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Accomplished jockey Kody Nestor lifts the momentum of his riding comeback supported by hefty clout at Tamworth’s capacity eight-race TAB program on Tuesday.
Kody Nestor combines with long-time ally, Cody Morgan who won Sunday's Gunnedah Lightning Stakes with Ice in Vancouver, a Ryan-Alexiou dual winner, a debut runner for Kim Waugh and a Jan Bowen improving maiden.
It's shaping as Nestor's most encouraging book since he resumed riding early season after taking an extended break from a highly successful training career.
"I had success with Gerald (Ryan) way back, rode with Luke Morgan, Cody near his retirement, I ride work occasionally for Kim - I feel I'm riding well again, confidence and timing is there," Kody offered, riding at 58kg.
Cody Morgan, amidst a super season, provided Nestor with his first winner last month at Moree as he gradually built confidence riding regular trackwork and reducing his weight for more opportunities.
"I had to work on getting my confidence and timing right and my weight.
"Obviously riding in a capacity field is a lot different to trackwork," said Nestor who rode well over 400 winners before injuries and weight problems curtailed his career.
"I didn't want the pressure of riding things in the market until I was confident of doing them justice.
"Just happy to punch around some slow ones until I was where I needed to be."
Significantly, Fine Ruby ($7 on TAB) is a dual Hawkesbury winner, back in grade from there, Kembla and Newcastle, is the lone runner from Ryan and Alexiou at Rosehill.
The Rubick gelding is fitter for two runs back and primed by trials with 61kg and the rails draw for Nestor in the 2100m, Alsop Signs BM 66.
"Does look a target race, only runner, back in grade from solid provincial form and looking for a drier track. Fitter, fresh off a trial, yep has to be hard to beat."
The five-year-old gelding has won at 1800m and has solid form out to 2000m. In a moderate second-race maiden, Jan Bowen's Pep ($12) is well placed off close-up placings at Tamworth and Gunnedah.
"The thing to like about it, is it's improved every start, will appreciate out in distance if there's nothing real flash in the race."
Waugh's Riley Park ($3.60 favourite) is a 'watch' off successive Gosford trials also in a steady third race maiden.
"Kim has two in it off trials, Kris Lees one with form, so more a watch race, but the maidens from the bigger stables are always hard to beat coming up here."
Morgan's dual winner Cosmic Bullet (race 5-$8.50) is fitter for recent racing and primed by a strong fourth, ridden by Nestor at Dubbo.
"Added fitness, closed really nicely last start and in a suitable race."
Typically, Kris Lees has a strong presence with numbers and emerging gallopers throughout the program where Tamworth at present is rated a Good 4 with some showers forecast.
