Kembla Grange trainer Joseph Ible has his sights on interstate riches for Barrengarry after the four-year-old’s impressive win in the 1400-metre Midway Handicap at Randwick last Saturday. 
Despite being trapped three wide in running at his first start after a spell, Barrengarry ($5.50) finished powerfully from midfield under Zac Lloyd to win drawing away by a length and a quarter from Vexxy, with favourite Felix Majestic a short half-head away in third place. 
“I won sitting three deep on him when he won last prep at Rosehill and that day the race was run at a stronger tempo so I thought if he could do it there in a strongly run race, he could do it here,” Lloyd said. 
“They didn’t go that fast in the first half of the race, so I wasn’t doing that much work and he was comfortable. 
“He’s a nice horse. He’s a lot better than Midway grade.
“Joe has taken his time with him and he did that today off one trial. He’s in for a very good spring.”
Ible said following the win that Barrengarry will probably have his next start in another Midway back at Randwick over 1600 metres on Saturday week. 
If he wins that race, which seems a distinct possibility on last week’s evidence, an interstate campaign is likely to follow. 
“We’ve always thought a race like the Coongy down at Caulfield (October 14) might be a nice option for him,” Ible said. 
“I think he can develop into a handy middle-distance horse and a stayer of the future. 
“He’s still a bit backward so I just want to use the spring to ground him and then, hopefully, in the autumn we can look at those bigger things. 
“He’s an exceptional horse … to do that today and with the improvement to come, it’s very exciting for me and the owners.”
Lord wide but too good
Scone trainer Scott Singleton was worried about Lord Remlap having to resume from barrier 13 in last Saturday’s Class 3 TAB Highway Handicap (1200m), and his fears were realised. Luckily the unbeaten four-year-old was good enough to win anyway. 
With Mikayla Weir in the saddle, Lord Remlap ($5) was posted wide but finished strongly to win drawing away by a half-length from the outsider Move She Can. 
“I came here today worried about the barrier but thinking I had the right horse so I was just hoping for a bit of luck,” Singleton said. 
“We didn’t get a lot and it wasn’t Mikayla’s fault at all but just how the race panned out. 
“He was off the track and running out but it’s only his fourth start in a race, so he will improve. 
“I never panicked because I’ve got plenty of faith in him. 
“I haven’t had too many this promising and we’ve thought that highly of him even before he had a race start. 
“He’s still not the finished product but he’s big and he’ll come on a lot from that. 
“He’s certainly come back at the right time of year and if he measures up and gets a (Kosciuszko) slot, that was always the way we were going.”
Around the traps
Rosehill-trained favourites took the feature double at Wyong last Friday, kicking off with Matusalem ($2.50) in a thriller for Chris Waller and James McDonald in the listed Wyong Cup (2100m).
Matusalem scored by a short head from Anythink Goes with Elliptical another long neck away in third and less than a length covering first to fifth. 
In the following race, the 1350-metre Mona Lisa Stakes, Modella ($2.80) got up under Zac Lloyd for Lee and Cherie Curtis.
Lloyd took riding honours with a winning double.
The same day at Canberra, Annabel and Rob Archibald fared best of the trainers with a double, while Brodie Loy rode a treble. 
Loy’s winner in the 1000-metre maiden, $2.05 favourite Defiance, was impressive in romping away to a 4¼-length win at his first start for local trainer Luke Pepper since transferring from the Warwick Farm stable of Bjorn Baker.
Sunday’s country highlight was the $55,000 Moree Cup (1400m), won by Don Pedro ($5.50) for Chinchilla trainer Rodney Hay and two-kilo claimer Kayla Barker.
Earlier, in the $50,000 Super Maiden over 950 metres, debutant Savage Sequel started a $2.10 favourite and scored impressively by 2¼ lengths under another two-kilo claimer, Archie McColm.
Savage Sequel, a three-year-old gelding by 2020 Black Opal winner Barbaric, is trained at Murwillumbah by Peter Sinclair.
Ashley Butler took the riding honours at Moree with a winning treble.
Another comprehensive Super Maiden winner last Sunday was Passing Through ($6.50) over 1400 metres at Gundagai for Queanbeyan trainer Paul Facoory.
Deep Shanker led all the way on the five-year-old Omaha Beach mare, who scored by 1¾ lengths at her 13th start.
Coming attractions
This Friday’s cups action is at Tuncurry, for the $100,000 Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club Hahn Gold Cup (1600m), a Big Dance eligibility race. The support program also includes a $50,000 Super Maiden over 1400 metres.
Saturday is cup day at Collarenebri in the state’s north, with the cup over 1400 metres. There’s also picnic action at Geurie in the central west.
Sunday’s big meeting is at Bathurst, where The Panorama (1300m) is worth $110,000. Other features include the $50,000 Bathurst Cup (1800m) and a $50,000 Super Maiden (1200m).