DUBLEO gelding Happy Valley served notice of a winning debut after a stunning 8.5-lens win at a set of barrier trials at Hawkesbury on Monday.
The Matthew Smith trained galloper was heavily restrained in a Randwick trial on August 13 but let rip with a comprehensive win over the 760m measured in a slick 43.86s.
Meanwhile, Dubleo stayer Double Crescent will be in action again at Newcastle at their two-day carnival in either a Benchmark 65 on Wednesday or 2300m or Thursday’s rich Group 3 Newcastle Cup over the same distance.
Granted there is a great divide between the two races but this year’s Cup has only attracted a field of 11 headed by topweight Glencadam Gold.
“It’s a very open race and based on Double Crescent’s win last start, we know he can run the trip and likes the venue,” says Vinery’s Conor Phelan.
“You dont get many chances to run for $200,000 but this is not a strong looking Newcastle Cup on paper and from gate one, he could take up a role that suits him.”
