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Promising mare Glorious Dream ($2.60 favourite on TAB) closed out her last preparation with three wins from five starts before suffering a setback which has seen her off the scene for several months.
Canberra trainer Luke Pepper thought enough of Glorious Dream to set her for a tilt at the Country Championships before a breathing problem was noticed and surgery was needed. She resumes "a bigger mare" who is likely to need a start to regain some race fitness, according to her trainer.
"She has improvement to come and has had two jump outs in preparation for this race start," he said. "She's a monster of a mare at about 17 hands and will improve as she gets into her preparation.
"If she comes back to where she left off, she is a progressive type of horse who can keep winning - fingers crossed."
Pepper's cautious approach is well founded given she steps up in grade against some handy opposition and hasn't raced for eight months. Many of her rivals are race fit and will need to be on the heavy rated track.
The surface shouldn't present any problems to Glorious Dream who has won on a heavy track at Wagga at her final start. Her only non-winning displays at her past five starts have been two fourths for her syndicate of owners who have a lot to look forward to now she is back heading in the right direction.
Leading jockey Blaike McDougall will ride Glorious Dream from barrier seven.
"She is by Mossman and can handle the wet track. She will certainly be better second up, but it's a nice race to kick off in against some handy horses," Pepper said.
"Formeinaway ($4.40) beat one of my horses (Grand Lusitano) in March and will be hard to beat and there are others as well with form."
The race is an important time in the career of apprentice jockeys Zac Wadick (Formeinaway) and Teagan Martin (Merc). Wadick is chasing his first winner after several rides and a few placings, while Martin will be having her first race ride after completing her trial requirements.
Wadick will also ride short-priced favourite Law Party ($2 equal fav) for trainer Mark Newnham. Martin also has a capable opening career ride on Merc ($6.50) which won his latest start at Canberra and hasn't finished further back than sixth at his past six starts.
The four-year-old has also won three races in that period and is in peak form for his owners and trainers Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones.
Understandably, Pepper is cautious but also knows his mare has a touch of class: "She finished off with two super wins and if everything pans out she has some nice races ahead," he said.
"The only difference this campaign is she will race in a tongue tie because of the operation."
Pepper expects Glorious Dream to settle midfield or a little worse and be charging home at the end: "She has been away for a fair while so you never know how they will come back, but all the signs are she is right to run well and will definitely improve with the start," he suggested.
Meanwhile, Newnham will only take the two horses to Nowra and they look well placed to continue his stable's winning run. Newnham prepared eight winners in June and already has another this month with Strormborn successful at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Wadick has finished second twice in his brief riding career and has a terrific chance of breaking through with one or possibly two winners on Friday. The fledgling jockey will claim 4kg on his both his rides bringing them in with ideal weights in highly suitable races.