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Tregea hopeful first Mackay campaign will be successful

11 July 2019

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By Glenn Davis

Toowoomba trainer Steve Tregea is hoping his first trip taking horses to Mackay will be a memorable one as he bids to claim the Newmarket Handicap and Mackay Cup on Saturday.

Tregea will saddle up topweight Niccanova, who drew barrier one in the Newmarket Handicap (1300m) and will be doubled handed with Bergerac (barrier 11) and Prioritise (barrier five) in the Mackay Cup (2000m).

“This is the first time I’ve had runners in Mackay and hopefully they’ll all run well,” Tregea said.

Niccanova was scratched from last Saturday’s Rockhampton Cup (1600m) after he failed to recover in time from his trip north.

“He hadn’t quite got over his float trip in time for the Rocky Cup so I decided to scratch him,” Tregea said.

“He’s right now and he’s drawn well which is a big help.

“You want better alleys in shorter races like this and it helps when they’ve got a big weight.”

Niccanova is coming off a last start second to the Les Ross-trained River Racer in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on June 29.

“Some people say he should nearly have won after he was held up at the 100 metres,” Tregea said.

“Jimmy Orman got off him and thought he should have won but I would have preferred to see him finish a bit closer to say that.”

Tregea isn’t concerned with the barrier draws for Prioritise and Bergerac in the Mackay Cup.

“Draws don’t matter as much in these longer races and they are both capable of winning,” he said.

“They’ve met quite a few times during their careers and they’ve beaten each other a few times.”

Tregea was reluctant to separate the pair but believed the weights suited Priioritise who carried 58kgs when sixth to the Tony Gollan-trained Silvera in last week’s Rockhampton Cup which was run on a heavy track.

“I think with 57.5kgs, Prioritise is well weighted while Bergerac has to carry 60.5kgs,” he said.

Bergerac hasn’t raced since winning the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) on June 15.

Racing Queensland webnews   July 11