The Lismore gelding has won six of his 63 starts for Lismore trainer Daniel Bowen.

He charged home down the centre of his home track to win the recent Happy New Years Members and Guests Colts, Geldings and Entires Benchmark 58 Handicap (1205m) at Lismore.

It was his first win in eight attempts at Lismore too making it more special for Lismore-based trainer Daniel Bowen.

The six-year-old son of Casino Prince has now won $106,030 in prizemoney.

“He’s been going good this preparation,” Daniel Bowen said.

“His first run back this prep was in an open at Ballina where he drew wide and got home good.

“The next start he was three and four wide all the way. He has been hard to place since then, hard to find the right race.

“He had a big weight (at Lismore) too. That was the biggest concern but he stormed home and won well.”

Hope Island’s next run could be in Saturday’s Glen Innes Cup and then the Deepwater Cup to boot.

“I might look at the Glen Innes and Deepwater Cups with him,” he said.

“I’m not sure he’s up to the bigger cups these days and maybe races like these will suit him better.”

The $16,000 and 1400m Glen Innes Cup is run this Saturday with the $13,000 Deepwater Cup a week later and over the same distance.

Glen Innes will suit Hope Island with a long straight and uphill finish while Bowen has been to and won at dog-legged Deepwater many times.

“He’ll like the long Glen Innes straight with the uphill finish,” Bowen said.

Hope Island was one of 17 nominations for Saturday’s Glen Innes Cup and one of three last start winners.

Inverell Cup winner Try “N” Run Amuck, trained by Troy O’Neile at Tamworth, is also in the list.

He could continue a nice winning run for his trainer after O’Neile also won at Tamworth with Onemorechoice last Friday.

Redraw, trained by Glen Innes’ sole trainer, Paddy Cunningham, also won at Inverell on Cup day.

Saturday’s six-race SKY 2 meeting drew 87 nominations.