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Warwick Farm trainer Marc Conners, a regular supporter of country racing carnivals, is hoping to land another rich prize at Port Macquarie on Friday.
Photo by Racing and Sports
Conners is heading to the north coast in a bid to win the $60,000 Port Macquarie Cup with his consistent performer Letchworth.
He joins Sydney's premier trainer Chris Waller as one of two city stables with runners in the Cup.
Letchworth, drawn barrier one with Jeff Penza to ride, will be the first runner for Conners in a Port Macquarie Cup.
Conners said the decision to target the Port Cup is part of an on-going plan to have runners in as many country feature race as possible.
“There is some very attractive prize money on offer in many of these country cups and I want to get to get to more of them,” Conners said.
“I won the Coffs Harbour Cup last year and it's a pretty big thing to win these country feature races.
“Most of Letchworth's runs have been over distances shorter than 2000 metres but I believe that he is not only ready to be tried at the distance but that he will have no trouble getting it.
“He has been very consistent and deserves to win a good race like this.
“It's the right time to target a race like the Port Macquarie Cup with him.”
Letchworth has raced only once before over 2000m and a very strong form line hangs over that run.
That was at Rosehill last June when he finished sixth behind the Waller-trained The Verminator, beaten only 4.9 lengths.
The Verminator went on to win the Wyong Cup and then last Saturday won the G1 Metropolitan at Randwick.
After his run behind The Verminator, Letchworth was dropped back in distance, winning over 1600m at Wyong then being placed four times at his next five starts, at Randwick twice and Canterbury twice.
Penza is on a high has he was named NSW Provincial Jockey Of The Year at the Awards for Excellence in Sydney last Friday.
