He said it would have been good for Mister McIlroy to try and win the back-to-back cup which is in honour of two great stalwarts of country racing from Taree and Port Macquarie.
"But unfortunately not long after his win he went through a barbed-wire fence and ripped a leg right down to the hoof. The race is still very winnable with Prima Stella which has trained on well from his Casino Cup win and is very fit," Rocky Simonetta said.
"He won at Casino with the same weight and has won with 61kgs at Mudgee on a heavy track. Even though he is small his track rider is 100kgs and he carries weight.
"He may be my second-stringer but he is good with the right ride and Jon Grisedale (jockey) knows him well."
The race is wide open for a possible upset what with gallopers from Singapore, the provincials and country being in the select field of 12.
Seven-year-old gelding Yabadadadoo won five races from 26 starts before having two starts for Newcastle's top country trainer Kris Lees, its last run resulting in being beaten just over eight lengths over 1300m at Randwick on July 31 and will have the services of top country apprentice jockey Dylan Gibbons.
Then there is former Sydney trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith, now with stables at Coffs Harbour, who is starting five-year-old gelding Invictus Felix which has won its past two starts over 1400m at Orange and 1205m at Coffs Harbour on August 5.
Resuming from three wins from its last five starts is Ready By Design, trained at Wyong by Nathan Doyle, the horse having won fresh before and has had two barrier trials.
Another who has won fresh from a spell is seven-year-old gelding Mister Smartee, trained at Port Macquarie by Tas Morton, and Editors, trained on the track by Ross Stitt for three wins and having four wins at the distance.
Morton said his galloper jarred up badly in the Walcha Cup in February and had shown great rejuvenation and aptitude for his work after a long spell at former jockey Peter Graham's local property: "He is working a treat and has been firing since the spell."
Stitt said his seven-year-old gelding is capable of being a "surprise packet" as his best form is around this time of the year and "the track is in his favour". He is also expecting good runs from last start track winner Fair Dinkum in the Professionals Harrington Benchmark 74 Handicap over 1007m and from Four Egos in the Dillon Rural Class 2 Handicap over 1412m.
Fair Dinkum, even though three-wide when scoring easily last start, will have the benefit of a 4kg claim by promising Coffs apprentice jockey Courtney Bellamy, daughter of trainer Brett Bellamy.
Whereas Four Egos can be forgiven when eighth last start when winkers were off, they are being re-applied here: "They have sharpened him up."
SELECTIONS
RACE 1: ROSHAN 1, JAZIRAT 2, ENDORPHINS 3.
RACE 2: GOOD DEED 1,RIZZUTO 2, ROCKBARTON ROMAN 3.
RACE 3: EXOLAY 1, L'ESPERANCE ROCK 2, VISCERAL 3.
RACE 4: GLENBURN HOTEL 1, CHEEKY NUGGET 2, POSEIDON 3.
RACE 5: PRINCESS OF MEYDAN 1, TRINITY MISSILE 2, THE JAGUAR 3.
RACE 6: UNDERBOSS 1, FOXY ZENIA 2, FOUR EGOS 3.
RACE 7: OSLO 1, NERETVA 2, NICCI'S SONG 3.
RACE 8: PRIMA STELLA 1, READY BY DESIGN 2, YABADABADOO 3.
