Smith takes two contenders to tackle Gilgandra Cup

Orange-based trainer Alison Smith is banking on strength of numbers to give her the edge in Sunday’s $50,000 Gilgandra Services Club Gilgandra Cup (1600m).

Smith isn’t afraid to travel her horses, and she will start the consistent How’s It Kev in the feature event at Gilgandra alongside stablemate Turgenev.

Jockey Kody Nestor takes the ride on How’s It Kev, with the galloper having won when resuming from a spell this preparation when edging out the Brett Robb-trained Rouge Moulin, which is a Gilgandra Cup rival.

Smith then took How’s It Kev to Randwick where he ran sixth, before a second placing at Orange. The eight-year-old since finished fifth in the Mudgee Cup before a last-start third at Warwick Farm.

Turgenev is an I Am Invincible seven-year-old gelding that will be partnered by apprentice Siena Grima in the Gilgandra Cup. Grima is currently on loan to premier trainer Chris Waller, and Turgenev began his career in the Waller stable.

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He’s had a number of trainers since then and was a winner at his first start for the Smith stable at Orange, in March of last year. His best recent effort was a second in a small field at Orange two starts ago, and he ran sixth at the same track on Tuesday this week.

Rouge Moulin will be ridden by Clayton Gallagher in the Gilgandra Cup, while Robb will have runners in six other races at Gilgandra, with apprentice Izzy Neale set to partner each of the six runners.

Romantic Love lines up in the Paint N Plus & CC’s Dental Surgery Class 2 Handicap (1200m), while Vino Rapido is in the WDI Clinic Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1600m).