ANZAC Day’s Murwillumbah Services Club Cup winner Eye Might has taken the lead in the New South Wales “top 10 horses” premiership after a hard-fought win at Ballina on Saturday.

The pool includes all the state’s picnic, country, provincial and metropolitan classifications, so his trainer Danny Bowen, who puts the polish on the old-timer down at Ballina, is mightily impressed with Eye Might’s efforts.

It was the gelding’s fourth win in six weeks, the fifth since winning at Murwillumbah on Melbourne Cup day in November.

The five-year-old brown gelding has sported silks on 58 occasions and has chalked up 10 wins, eight seconds and 11 thirds and amassed more than $60,000 in prizemoney.

Eye Might is a real iron horse – he has never, that’s right, never been sent out for a spell – he thrives on stable life. Bowen told the Daily News he rates Eye Might highly, a “real lion”.

“How can you knock him? He’s been going 60 starts without a spell and he’s loving it,” Bowen said. “Not many horses can keep going like that without having to tip them out along the way.

“You can’t disregard him, especially on a wet track when the form disappears and even horses of a better grade find it hard up against him, he’s that courageous.”

Bowen intends to start Eye Might in Sunday week’s 1800m Murwillumbah Cup Prelude, the winner of which earns automatic qualification for the $28,000 Casella Wines Murwillumbah Cup (2000m) run at the end of next month.

The 1900m Murwillumbah Cup Preview, held at Ballina in the fortnight leading up to the running of the Murwillumbah Cup, is another automatic qualifying race which Bowen is eyeing for the “Might”.

The ultimate aim would be a berth in the cup carnival’s feature event, for which Eye Might is no stranger.

Ridden by well-respected senior hoop Peter Graham in last year’s cup race, the five-year-old finished not far from the placegetters after making a lightning run out of the back straight.

Coming four and five deep on the slow track, Eye Might set sail after the leading division from his position back with the backmarkers to join the main contenders rounding the home turn.

He went motor for motor with fancied runners but their class ultimately won out on the slog down the home straight.

Eye Might finished a credible sixth of 12 runners in a race duly won by 9-4 favourite Rebounded.

Bowen points out that his horse is a year older and more mature since that run and has notched six wins and numerous placings along the way.

According to Bowen, if Eye Might managed to secure a start in this year’s big race, a wet track would see him in with a real shot of winning.

Tweed River Jockey Club officials are reminding connections nominations for the Cup Prelude meeting close on Tuesday, May 31, at 11am.