Bathurst trainer Mat Rue is hoping to drive Fouroeight to success on Friday night, as he looks to defend his Oberon Cup crown.
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The veteran gelding overcame a strong field to win the Shirley Turnbull Memorial on Boxing Day, before featuring in a star-studded Bendigo Cup earlier this month where he finished sixth.
While he missed out on a placing that day, Rue said it was one of his toughest ever races.
"When we took him to Bendigo for the Bendigo Cup, it was a super run, probably the hardest race he's been in throughout his career," he said.
"He probably couldn't perform any better if he tried. He ran super."
That run at Bendigo was followed up by a slight mishap, a ninth place at Menangle on January 15.
"At Menangle the other week, he had a terrible draw and I probably didn't drive him that well," Rue admitted.
"I probably drove him a bit negative, but he probably went better than what shows on paper."
Fouroeight has drawn barrier one in the second row and that's a starting position Rue that could be a bit tricky.
"It's a bit of a tricky draw, but I don't mind him drawing there," he said.
"It's a very good race. He's definitely a winning chance, but he's not going to go out there and win easy which he might do.
"It's an even field, with a few horses on their way up."