ford.

“I’m fairly confident because she’s in her best career form at the moment,” McCabe said.

“She’s done everything I’ve asked of her.

“It was a good run last time but she was unfortunate not to finish closer and run second. She pulled up from it well and looked to be attacking the line nice over 1700m which told me she wants 2100m.

“Her trackwork has been super since so she’s doing well. If the run doesn’t knock her around I’ve got a midweek race to send her around in.”

Renalot is by super sire of stayers Camelot and that’s one thing McCabe is clinging to when wondering if she’ll run a strong 2100m.

“They’re bred to run 3000m and I’ve got everything to gain and nothing to lose by giving it a try,” he said.

“The only query hanging over her head is the 2100m. To me, and to my eye, I’ve got no doubt she’ll run it.”

If Renalot is to win, she’ll have to get the better of Dylan’s Romance who beat her home in the Wellington Cup.

Roy McCabe is relying on the stamina of Camelot (pictured) to shine through as Renalot steps up in distanceSource:AFP

And McCabe is confident that can happen with a better run in transit.

“I thought the top weight (Dylan’s Romance) would be hardest to beat. It will lead and it had an easier run than we did last time,” he said.

“We had a horror run from the 800m last time. If we’re good enough now, we can go past it.”

The Drover is McCabe’s other runner going around on Friday in a Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

He’s a four-year-old by Bon Hoffa who has won once and placed three times from his first seven career runs.

That sounds like a promising start but McCabe knows it could have been a whole lot better.

“He’s still finding his way but when he learns he’ll be a very nice horse. He’s thrown a couple of races away when running to the outside fence,” he said.

“He’s going to be a really nice horse but he’s got his issues at the moment. He hangs badly and can go right to the outside fence if you let him.

“The penny will eventually drop and that’s what we’re waiting on. We’ll bide our time and not rush him because he’s a bit hot-headed.”

A gear change is what may do the trick this time and coming out of barrier 14 isn’t a turn off for his trainer.

“I’m actually happy he drew out there. He can stay out of everyone’s way,” McCabe said.

“I’ll ask the stewards if I can put a one-eyed winker on him.”

DUGGAN CONFIDENT HASALAKE CAN MAKE AMENDS

Trainer Adam Duggan has tried to forget about Hasalake’s last run and concentrate on her next race at Port Macquarie on Friday.

The filly had placed three times at the provincials so Duggan was naturally confident she’d just win when he took out to Mudgee last start.

But she could only run third as a $2.05 favourite.

“It was a bit of a head scratcher. She was a bit plain and raced flat, simple as that. I couldn’t put my finger on it,” Duggan said.

“She seems to have bounced back well from that run and she seems fine and healthy.

“She came through the run well and we let her get over it and her work has pleased me since the run so I can’t find a reason why she won’t perform.”

Hasalake will jump from barrier six in her Maiden Plate (1200m) and only has to find her best form from the provincials to be in the finish.

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“She’s knocking on the door so hopefully she can break through,” Duggan said.

Deora is a first starter for Duggan who has put him in a Maiden Plate (1000m) and he showed good enough Victorian form in his first seven starts to suggest he can succeed in country NSW.

“He’s a horse we picked up on the Inglis online auction and he came in off a racing preparation so we decided to keep him going,” Duggan said.

“He’s only a little fella so we let him put a bit of weight on and have trying to get him to relax a bit after going a bit keen.

“We’ve done that and he seems like a happy horse and he looks great. I’d be surprised if he didn’t run really well.”

Take To Heart is Duggan’s other runner, in a Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) and she’s been racing very well this time in and was very competitive at Gosford last start.

“She runs well fresh. The 1200m is short of her best distance but soft ground can help her stay in touch and she’ll be strong late in that race,” Duggan said.

Originally published asOrange, Port Macquarie previews: Renalot to deliver in Orange Cup

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