Petreni Will Tackle Cup

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday January 8, 2008

By CHRIS ROOTS

THE Kembla Grange stable of Bede Murray is confident Petreni can cause a surprise in the Listed Frank Underwood Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The stable also has better-credentialled stayer Jamberoo, which won the 2006 Summer Cup, in the Underwood Cup but believes Petreni is their main hope.

The seven-year-old scored a fighting win over 1800m at Randwick last Saturday and stable foreman Paul Murray immediately booked successful jockey Glyn Schofield to ride him on a seven-day back-up.

"(Petreni) won well on Saturday and now he is up to a trip that suits him he could easily win again," Paul Murray said.

"We have booked Glyn again and we are still looking for a jockey for Jamberoo.

"He is probably another run from his best but we need to get the miles in his legs because his long-term goal is the Sydney Cup."

The Murrays will take eight horses to Rosehill with juvenile Hangover Henry also backing up after finishing third last weekend.

The Underwood Cup has attracted a good field with Gai Waterhouse-trained Party Crasher likely to start favourite with proven stayers Newport and Legendary Man also among the nominations.

Gwenda Markwell has entered Choose To Dream and El Meroo in the Cup after their placings at Rosehill two weeks ago.

El Meroo chased home Party Crasher and Miss Pageantry over 1550m, while staying mare Choose To Dream was runner-up to Guillotine over 1900m.

"We were very happy with El Meroo last start and he will be suited by the step up in distance," Markwell's racing manager Len Fownes said.

"Choose To Dream is coming along well and we are looking at a 2400m race for her in a couple of weeks but this race suits her program."

Meanwhile the Illawarra Turf Club could split two maidens on Saturday after receiving 25 entries for the 1200m maiden and 23 nominations for the 1500m maiden yesterday.

"Horse numbers are starting to get back to normal after EI and I think we might be splitting races on Saturday," ITC racing manager Michael Craig said.

"I think we might be having eight and nine-race meetings over the next month despite only having seven-race programs, which is good."

© 2008 Illawarra Mercury

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