TWO prospects for the $100,000 Country Championships Qualifier and the $50,000 Queen Of The North, both at Port Macquarie, could fight out a feature at Taree Wingham Race Club's seven-race TAB meeting at Bushland Drive Racecourse on Tuesday.
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They are resuming Port three-year-old filly Sixty Paces, trained by Jenny Graham and four-year-old mare Sheza Gypsy, trained at Taree by Michael Byers.
Sixty Paces won three of her last four races for Graham's daughter, apprentice jockey Melinda, but as she is sidelined the mount will go to the in-form Cessnock jockey Robert Thompson in the Manning Valley Business Chamber Class 3 Handicap over 1007m.
The trainer said Thompson would be able to judge where the filly is destined, possibly the Queen Of The North Handicap over 1200m at home on February 13 or the Country Championships Qualifier over the same distance at Port on March 6.
She feels that 1100m may be Sixty Paces best distance but Thompson should be able to shed light on whether the filly could tackle 1200m or maybe 1400m.
"I will assess her future after the races as Robert can test her out."
The filly had a slight let-up after scoring her third win over 1100m at Port on November 25 and then won a trial over 1000m at Port on January 8.
Graham said there was also a Championship forerunner race over 1100m at Port for class four gallopers prior to the qualifier.
She said the filly, which cost $12,000 at the Scone Sales, was "lovely" to deal with and train.
Byers is predicting a better run by Sheza Gypsy after interference cost the mare momentum near the turn, she finishing third when resuming behind promising Vargo at Taree on December 21.
She had won her first two starts and found Wyong class too strong before going for a spell.
"My mare has trained on well since and she is being aimed at The Championships (in Sydney in April)," he said.
"Next start I will stretch her over more ground to see if she is on the right track."
Other hopes in the race include newcomer to the Port stable of Neil Godbolt,six-year-old gelding Forewarned,which was better over more distance for former trainer, Randwick's Anthony Cummings,but could sprint well fresh.
Another match race could result with two last start winners, Coffs Harbour four-year-old mare Just Atina, trained by Brett Dodson and seven-year-old gelding Brasileiro Macho, trained at Kempsey by Julie Lynch, in the Winning Post Function Centre Benchmark 55 over 2018m.
Just Atina scored over 2012m at Port on January 8 whereas Brasileiro Macho had a win over 1900m at Kempsey last Tuesday.
Both trainers reckon their charges have improved and they are confident their gallopers will be hard to beat.
"My horse has pulled up well and will be hard to beat," Dodson said.
"This is a perfect race for her and she is on the way up.
Lynch leases Brasileiro Macho from John Walsh and Graham McNeice of Sky Channel and the Kempsey win was its fourth but first for her.
"The horse's coat is right now and he has learnt to sprint in his races.
"He has pulled up a treat and the race is very winnable," Lynch said.
Thompson has a good book of rides and could emulate or beat his three wins at Taree's last meeting.
Doug Ryan's selections:
Race 1: Smarty Pants 1, Cream Of Oz 2, Danish Twist 3.
Race 2: Just Atina 1, Brasileiro Macho 2, Lady Scarlett 3.
Race 3 Sixty Paces 1, Sheza Gypsy 2, Forewarned 3.
Race 4: Ellacey 1, Bobby Be 2, Money Ad 3.
Race 5: Crixus 1, ickey Can Do 2, Savvy Girl 3.
Race 6: God's Gift To Women 1, Salterton 2, Delagos 3.
Race 7: Testalina 1, Fun With Indy 2, Lohgairo 3.
