By Alex Nolan
Rothwell Chunk could provide Kempsey trainer Nathan Goodwin with the perfect wedding present, should the ‘undeniable chance’ happen to salute in Sunday’s Group 3 Capalaba Cup.
Goodwin will marry partner Leanne Walker on Saturday and, understandably, won’t make the journey north to will home the recent kennel acquisition.
“I had better not test the marriage too soon by heading out to another race meeting,” Goodwin said with a laugh.
“But, we’ll be watching closely at home on Sunday and cheering him on while recovering.”
Rothwell Chunk arrived at Goodwin’s kennels last month after being purchased by long-time owner Richard Butler, along with Rothwell Horse and Barooga Boy.
The son of Barcia Bale was a hit during the Victorian coursing season, winning the 147th Victorian Derby and placing second in the prestigious Waterloo Cup series.
Upon his return to racing at Healesville, he recorded a dominant 19.07 second win in a heat of the Healesville Members Trophy, before running fourth in the Final.
“He stayed at Healesville for the race on Cup day and it rained heavily and if you go to the outside they tell me it’s like quicksand, so he never got a go,” Goodwin said.
“But, the week before, the time he ran was the same Sacred Stance ran in the heats of the Cup.”
He was then sent north for a chance at Capalaba Cup glory and has raced down the straight 366 metre track three times in the past week, including a runner-up finish to Unleash Collinda in heat three of the Cup on Sunday.
He will start from box seven in Sunday’s $40,000 to the winner Final.
“In the grand scheme of things, Chunk isn’t far off Unleash Collinda, Sacred Stance, or any of them,” Goodwin said.
“He’s drawn perfectly in the Final, wide boxes are his go.
“He’s a brilliant straight tracker on the drag lure, which is why after his Healesville run we got him straight up here for as many looks at the track as possible.
“I was a bit harsh on him last week, I think the third run in seven days took its toll.
“But, he has come through it well and was running around like a baby this morning.
“I’ll give him a freshen up this week, a gallop on my track on Thursday and that will do until Sunday.
“I think the dog is an undeniable chance because he’s shown he can run the same times as some of the others.”
Goodwin, who won the rich Masters Meteor with Angry Blizzard on Million Dollar Chase night earlier this year, is a regular at Queensland meetings and is happy to make the four-and-a-half hour drive from Kempsey to place his dogs.
“It’s basically the same distance to Wentworth Park,” he said.
Goodwin said he would look to get Rothwell Chunk to Albion Park following the Cup series to contest some fifth grade events.
Rothwell Chunk is set to take on a crack field in the $60,000 Group 3, including local hopes Horchata in box two, Milligan in box three, Beck And Call in box four, Tira Mira in box six and Ferocity in box eight.
Sacred Stance has drawn the inside, while Unleash Collinda will exit box five.
Black Comanche and Other Chance are first and second reserve respectively.