Barnes Says Temora Cup Will Be No ‘Gift'

FASTEST qualifier Nangar Gift is poised to go around a raging hot favourite for Sunday's Ladbrokes sponsored Temora Cup Final (457m), but her trainer Dennis Barnes believes the $10,000 to-the-winner feature is a far more even contest than betting is likely to suggest.

A rampaging 25.73 heat winner on Saturday, a time that did grab plenty of attention, Nangar Gift will be looking to follow in the footsteps of her mother All Too Fancy in Sunday's Temora Cup decider, winner of the Riverina feature for Barnes back in 2015.

"I think the final is a lot more even than what a lot of people might think, no one was more surprised than me when her time went up on Saturday, the track was getting quicker as the night went on though," said Barnes on Thursday.

"Box one is a big plus for her, she loves it down on the fence and she is such a little trier – she's so honest and is a very reliable beginner. I'd say she's definitely the one to beat but Temora is a track that you improve off with a run, she'd been there and won before but a few of the others in the final were having their first start at the track. I'd be surprised if they didn't improve."

Victorious at 15 of her 36 starts, Nangar Gift is a daughter of Brett Lee and All Too Fancy, the talented litter so far the winner of 84 races and $240,000 in prizemoney.

"Really, gee that much, I should have kept them!" joked Barnes.

"I get a huge thrill watching pups I've bred winning races for people, I cheer them on sitting at home on the lounge. My daughter Tracy picked out Nangar Gift early on so we decided to hold onto her and we'll breed with her down the track. She's such an honest little chaser – gives her all every start."

On a terrific day of racing at Temora on Saturday, the second fastest heat was recorded by the Tracey Kovacic-trained Alpine Little, the daughter of Hostile backing up her recent Maitland victory with an impressive Temora debut, clocking 26.03. Bit Flash was next best on the clock for trainer Mick Clayton, defeating hot-pot Double Up Dee in a slick 26.17.

The remaining two heats went the way of Corleone King – who remained unbeaten at the Temora 457m – for Gary Kimber in 26.34, while Victorian Ample Warning was successful at his Temora debut, posting 26.28 for trainer Graham Glass.

"A few people have said to me they may as well send me the cheque now but I've been around long enough to know no race is easy – it's a very strong field with some fast dogs, trust me it's a lot more even than people think," added Barnes.

"Her mother All Too Fancy has been a great brood bitch for us, she's got six pups that are six months old litter to Fernando Bale but she missed this time around to Crash (Brett Lee x Elusive Rebel) unfortunately.

"I was keen to go to a son of Brett Lee with her and knew someone that had a straw to him; he was a serious dog Crash, I broke him in and remember he went around 18.80, he could really run. My line really clicks with Brett Lee."