Handy mare Keep It Danish is on track to record back to back wins in Saturday’s $14,000 Leading Appliances Glen Innes Cup (1450m).
Trained by Sue Grills, the six-year-old is coming off an excellent last start half-length third to stablemate Monashee Woods and Clunes Rocket in the Inverell Cup (1400m) on January 1.
“She’s pulled up really well. She seems very good in herself,” Grills said. “I don’t know if I’ve backed her up this quickly before but it was a super run in the Inverell Cup and I’m very happy with her.
“She got shuffled back in the Inverell Cup further than I would have liked but hit the line strongly.”
Grills added the mare is “certainly going as good as this time last year.
“I don’t know if she is any better but she’s certainly no worse.
“She’s been a handy mare and rarely runs a bad race.”
Keep It Danish is owned by retired Quirindi chemist Sel Brown and the late Theo Hill, who passed away recently.
“The Glen Innes Cup was always in the back of our minds,” Grills added. “It would be nice to go back and win the race again.
“There looks to be a bit of pace in the race which will suit my mare.
“I’m happy with her condition.”
Grills will also saddle up Jet Style. Glenn Lynch partners Jet Style with Darren Jones aboard Keep It Danish.
Inverell trainer Luke Berger is another hoping for a brisk pace up front for Waikiki Gold (Jasen Watkins).
Waikiki Gold was a last start 2.8 length seventh in the Inverell Cup.
“The run was better than it looks on paper,” Berger said. “He was a victim of circumstances. He was posted three deep until the 1100 metres and had to go back to get in with some cover.
“He was eight lengths off them at the 600 metres but only got beat 2.8 lengths.”
Waikiki Gold, a massive horse who stands 17.1 hands, was initially sold to Hong Kong as a yearling but didn’t race there returning to Gerald Ryan in Sydney before being purchased by a large syndicate 12 months back that race the well bred gelding.
Berger would dearly love to win the Glen Innes Cup, his grandfather John Berger, a long time track rider in the district.
Berger used to work with Grills and rated Keep It Danish as the horse to beat.
