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By Neil Evans

Kembla Grange trainer Joseph Ible is out to deliver a one-two punch in the final two races at Tuesday's Bathurst meeting.

And it could well see both runners head down a metropolitan Midway path if they salute in the Central West on another rain-struck track.

Big Apple (Louise Day; yellow) gets the better of C'mon Mate (Anna Roper) at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

Tough five-year-old Big Apple ($5 into $4.40 on TAB) returns off a 33-day break and a smart trial win at Queanbeyan to tackle the JB Civil Concreting BM 66 Handicap over 1100m on a surface likely to settle around Heavy 9 range.

A capable and underrated son of Group 1 winner and renowned wet track sire Manhattan Rain, Big Apple contested much deeper provincial and city races last prep, including running home stoutly in consecutive Midway BM 72 races at Rosehill Gardens.

He was also competitive in two BM 68 provincial affairs before being given six weeks off, then hitting the line hard in an eye-catching resumption at Moruya in BM 74 grade.

Again, Ible has freshened up his charge via a nice trial win and he looks to have found an ideal race at Bathurst to claim a fourth career win at his 25th start.

While somewhat overdue for that win, Big Apple has forged a reputation as one of the more versatile gallopers in the stable since Ible relocated from Canberra.

Then in the final race - same grade and distance in the Inland Digital BM 66 Handicap - the Ible yard saddles up talented mare Sussu ($9.50) third-up for just his 15th career start.

A strong-finishing daughter of power all-conditions sire Panzer Division, Sussu has also been very lightly raced across the first half of 2024.

She was given six weeks off after a flat effort in a stronger BM 68 at home before returning to something near her best, charging home late in this grade at Moruya to only miss by a long neck after being backed from $5.50 into $4.80.

Relishing soft and heavy tracks with a winning strike rate of nearly 30% Sussu will either be targeted for a Midway return, or an early spring country carnival feature.

Ible also has lightly raced three-year-old Sturty ($6) accepted to run in the Panorama Hotel Maiden Handicap (1200m) earlier in the meeting.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Bathurst here