Body Bob has eyes for Snake Gully Cup

Trainer Pat Murphy has one eye on next month’s Snake Gully Cup with in-form four-year-old Body Bob if he continues his rise at Kensington on Wednesday.

The gelding is unbeaten in three runs since arriving at Murphy’s Goulburn yard and is chasing successive city wins in the James Squire Handicap (1300m).

It was something of a surprise win at Canterbury three weeks ago, at least to punters, when Body Bob led all the way to hand Murphy his first city success and the expectation is a little higher now.

“I’m going to Sydney confident the horse can win,” he said. “They’re saying there’s a bit of rain around which he loves. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes back to back, then it will get harder to pick and choose where we go.”

Murphy showed his hand a little when he nominated Body Bob for a Benchmark 78 at Rosehill this weekend that he thinks the horse can climb a couple more rungs at least.

He was sent to Murphy by owner Alan Stephenson due to the gelding’s penchant for running off the track in Victoria, where he was trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, and he hasn’t looked back.

“Alan races a lot with Trent Busuttin, I’ve had a few that have come through the cracks,” he said. “He sent him up here to get him going the Sydney direction and it’s been the making of the horse.

“Normally, when you get them from those trainers you’re not going to improve them a lot but I think I have him at that maturity stage and he’s just a happy horse with a lot of scope.”