Cogliere ‘in the zone’
Trainer confident despite city winners vying for Coffs Cup
PORT Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn has Cogliere on a country cups path and he’s looking to pick up another one today at Coffs Harbour.
The Pluck five-year-old is coming off a 1½-length win in the South Grafton Cup (1610m) and Quinn said he was looking just as good for today’s $80,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).
“He hasn’t gone backwards,” Quinn said.
“It was one of his best wins because he got all the breaks, which he’s never really got when he’s won before.
“He won his Highway when three deep without cover the whole way, which was pretty tough, then he won the Country Championships heat when he got into trouble at the 800m and had to circle the whole field.”
Today’s race is stronger than his last one and Cogliere goes up 1kg in weight but still gets into the event well and will jump from barrier three with Matthew McGuren on board.
Quinn said there was no reason why he couldn’t win again.
“I thought he was very sharp last time and I said before that race that whatever beats him will win the race,” he said.
“He was near unstoppable that day and he’s in the zone.
“I think it will be the same in this race. He’s drawn perfect and whatever beats him in this race will win it as well. He’s flying at the moment.
“I think he’s well placed in this race and that’s my job.”
However, the field is a formidable one. A few city runners have made the trip up to take on the bush horses, including Curragh, who is set to start favourite.
He was unlucky in town on a Saturday two starts back and won his last start at Warwick Farm in a midweek race.
But Quinn isn’t fazed by them or Brazen, who he beat last start to get revenge for a loss to the Brett Cavanough runner a start earlier.
He has an awkward draw, though.
“There are horses like Pelethronius and Curragh who are city winners but they probably want the track wetter and they’re not going to get that,” Quinn said.
“Brazen meets us a kilogram better but he’ll have to do a bit of work from that gate to go forward, while we’ll be fifth or sixth with cover.
“I just think my horse will get the ideal run and he’s in it up to his ears.
“I imagine Belinda Hodder will go forward on the Sawtell Cup winner (Eight Below).”
Cogliere has triumphed twice in three runs at today’s trip and has won at his only attempt on the Coffs Harbour track.
He tends to race at his best when on top of the ground, too, but a spot of rain wouldn’t hinder his chances.
After today’s run he will tackle the Taree Cup (August 19) before trying to win his home-town race over 2000m on October 5.