Whenmechief set for Pirie Cup

21 March 2019 | Paul Courts
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IN-FORM veteran Whenmechief will be looking to extract revenge when he returns to Port Pirie during the weekend.

Competing at the provincial venue a fortnight ago Whenmechief was runner-up behind Ideal World in the Kadina Cup.

The Darren Billinger-trained gelding will be back for the host club’s Pacing Cup on Saturday night, with his rivals including Ideal World.

Whenmechief followed his second with a victory in claiming company at Globe Derby last week, with Billinger quietly confident the son of Stonebridge Regal can continue his winning ways.

Whenmechief is no stranger to feature success at the venue having annexed the 2016 Whyalla Cup.

“He is feeling a lot more like his old self at the moment,” Billinger said. “He is not as good in his gait when his feet are shortened, but his hooves are longer so he is feeling better in his action.

“His work has been coming through at the races and hopefully that will be the case again in the Cup.”

Whenmechief will once again begin from the 10-metre mark, with his stablemate, Futurist, facing a daunting task from a 20-metre handicap.

Ideal World has retained a front row draw and will come from three for trainer Aaron Bain.

“If he can begin cleanly enough from 10 metres behind he should be able to settle up front,” Billinger said. “Hopefully he can go around them and find the front like he did there last time.

“Futurist is facing another uphill battle. He keeps putting in hard runs as it’s the way he has to be driven, but his chances are diminished from 20 metres.

“Ideal World has come into it well on the handicaps and is the one to beat again.”

  • PAUL COURTS

 

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