Latest News

By Geoff Newling

Assurity returns to her home track ready to take advantage of a heavy surface in Friday’s eight-race Tamworth program.

The Sue Grills-trained mare has drawn well in the $20,000 Allsopp Signs Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) and her trainer expects her to show more than she did at her last start in a Highway Handicap at Randwick.

“She did nothing in Sydney,” Sue Grills admitted of a disappointing seven length eighth to Care To Think. That had followed a 5.2lens fifth to Shoreline in the $50,000 Mother’s Gift at Grafton during the recent Grafton carnival.

“She just likes a soft track,” Sue continued. “They put up a Heavy 8 in Sydney but it ended up being pretty good down there. “

The Heavy 8 surface at Tamworth at the moment is perfect for Assurity, she added: “Don’t want it to improve for her,” she said of a mare who has won three of her 17 starts but is yet to win in two attempts at Tamworth.

Greg Ryan takes the ride as well on a relatively quiet day for Grills, who finished third to Paul Perry and Kris Lees on the Hunter and North West Racing Association trainer’s premiership in the just completed season. Sue has just the two other runners, first starter Two More Angels and Cherokee entered.

Two More Angels, a four-year-old daughter of Onemorenomore, has had just the one 1000m trial at Tamworth.

“She trialled okay,” Sue said. “And she’s drawn okay. Cherokee could go to Inverell yet.”

Inverell Jockey Club stage a five-race non-TAB meeting Saturday while Quirindi Jockey Club has a seven-race TAB meeting planned for Monday.

The QJC received 87 acceptances for that meeting with the first race, the $20,000 Liverpool Plains Shire Maiden Handicap (1100m) timed for a 12.50pm start.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Tamworth here