QUIRINDI trainer Geoff O’Brien has confirmed tough mare Akauwheo will start in the 1400m Mallawa Cup at round two of bush racing’s Golden Triangle on Saturday.

The mare, a winner at Talmoi last year, has been in work for more than 12 months, and will carry 69kg in the $12,000 bush feature.

“She’s big enough and cranky enough to carry that sort of weight,” O’Brien laughed.

Akauwheo, well-known for her foibles and preferences, especially in the barriers, arrived at O’Brien’s yard early last year from Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, and has been in work ever since.

“A while back, Akauwheo was in the paddock doing nothing and the owners asked me to take her on. If she could pay her way, they said, she could stay with me forever and a day,” O’Brien said.

“She has certainly done that.”

The mare has since won four races for O’Brien and the St Aubins Scone Partnership at Talmoi, Mendooran, Quirindi and Gunnedah.

Akauwheo will be ridden on Saturday by Zara Lewis, who rode the mare to win on the Golden Triangle last year.

“Akauwheo had only won one race and was placed a handful of times down the line from 14 starts when I got her,” O’Brien said.

“She’s been good to me, though, and has been in work for about 16 months.

Quirindi trainer Geoff O’Brien at Moree races on Tuesday. O’Brien will start Akauwheo in the 1400m Mallawa Cup on Saturday.

“She never runs a bad race, and we’ve now got her worked out.

“This mare is one of those horses where the jockey has to leave her alone in the gates and let her decide when she’s going to take off.

“If she’s ridden out of the gates, she’ll latch onto the steel and get going, and won’t give at the other end.

“The trick is to ride her quietly at the start and let her wind her way into it,” O’Brien said.

The trainer has also nominated speedy veteran Redline and former Victorian Fallen for the 1000m Mallawa Bracelet.

“Old Redline will go around in the bracelet for sure and I’ll see how Fallen has pulled up after her gallop (Tuesday morning) before deciding whether she starts,” O’Brien said.

Mallawa Picnic Race Club this week received 51 nominations for the six-race card, including 10 entries in the Mallawa Cup and nine in the Mallawa Bracelet.

The meeting is again strongly supported, with major sponsors including RDO Equipment Australia, B&W Rural, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Moree Irritek, Aircair Aviation,  Australian Food & Fibre, TitanAg, McGregor Gourlay and Boland Petroleum back for another year.

The track has dried out nicely after 35mm of rain fell on the course proper last week.

There will be a marquee luncheon as well as the famous Moree Lions Club barbecue and live music after the races are run and won.

A coffee van will be on-site throughout the day, with wood-fired pizzas available during the night function.

Online tickets to the popular meeting are available HERE.

Buses to Mallawa will also operate to and from the Royal Hotel in Moree from around 11am.

Acceptances for the meeting will be declared at 9am today.

Talmoi Picnic Race Club rounds out the Golden Triangle with six races on Saturday, June 20.

Bush Racing’s Golden Triangle

Mallawa: Saturday, June 6. Updates at Mallawa Facebook Page

Online tickets for Mallawa: Mallawa Picnic Races TIX

Talmoi: Saturday, June 20. Updates at Talmoi Facebook Page

Online tickets for Talmoi: Talmoi Picnic Races TIX