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South Coast trainer Bede Murray put a plan in place more than a month ago to target Friday’s $100,000 Carlton Mid Port Macquarie Cup (2000m) with talented middle-distance galloper World Wide.

And Murray will be hoping that doctors in Wollongong get a move along with tests they are to carry out on the long-time trainer so he has time to get to Sydney to catch a flight to Port Macquarie for the race.

“I pinpointed the cup weeks and weeks ago as a race I think this horse can win and the first thing I did was ring Robert Thompson and book him for the ride,” Murray said. “There are few better jockeys than Robert and he knows every inch of grass on the Port Macquarie track. I wanted to make sure I got in and booked him before anyone else.”

A win by World Wide would also end a minor frustration that Murray has had with the horse. He has been beaten into second place in both a Wagga Wagga and Canberra Cups: “At least one cup on the mantle piece from this horse would be nice,” Murray said.

Murray has been unwell and has been in Wollongong undergoing tests: “If the doctors are finished in time I will try and fly up for the cup,” Murray said. “I’d like to be there but if it can’t be done I will leave everything up to Graeme.”

Graeme Murray, the trainer’s son and right hand man, took World Wide and stablemate Chantilly Prince, which runs at the matinee meeting on Saturday, to Port Macquarie on Wednesday to give them plenty of time to settle in. World Wide has had a solid preparation for the cup with five starts since resuming from a let-up.

Three starts back he won over 2000-metres at Randwick on a heavy track then carried 60kg when fourth at Rosehill beaten only half a length and 58kg when fifth, again at Rosehill, behind Kourkam. He goes into the cup with only 56kg.

“I wouldn’t mind a spot of rain leading into the cup but he has won on all types of going,” Murray said. “His best runs though have been on rain-affected going.”

Brenton Avdulla and Chris Waller are joining forces as they aiming to win their second Port Macquarie Cup in three years with Campanology after winning it in 2011 with Old Bill. This will be Campanology’s second start since a spell and was motoring home when fourth over 1550m at Canterbury Park on September 24.

Waller’s other runner is Beyond Thankful, to be ridden by Jason Collett, who returns to riding after a suspension imposed for causing severe interference at Newcastle on September 18. Beyond Thankful has been brought back to Waller’s Sydney base after two runs in Melbourne for a fourth at Flemington and a seventh at Caulfield.

SELECTIONS

1-1.40, PRIME7 HAS THE X-FACTOR MAIDEN, 1200m: WALK THIS WAY 1, Gold Beret 2, Fancy A Cruiser 3, Bright Moon Night 4.

2-2.15, JR RICHARDS AND SONS MAIDEN, 1200m: ZROYA 1, Marmaduke’s Lady 2, Pacific Queen 3, Sharani 4.

3-2.50, FASTPLAST BUILDING SUPPLIES BENCHMARK 60, 1500m: SHARK BELL 1, Run Legless 2, Hard Marker 3, Cracker Night 4.

4-3.25, QUAYLIME @ PORT MARINA BENCHMARK 65, 1100m: MR NICKO 1, Keep It Danish 2, First Class To Rio 3, Klisstra 4.

5-4.00, FUJO XEROX BUSINESS CENTRE CLASS TWO, 1000m: POWER SHIFT 1, Madam Fly 2, Checkout Me Travla 3, Clint 4.

6-4.40, PORT MACQUARIE TRAVEL SPRINT, 1200m: VALID CONTRACT 1, Master Gaze 2, Flight In Space 3, Poetic Debate 4.

7-5.20, CARLTON MID PORT MACQUARIE CUP, 2000m: BEYOND THANKFUL 1, Campanology 2, World Wide 3, Scottish Border 4.

8-6.00, GILLESPIE MEDIA CLASS ONE, 1200m: ART’S GOT A GUN 1, Honest Opinion 2, Autumn Nights 3, Committal 4.

Best Bets: Mr Nicko, Valid Contract

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