3 minute read

Local galloper Code Word can return to winning form and bring up his first win on his home track in today's Narooma Sporting & Services Club Cup (race 7) at Moruya.

The gelding, formerly with Gerald Ryan at Rosehill, switched to the stables of John Marzol last autumn and had a very fruitful campaign, winning three races and turning in some top efforts beyond 2000m in town.

This campaign he has raced just three times but looks close to a win and should be hard to hold out over a mile today on his home turf.

Fresh up, in the Snake Gully Cup at Gundagai, he drifted well back and turned there before making solid late ground to finish a 5.5 length eighth behind Viva Las.

Second up was over 1300m at Rosehill where he found the trip too short. Beaten for speed he settled near last and turned there before again making good late ground, into seventh and beaten four lengths behind My Destiny.

Last start he stepped to a more suitable 1600m at Wagga in the Ted Ryder Cup and after drawing wide was slow to begin.

He settled second last in the big field and turned there before again hitting the line well, this time finishing a 2.5 length fourth behind Lockmar.

Today the gelding finds an easier race and although stays at a mile can sweep home over the top of his rivals.

Code Word has a big weight and wide gate but will spot a start anyway but will be finding the line harder than anything.

The Luke Pepper trained Ilringya, another local galloper, will also be charging home late and looks the biggest danger.

The mare found the line nicely at her first two runs from a spell at Canberra over 1000m and 1400m before dropping back to 1300m at Goulburn, where she sat a little closer in the run but again worked home soundly, finishing fourth.

She then headed to town over 1500m at Rosehill and after drifting well back never came on, finishing 14th behind Single in a disappointing run despite being big odds in the tougher grade.

Last start, to a mile at Wagga, she settled back worse than midfield on the inside but worked to the line well, finishing a long neck second behind Lockmar and almost two lengths in front of Code Word.

She meets that galloper 1.5kg worse at the weights here but is still on the minimum and will be ridden by senior jockey Jeff Penza.

She is unbeaten from two runs at home, one of which was at this trip, and should be hitting the line hard again.

Her stablemate Quichang is much longer odds in the markets but is not without a hope.

The gelding is fitter for three runs back from a break, the latest finishing 2.2 lengths from the winner in third place behind Lockmar in the same race as his stablemate.

He has an excellent record at the journey, with five of his seven career wins coming at the trip, and must be included in the multiples.

Sebony was yet another to come through the Lockmar race, having finished ninth.

While disappointing in that race and out of the placings at all five runs this time in the gelding is going much better than it appears.

With a top record at the course and at the distance, he is certainly worth another chance in this easier grade.