Regal Honour carries trainer’s Cup hopes

Wagin trainer Angela Smith will pin her hopes of a second Mt Barker Cup on resurgent galloper Regal Honour in Sunday’s $35,000 XXXX Gold Mt Barker Cup (2000m).

The seven-year-old has been racing in terrific fashion this campaign, including a dominant five-length win in Albany over 1600m and a last-start second to Ancient Spell over 1920m, and gets into the feature race well at the weights.

The veteran stayer will be ridden by star apprentice Clint Johnston-Porter and carries 55kg from barrier six.

He has turned around his fortunes after a mixed previous preparation where he won once in 11 starts and was well beaten in several others.

Smith last won the Mt Barker Cup in 2009 with star Viscount Cameron who was ridden by Shaun McGruddy and the popular trainer was positive about her chances in 2016.

“He’s in form at the right time and he’s been putting his race together,” Smith said.

“He hasn’t raced over 2000m before but he ran well over 1920m the other day.

“His form is good, his weight is good and he has a good jockey that is in really good form so it’s up to the horse to do the job on the day.

“I’m always positive but never confident.”

Smith has not had a runner in the race since 2013 when Bombard finished second to Helen Harding’s Imperial Command.

Harding will also chase her second Mt Barker Cup when the Esperance trainer starts recent Mt Barker winner Prince Charming and Monumental in this year’s race.

Prince Charming drew barrier 13 and will be ridden by Kate Fitzgerald following a win at Mt Barker over 1850m last month.

Listed G.A Towton Cup winner Dust Me Off is the top weight in the race with 59kg for hoop Takahide Ikenushi and trainer Paul Tapper.

The Trade Fair gelding will jump from gate five and heads into the race having finished 10th in the Bunbury AHA Cup (2019m) and eighth at Ascot over 2150m at his last two starts.

In-form veteran Insurgency has genuine claims in the race for trainer Garry Delane in a race they won back in 2011 while metropolitan trainer Dan Morton will start Tom Almighty who gets in on the 54kg minimum.

Trainer Adam Durrant, who won the 2015 Mt Barker Cup with Marden, doesn’t have a runner in the race.

Now with Albany trainer Paul Hunter, Marden was nominated for the race but scratched prior to final acceptances.

Hunter will start Accrual and The Danehill Rose in his bid for a second Mt Barker Cup while fellow local trainer Steve Wolfe has consistent type Tee Pee Cat entered as he chases his first success in the race since 2002.