By John Schell
Goulburn trainer Pat Murphy will chase a feature race success when Victory Roll ($34 on TAB) lines up in Sunday’s $50,000 Bankstown Sports (Big Dance Eligibility) Forbes Cup (1600m).
Murphy had Victory Roll in at Wagga last Tuesday, with that meeting transferred to Narrandera on Thursday before eventually being abandoned due to bad weather.
“It hasn’t been an ideal week given meetings being moved and then called off, but hopefully it all works out well in the end on Sunday,” said Murphy, who has Richard Bensley booked to ride Victory Roll in the Forbes feature.
Victory Roll (Mitchell Bell) returns after scoring at Canterbury Park. Image by Bradley Photographers
Victory Roll is a five-time winner from 25 starts with more than $170,000 in prizemoney.
“He’s a Highway winner in town at Randwick and also won a midweeker at Canterbury,” said Murphy.
“He’s had a few runs back from a spell now and while he’s still at the 1600m at Forbes he does have the benefit of gate one which should give him his chance.”
Victory Roll lines up against the Danielle Seib prepared Due Calzini ($10) in the Forbes Cup, with that galloper also having been in the same races at Wagga and Narrandera that were eventually called off.
Due Calzini has won his past two starts and drops in distance for this with apprentice Jessica Brookes taking the ride.
Meanwhile, Murphy and Bensley will also combine in the opening event at Forbes when Performing Diva ($5.50) contests the Shead & Nicholson/ Daikin/ Seeley International Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m).
Performing Diva has only had two starts for a fourth on debut at Nowra in February before a second at Goulburn on February 28.
“She’s shown plenty of ability from day one,” said Murphy. “She won her first trial ay Hawkesbury and then ran well at her first start before again doing a good job at Goulburn before her spell.
“She’s come back in good order and I’m expecting her to run well fresh.”
Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft has Just A Brother ($41) in the Forbes Cup, and he will also saddle up last start Grafton winner Zoutastic ($2.25 favourite) in the Club Sydney The Amazing Ben Hall Bullet Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m).
View final fields with full form & race replays for Forbes here