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A five day back up is a formula Theresa Bateup has used successfully with stable star Monegal in the past and she’s hoping it can lead to a Big Dance ticket at Coffs Harbour on Thursday.
While it wasn't Plan A for the seven-year-old to have the quick turnaround into the $150,000 Moonee Beach Hotel Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m), Bateup said the circumstances have probably worked in her favour to head north on the back of finishing fifth at Rosehill last weekend.
The original program was to run in the Winter Challenge when scheduled for Randwick on July 23 then have an 11 day gap into the Coffs Harbour Cup.
Monegal pleased Bateup with her fifth behind Cross Talk in the Challenge, which was rescheduled for Rosehill, saying it topped the mare off nicely.
"We have done the five day back up before and that worked quite well,'' she said.
"Moving that race back a week didn't hurt us at all, the only ill effect it had was we missed the gallop on the Saturday morning (when the races were called off) and I think that cost her a bit on Saturday.
"She loomed up like she was probably going to run second or third and just peaked that little bit.
"She's come through it in good order and with that run under her belt she should be peaking for the 1600m."
Both of Monegal's two latest wins have come on a back up of seven days or less – back in February she won the Canberra Mile a week after her previous start while her biggest win came in the Group 3 Epona Stakes just five days after finishing fifth in the Canberra Cup in March.
Bateup said it has been a long range aim to tackle the Coffs Harbour Cup as she feels if the mare does gain eligibility for the $2 million Big Dance on November 1 she'd be more than capable of being competitive in the feature Randwick mile.
"We set the target a little while ago knowing it was one of the eligibility races for the Big Dance,'' she said.
"She's the kind of horse you'd love to be able to qualify and head into that race with a legitimate chance. Coffs Harbour should suit her and it's a good prizemoney race.
"We've drawn a nice gate so she should be able to be not too far off them in the run and we should get track conditions that are suitable."
Monegal was $17 with TAB on Thursday in the Coffs Harbour Cup behind the Kris Lees-trained Hosier ($2.25) who will be making his debut for the leading Newcastle trainer.
Hosier is the first horse Lees has trained for prominent owner Lloyd Williams.
Lees said he's still learning about the lightly raced six-year-old, who has won five from nine, and while there is a buzz around the horse he's found a realistic starting point.
"He's a really nice horse. He trialled well at Muswellbrook and had a solid gallop on Saturday morning and pleased. He will be very competitive,'' he dsaid.
"I'm mindful that Hosier is only a Benchmark 86 so he is in his right grade.
"He's worked well since he has been with us but they tell me he always has so we will learn a bit more on Thursday."
First and second from the Coffs Harbour Cup earn eligibility for the $2 million Big Dance, with the winner receiving ballot preference in the final field.
