Fond memories of triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva will be revided if Scone-trained mare Oh My Papa can win Sunday's $40,000 Coonamble Cup.
The six-year-old mare is trained by Greg Bennet at Scone, the man who broke in Makybe Diva, and is part-owned by Kevin Williams, the racing manager for the cup heroine’s owner Tony Santic.
“Kevin and I got back s few years since the early days of Makybe Diva. It would be nice to win the Coonamble Cup for him,” Bennett said.
Oh My Papa is no Makybe Diva but an honest mare Bennett believes can more than make her presence felt on Sunday.
The daughter of Dane Shadow is coming off a last start 1600m win at Scone on September 29 and three starts back was runner-up to Fast And Sexy over 1550m at Canterbury on August 21.
Bennett wasn’t even fazed when the mare drew awkwardly in barrier 11.
“We’ve just got to deal with it,” he said. “We’ll cope with the barrier.
“That’s what you pay good jockeys for.
“I’ve had a lot of luck with Spriggsy (Dale Spriggs). Hopefully he and the mare can get the job done.
“There is a good long run down the back straight at Coonamble and they should have plenty of time to get in and race with cover. That’s the important thing.
“Even though she is a little mare, she doesn’t handle tight tracks.
“The open track at Coonamble will suit her.
“Her recent form has been very good. Her run at Canterbury was great then she had no luck at Wyong next start before winning well at Scone.”
Bennett is happy as Larry regarding the mare’s progress since Scone.
“She worked terrific on Saturday then she had a good pipe opener on Thursday,” he said. “She’s ready to go. Coonamble is a nice cup to go chasing.”
Champion jockey Greg Ryan has been booked for likely favourite First Class Ticket from the Allan Denham yard.
The cup is one of the strongest in years and includes topweight Clever Hans, Forbes and Narromine Cup winner Mossamine, who also placed in the Moree and Dubbo cups, Fox Solid, and last start winners Toranaga and Emotional Outburst.
