A rare slice of history awaits the Graeme Rogerson-trained Luvuleo in tomorrow’s $120,000 Shep’s Earthmoving Repairs Wagga Gold Cup (2000m).

The four-year-old gelding and rider Peter Robl, a six-time Southern District Racing Association jockeys’ premiership winner, will be out to join the Lee Freedman-trained Abstraction and Darren Gauci as the only winners of the Albury and Wagga cups in the same year.

Abstraction took the double in 1989 when a bonus was attached for winning the two premier Riverina staying events.

Robl guided Luvuleo to an emphatic two length win in the Albury Cup (2000m) on April 11.

The 36-year-old Benalla-born rider, who enjoyed a career high winning his first Group One win aboard the Anthony Cummings-trained Dealer Principal in the Rosehill Guineas last Saturday week, remains confident the rare double is within reach.

“It would be nice to be part of history,” Robl said. “Winning the Albury and Wagga cups has always been high on my agenda of career goals.

“Winning that Group One (Rosehill Guineas) was something I’ll always remember, it was fantastic, but coming back to the area that has been so good to me over many years and winning a feature race, is always special.

“There’s extra incentive to ride big winners back in my home territory.

“Luvuleo won the Albury Cup very well, won with authority. Certainly the Wagga Cup looks to have more depth. Luvuleo has probably got to a couple of lengths but there is upside to him.

"I like the horse. Hopefully he can step up to the mark again.”

Luvuleo is by Irish stallion Galileo and owned by His Excellency Nasser Abdullah Hussain Lootah.

Robl and New Zealand-born Rogerson, have enjoyed recent success, Robl guiding the rank outsider Likefatherlikeson to an upset win in the Listed Fernhill Hcp at Randwick last Saturday.

Rogerson, a regular Murrumbidgee Turf Club carnival visitor, previously won the Wagga Cup with Call Me Lilly (James Innes) in 2002 and Kreisler Mirage (Jim Cassidy) the following year.

“I’ve had a bit of luck with ‘Rogy,’ and I know he’s been happy with Luvuleo since the Albury Cup,” Robl said. “I’ve got no doubt Bart’s (Cummings) horse God’s Hand is the one to beat.

“He’s a class act. The 2000 metres is probably the query. They would have kept him fresh with the Doncaster in mind but if he gets the trip, is the one to beat.

“The one advantage with Luvuleo is he‘ll race handy while God‘s Hand and some of the main chances get back. They‘ll have to catch him.”

God’s Hand will be ridden by Melbourne jockey James Winks.

Trainer Kevin Moses, who won the cup as a jockey aboard Antwerp (1993) for John Hawkes, will saddle up Kincharm (Glyn Schofield).

Canberra’s Barbara Joseph, who boasts cup wins with Goodwood (1999) and Sporting (2000) has Wagga Cup Prelude winner Vintage Rock (Brendan Ward) engaged.

By Tony White