Sinclair’s charge Arawak paid the price for a poor barrier on the way to finishing second-last in the $16,000 Cup (1400m) on Saturday.

But earlier in the program the astute horseman enjoyed success thanks to Smart Option.

Smart Option, a son of Danbird, produced a top-draw performance to race away with the $10,000 Glen Innes Services Club Benchmark 55 Handicap (1200m).

Despite a record of one win from 20 starts going into the race, Smart Option was the subject of strong market support, sent out the $2.90 favourite.

And the money was spot on the market as jockey Darren Jones gave Smart Option a lovely ride, settling on the back of dashing front-runner Dabamirak.

Dabamirak kicked away on the turn and gave plenty of cheek, although Smart Option had the answers, getting the upper hand during the concluding stages to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.

The $5300 first-prize cheque lifted Smart Option’s career prizemoney past the $33,000 mark.

Jones completed a winning double later in the program thanks to Better Future, prepared at Tamworth by Luke Morgan.

Hometown trainer Paddy Cunningham dominated the Glen Innes program, training three winners and providing the trifecta in the Cup.

Fellow Moree trainer Peter Blanch’s Cup contender Double Eagle ran a game sixth, beaten 2.2 lengths by Hula Girl.

Blanch is the lone Moree trainer making the trek to Tamworth on Friday for the Country Music Cup Day meeting.

His lone runner will be the mercurial Kyogle Town, contesting the $30,000 Showcase Handicap (1200m) for the Benchmark 65 horses.

Kyogle Town is tackling the lucrative race first-up in his first appearance since running third to Omission at Warwick in May.

The son of Dream Ballad, who earned a cult following across parts of Australia when he won his first five starts back in 2013, has found life tougher since and last tasted victory on his home track in September 2015.

Apprentice jockey Jackson Murphy takes the ride aboard Kyogle Town from barrier 10 and claims 2kg in the race, which doubles as the final event on a bumper eight-race card in the country music capital.

The race is being run at 6.25pm.