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Two local trainers are keeping an eye on the weather as they contemplate their best hopes of winning the feature Kennards Hire Taree Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1412m at Manning Valley Race Club’s TAB meeting at Taree on Monday.
In-form Bob Milligan's son, Glen, reckons recent Taree winner Texas Storm favours rain-affected ground whereas Ross Stitt prefers a firmish track for last start runner-up Editors. The Taree course is currently a Soft 6.
Both gallopers have good form in races at home and along with fellow trainer Jim Louizos with Danzibar Dancer they could fight off strong representation from the visiting gallopers.
Six-year-old gelding Texas Storm ranks highly if given a compatible track and allowed to show his sprinting power wide out. Two starts back the gelding stormed home here over 1250m to win narrowly and is better suited by the 1400m this time.
Glen believes Texas Storm's last run for seventh over 1400m at Newcastle on April 22 was better than it looked as the gelding doesn't like being hemmed in.
Punters should assess its chances on a half-length second in a Sydney Highway and being beaten less than three lengths in the $160,000 Newcastle Newmarket over 1400m.
In-form jockey Ashley Morgan, who grabbed a winning double at Narromine on Tuesday to take his tally for the season to 55.5 wins, has been snapped up for the ride on Texas Storm.
Six-year-old gelding Editors has had three of its seven wins at Taree and was beaten narrowly by 1400m distance specialist Jakuta, trained at Coffs Harbour by Brett Bellamy, at Grafton when returning from a two months break.
"Editors worked nicely on Tuesday and just needs some weight relief and a good track," Stitt said. "He thrives on racing and needs to be held up for a late dash."
Louizos was disappointed with the run of his six-year-old mare Danzibar Dancer when 10th at Newcastle on April 15 but tests proved she was dehydrated.
"She was fifth among some good horses in her previous start at Newcastle (on March 5) and has worked well since. Jayden Barrie's claim (3kgs) helps and I have decided against two other meetings to race her at home where she races well and has won," he said.
An interesting runner capable of surprising is seven-year-old gelding Achi Baba, trained at Newcastle by Grant Marshall and to be ridden by Luke Rolls, which has won twice at the distance and been runner-up at Taree.
"He is a big, strong horse and I have kept him for Taree where I hope he gets a reasonable track.
Marshall said of his charge "he is a trier", its last win being over 1200m at Quirindi in January and last run was for seventh over 1400m at Mudgee on April 4.
Regular multiple winner at Taree meetings, Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, could have a knockout galloper in three-year-old gelding Sian which won its maiden over 1300m at Hawkesbury in October and was fifth over 1200m at Newcastle on April 10.
Stitt also holds high hopes for first-starter Persian Beauty - "a big, strong filly to be ridden by Ben Looker" - in the De Bortoli Wines Maiden 1007m and last start winner at Coffs Harbour in Outreach Belle, which he bought for $1500, in the TAB.COM.AU Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1007m.
Two top hopes on an exceptional card are resuming mare Whatsin, trained by Newcastle's Kris Lees, in the XXXX Gold Class 3 Handicap over 1257m, and last start winner Oh Say, trained at Port Macquarie by Neil Godbolt, in the Iron Jack Class 1 Handicap over 1007m.
SELECTIONS
RACE 1. RAINBOW MAN 1, SARCOPHAGUS 2, WANMEI 3.
RACE 2, APACHE RED 1, SCANLAN 2, LUZ LONG 3.
RACE 3. PERSIAN BEAUTY 1, CITY KID 2, SHADES OF FRISCO 3.
RACE 4. TEXAS STORM 1, EDITORS 2, SIAN 3.
RACE 5. OH SAY 1, BLACK JACAMAR 2, SUPEREL 3.
RACE 6. SOPHIE'S LASS 1, ZAPLUCK 2, OUTREACH BELLE 3.
RACE 7. WHATSIN 1, SPIRITUAL POWER 2, BEAR THE CROWN 3.