Tamworth trainer Craig Martin will be out to repel the challenge of two powerhouse stables when he starts form galloper Tavros in Sunday’s $150,000 Dubbo City & Gilgandra Toyota Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m).
The event carries Big Dance eligibility, and Tavros is shooting for a third straight win after scoring at Tamworth two starts ago and in the Moree Cup at his latest outing.
Racing returns to Dubbo on Sunday.Credit: Janian McMillan/Racing Photography
Tavros will line up against the Ciaron Maher-prepared duo of Berkshire Shadow and Cosmic Vega, while Annabel and Rob Archibald have Cristal Clear in the Dubbo feature.
Jockey Ashley Morgan will partner Tavros, while Braith Nock is on Cristal Clear, and apprentices Jacob Stiff and Nick Palmer will ride Berkshire Shadow and Cosmic Vega respectively.
Martin has given Tavros, a five-year-old gelding by Bull Point, just the 12 starts. He has won five of them, with a further three minor placings, and amassed more than $120,000 in prizemoney.
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Cristal Clear heads into the Dubbo Cup on the back of two wins at Rosehill with Nock having been aboard in each of them.
Berkshire Shadow comes off a last start eighth in the Cameron Handicap at Newcastle, while Cosmic Vega finished fourth in the Tuncurry Cup at his latest start.
Morgan, who was in form when booting home a winning treble at Scone on Friday, has an enviable book of six rides at Dubbo.