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By John Schell

The Rosehill training combination of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will attempt to qualify talented performer Green Shadows for a second straight Big Dance when he tackles Thursday’s $200,000 Tamworth City Toyota Tamworth Cup (1400m).

Ryan and Alexiou managed to win last year’s Goulburn Cup with Green Shadows, before the son of Menari went on to finish 13th behind Gringotts in the Big Dance at Randwick in November.

The five-year-old hasn’t raced since then and resumes in the Tamworth feature on the back of two barrier trials.

Trainer Gerald Ryan

“The Tamworth Cup looks a nice race for him to kick off his campaign in,” said Ryan.

“We’ve given him a couple of trials and he was beaten just under a length and a half in the latest of them at Randwick.

“Braith Nock takes the ride on him at Tamworth, and he’s drawn a good barrier.”

Green Shadows is a winner of five of his 27 starts, with a further six second placings. He’s earned almost $470,000 and first prize in the Tamworth Cup is worth $109,000.

“He’s been a consistent horse for connections, and you’d love a stable full of a horse like him,” said Ryan.

“He won his first start in a race at Goulburn, has taken on Group 1 company in his career, and is still going as well as ever.”

Green Shadows will face stern opposition in the Tamworth Cup with the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained West Of Africa lining up.

West Of Africa won the Magic Millions Cup in January and finished third in the Ajax Stakes and Muswellbrook Cup at his latest two starts.

Last year’s Big Dance runner-up Vivy Air will line up in the Tamworth Cup with Ashley Morgan taking the ride for trainer Ciaron Maher, while Peter Snowden has last year’s Ramornie Handicap winner Ka Bling in the event with Mitchell Bell in the saddle.

Luke Rolls will partner Lisztomania in the event for trainer Todd Payne, with the galloper being a last start second placegetter in the Country Championships Final at Randwick behind Know Thyself.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Tamworth Cup meeting