Rails Has Herbie Safe From First-Turn Cup Trouble

LIKELY Group 2 Ipswich Gold Cup favourite, Hara's Herbie, has drawn perfectly in the rails and can escape what could be “a pile up” at the first turn when the $100,000 to the winner final is run on Thursday night.

That's the opinion of his trainer Jemma Daley.

“He has come through his heat feeling 100 percent and the rails gives him a great chance in the final,” said Jemma.

“He has had an easy week going into the final.”

FIELDS AND FORM IPSWICH THURSDAY

Jemma pointed out most of the final field had first sections of around 5.30 which could present a problem as they head to the first turn at Ipswich.

Which is why she believes classy Sydneysider Yuko Girl could have her work cut out in the final from box four.

“Ipswich is a track that suits dogs that have good experience there,” she said.

“The more they have raced at Ipswich, the better they handle it.

“With Yuko Girl having her second start there, it could be a test.

“The final is a very even field. The first turn can bring a lot of them undone.”

Townsville Cup Ht 1. 498m
1st – Box 4 Hara's Herbie – Jemma Daley
28.60 (13.83 – 14.77)
2nd – Box 8 Showdown – Jedda Cutlack (28.76)
3rd – Box 1 Inconsequential – Kerry Griffin (29.22)
2 1/4 x 6 1/2 pic.twitter.com/mdFTgpvdyW

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) September 2, 2022

Jemma believes Sunburst is boxed to suit in the two and looks likely to get a strong trail behind Hara's Herbie in the early stages.

“And, Emerald Dragon is an improver with plenty of early speed,” she said.

Jemma's star sprint bitch Hara's Skye was severely hampered in running in her heat of the Cup last week and is being treated with kid gloves.

“She was plenty sore the next morning,” she said. “We will give her an easy time to get over the soreness and then get her head right.

“At this stage, I am thinking she will not race again until the Queensland Flame series for the right to run in The Phoenix.”

Hara's Herbie (Sennachie-Hara's Annie) has won seven of 27 and earned $48,000.

Yuko Girl, winner of 17 of 41 starts, is the classy Group performer from the Sam Sultana kennel who has matched it with most of the best in the country.

The daughter of Zambora Brockie-Yuko has earned $105,000.