TWO years ago, Ringside defied all-comers to win the 1400m Warren and Ruth Hunter Memorial Talmoi Picnic Cup, and Collarenebri trainer Kelly Smith hopes the now nine-year-old can collar the time-honoured race again on Saturday.

Ringside showed he was far from a spent force when a last-start third, beaten a length, behind Connie Greig’s stablemates Pahang and Blackhill Kitty in the recent Mallawa Cup.

The return to form is just reward for Smith’s perseverance with Ringside, which has taken a few starts to regain match fitness after suffering hoof damage more than 12 months ago.

“He broke away bad in the off-side foot, and I had all the trouble in the world getting him right again,” Smith said.

“And because I baby-sat him and spoiled him, the old bugger got so fat I started to worry about him coming back at all,” he laughed.

Collarenebri trainer Kelly Smith at last year’s Talmoi races, where Ringside finished second in the cup. Smith is confident the nine-year-old can go one better on Saturday and repeat his 2023 win.

“We’ve had so much rain out this way as well. I couldn’t gallop him, and it’s been a battle getting his fitness levels back up.”

Ringside led from a wide gate and knocked up at the Moree TAB meeting on June 3 before backing up four days later and running the race of his life at Mallawa.

“The old horse always backs up – that’s when he’s at his best,” Smith said.

“He led them up at Moree, then went to Mallawa for third, beaten a length-and-a-bit against horses that have been winning at the picnics and TAB meetings.”

“Also, he hasn’t drawn a gate this time in, and he’s a horse that likes to go forward and have his own way in front. If he can draw an inside gate at Talmoi, he’ll get that chance.”

Smith hopes jockey Ricky Blewitt can dictate terms around the tight Talmoi track – tactics that won the race two years ago.

“That’s his go, out in front,” Smith said.

Last year, Ringside finished second in the cup behind Jane Clement’s Hardyo, but hasn’t won a race since saluting in the Deepwater Cup 18 months ago.

“I just hope the old horse can hit his straps. It’s taken a long time to get him fit,” Smith said.

Kelly Smith and Zara Lewis after winning the 2023 Talmoi Cup with Ringside.

“He’s a family heirloom at our place and always will be. There aren’t too many horses that can win 10 races and run 20-odd placings.”

Stablemate Peak Road was fourth last Saturday over 1600m at Walgett, and Smith is undecided about starting at Talmoi.

“I’m still unsure about Peak Road. He started last week and I think he’s the type of horse that doesn’t back up as well as Ringside,” Smith said.

Acceptances for Talmoi close at 9am today.

Platinum sponsors for round three of bush racing’s Golden Triangle include B&W Rural Moree, Kenway and Clark, Syngenta, Black Truck and Ag, Providore Global, RDO Equipment, TTS, BMC, Australian Food and Fibre and Orica.

Gold sponsors include Agriware, Amps Ag Solutions, Beauty Matters, Boyce Chartered Accountants, Burgess Murphy Insurance Group, C&W, Elders Insurance, iOR, Jukes and Sons Tyre Service, Moree Ag Supplies and Steel, North West Gypsum and Gravel, National Ag and Power Master Batteries, Precision Aerial, Tait Auto Group and WJ’s.

Tickets are available online at Talmoi Picnic Races Tix June 21. Children under 16 are free.

Buses will leave Moree from the Royal Hotel at midday and return at 6pm and 9pm.

Talmoi Picnic Races

When: Saturday, June 21

Where: Talmoi racecourse, Garah

Time: from around midday

Tickets: Online at Talmoi Picnic Races Tix June 21.