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By Ray Hickson

Two impressive city wins earned emerging galloper Cristal Clear the chance to press for a Big Dance start via Sunday’s $200,000 Dubbo City & Gilgandra Toyota Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m).

Co-trainer Rob Archibald said the four-year-old's back-to-back wins at Rosehill forced him and Annabel Archibald to go looking for an opportunity to force his way into the $3 million feature on November 4.

“He’s probably put it on the radar after he’s put in a couple of good performances and his rating has gone up,’’ he said.

Rob & Annabel Archibald

“Potentially he could have a crack at a Big Dance. Hopefully we can run well and give ourselves a chance at it.”

Braith Nock continues his association with Cristal Clear at Dubbo and what encourages Archibald is the style of his two recent wins, one from the front and the other from just off the pace.

It’s a venue the stable has tasted success at previously with Sibaaq winning the Wellington Cup when run at Dubbo in 2022 before going on to run third in the inaugural Big Dance.

“He’s in really good order, he seems to be holding his form well and he has a good set up,’’ he said.

“It’s a fair way to go but all in all it’s a good race for him.

“It was good to see him a bit more versatile last time, he’s maturing all the time. He’s very lightly raced, he’s a talented horse and hopefully we haven’t seen the best of him yet.”

Archibald said he’ll leave it to Nock to work out how best to steer Cristal Clear, $3.20 with TAB on Saturday, but expects from barrier seven he’ll be in the leading pack.

“Braith can work it out, he probably knows the track better than us,’’ he said.

“He’s a horse that puts himself on the speed so he’ll be there or thereabouts but it’s nice to know he can still do it if he doesn’t get the lead.”

Three-year-old filly Fuil Rioga will be out to atone for going under as an odds-on favourite on debut when she runs in the Dubbo City & Gilgandra Toyota Plate (1400m).

On the back of a trial win over Thrilling Venture, who won on Friday, at Scone the trainer said a lot was expected from her when she stepped out Bathurst two weeks ago.

She ran third in a six horse field and Archibald is happy to suggest she can regain favour.

“We liked her off the trial but she was disappointing first-up so up to the 1400m second-up we can see her bounce back,’’ he said.

“She’s got a bit to go, I think she’s certainly better than that grade. We’ll give her a couple of educational runs and then bring her in.”

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Dubbo Cup meeting