Courtney sets sights on hometown cup with Curly James

From Popular Alm to Tailamade Lombo, to Mr Feelgood and Lochinvar Art, the Shepparton Gold Cup has been won by some of harness racing’s biggest and brightest stars. 

And now, young trainer Courtney Laker is looking to add her pride and joy, Curly James, to the race’s prestigious honour roll. 

Curly James is known for his explosive gate speed and benefits from an inside front-line draw where he can utilise his brutal early burn this Saturday night. 

“The draw is absolutely perfect… it’s the best draw we could possibly get. Especially with Max Delight, Serg Blanco and Hurricane Harley drawn out the back,” Laker said. 

“We might hold the front, but it’s David’s (Moran) choice. David is the driver, I’m just a person that cheers him on at the end of the day.” 

For 19-year-old Laker, to win a hometown Neatline Homes Shepparton Pacing Cup would be a highlight of a new and exciting career as a trainer. 

“After how much hard work, effort and time we put into these animals, to get the goals and achievement we have been working for would just be amazing,” she said. 

Curly James thrives off not racing week-to-week and was intentionally prepared for this race. 

“He really loves racing fresh,” Laker said. 

“I’ve noticed if you race week-in and week-out, he still goes well but he just can’t cop it. If we plan his races so he has a fortnight or three weeks between races, he seems to always go 10 times better. 

“It was always my plan to put him in the Shepp Cup if he was going good enough. After his last two starts he went massive, so I thought it would be the best time to give him eight days off and then bring him up slowly and get him ready for the Shepp Cup… It worked out really well as he’s vibing off the work at the moment.” 

The Shepparton Gold Cup also features New South Wales visitors Kanena Provlima and Petes Said So for husband-and-wife combination Robert and KerryAnn Morris, as well as the Brad Hewitt-trained Taipo. 

The Neatline Homes Shepparton Pacing Cup is race six on Saturday night, with the race to start at 9.07pm.