Prentice eyes Cup victory

South West harness trainer-driver Justin Prentice will look to claim his first Group 2 $50,000 Bunbury Cup MS Pace (2569m) when Donaldson Park hosts one of its biggest race nights of the year tomorrow.

Both Bettor Reward ($11) and Natural Disaster ($5) will feature in the big race, with Prentice to drive the latter, while Gary Hall Jnr will drive Bettor Reward.

“I think they are both up for it,” Prentice said.

“Natural Disaster definitely is, but he is first up from having a bit of a virus.

“He is certainly capable.”

Prentice said he had never won the cup and it was a race that “would be nice to win”.

“The trainers’ premiership is something I wanted to accomplish and now the Bunbury Cup as well,” he said.

Nautral Disaster is set to start as the favourite, having won on three of his past four starts.

Last season the five-year-old bay gelding won eight times from 12 starts to increase his total to 10 career victories.

Both of Prentice’s horses were nominated for this year’s $1.1m TABTouch Inter-Dominion Series, but have been scratched in the past two weeks.

Prentice’s father Kim will also feature in the race, driving his five-year-old gelding Abraxas Blues ($12) from the second row.

Two-time champion Bettors Fire did not make the cut, despite having won in 2013 and 2014.

One of the main contenders will be the Kristian Hawkins-trained The Trilogy, which will start from the front row.

The New Zealand five-year-old has won just once in his last five starts, but has finished second in the other four.