Glenreagh Skud Rockets Into Cup Contention

GARRY Streatfield knows exactly what it takes to win the Ladbrokes sponsored Chief Havoc Cup (527m) at Gunnedah.

Back in 2013, Streatfield's grand campaigner Glenreagh Rocket took out the Gunnedah feature, defeating litter-brother Noir Lee by a slender neck margin in a driving finish.

In 2014, the son of Magic Sprite returned to defend his Cup title, doing so in fantastic fashion, this time defeating litter-sister Magic Diore, delivering Streatfield back-to-back Cup quinellas.

Eyeing an unprecedented third consecutive Cup in 2015, Glenreagh Rocket made the final after winning a heat, finishing a solid fourth in the final behind Karma Connie.

"He was getting on a bit by then and it was a pretty hot field that year as well," reflected Streatfield in the lead up to Sunday's Chief Havoc Cup where he'll rug up the in-form Glenreagh Skud.

Retiring as the winner of 30 races from 72 starts, Glenreagh Rocket proved to be a terrific money-spinner for Streatfield throughout his stellar career, his two Chief Havoc Cup wins sitting beside his victory in the 2013 Group 3 Casino Cup Final.

"He was a great dog to me, the whole litter was. I actually tried to retire him before his third Gunnedah Cup but he didn't take to it that well, he just loved racing," added Streatfield.

“He actually won the last cup on grass (2013) and the first cup on the sand (2014).”

WATCH: Glenreagh Rocket's 2013 Chief Havoc Cup success

This Sunday, Streatfield lines up Glenreagh Skud in the Chief Havoc Cup decider, the son of El Grand Senor and Magic Diore, runner-up to Glenreagh Rocket in the ‘14 Cup, drawn rather delicately in box seven.

"He has the best first section in the final out of the heats but it's only a short run to the first turn so he's going to have to come out running to get across from seven," explained Streatfield.

"Looking at the race on paper you'd say there are six very good chances. He generally is a good and reliable beginner and I think he can find a length or so from his heat run.

"I gave him a slip at Grafton on Thursday and he went quite well, I've found that if I give him a slip 3-4 days out from a race he goes well."

Worth $5,000 to-the-winner, three heats of the series were run and won last Sunday, with the time-standard set by the Charmaine Roberts-trained Jingles Keeping, the daughter of Barcia Bale defeating Glenreagh Skud by two lengths in a fast 30.26.

Roberts claimed a second heat with Nikita Keeping in 30.92, while Lucille Keeping made her Gunnedah debut a winning one, taking out her qualifier for Steve Keep in 30.49.

"Skud won a heat of the Ladbrokes Challenge at Gunnedah in April beating Jingles Keeping so after Sunday's heat it's one each now," pointed out Streatfield.

"After Sunday I'm backing him up at Lismore on Tuesday in a heat of the Challenge Series which isn't ideal.

“I took him to Wenty a few weeks back and threw him in a race. It was basically like a trial in case he makes it through to the Challenge Final next month and he led all-the-way in 30.10. He's going really well.

"It'd be nice to win another Cup but the draw does make it difficult. Hopefully he comes out running – he'll need to!"

Click here for Sunday's Gunnedah form