They are three-year-old Port Macquarie filly Deceptive, three-year-old Coffs Harbour gelding Elite Dubleo and seven-year-old Taree gelding Cyclone Brad.

All three started their careers in promising style only to be subjected to problems which have marred their progress.

Deceptive, trained by Jenny Graham, had two wins and was only out of a place once before the filly was diagnosed with a throat problem which necessitated an operation with a vet at Coffs Harbour.

"She failed badly in a race at Port and that is when we found the wind problem," Graham said.

The filly had six months off to recuperate and at her first run back at Port she reared in the gates but showed grit to finish third. She was to run at a recent Grafton meeting but slight mucus from a nostril resulted in her being scratched.

Graham waited until this week after a track gallop to accept with her for the Benchmark 60 Handicap.

"I am happy with her."

Trainer Trevor Hardy said Elite Dubleo nearly died from an adverse reaction to a antibiotic powder the gelding was given after it contracted a lung virus.

He said he thought his galloper was promising after registering a couple of good wins early in its career but a hot day and a sixth in a race had the alarm bells ringing that something wasn't right when it resumed after the wins.

Since recuperating Hardy has taken Elite Dubleo slowly towards fitness and a jump out and a second in a Grafton trial on April 24 convinced him that the gelding was coming back to a race start.

Cyclone Brad will be having its first run for trainer Michael Byers and he is happy with the galloper's progress in 10 weeks trackwork.

The gelding had won in Brisbane and Newcastle but was sidelined for about two years with leg problems.

A hard fit galloper which will prove hard to beat is Wauchope five-year-old gelding Alpine Dragon, trained by Colt Prosser.

Alpine Dragon is a speedy customer probably better suited over just under a 1000m but recent races have him seeing out the 1000m with seconds at Taree and Newcastle and a 2.3 lengths fifth over the distance at Gosford on May 7.

On that occasion the winner was Silent Rush and also in the race and finishing more than a length behind Alpine Dragon was Broadmeadow trainer Paul Perry's Royal Flush, a rival here.

TAREE trainer Michael Byers has a strong hand with last start Port winner Groomaze in the XXXX Gold Benchmark 50 Handicap over 1250m at Sunday's Taree-Wingham races.

"She has had foot problems but is back to 100 percent fit and will have 1.5kgs off for Port apprentice jockey Andrew Adkins," Byers said.

He is riding in great form and the mare is better suited over the extra distance.

Port Macquarie five-year-old gelding Lord Zof, trained by Reginald Wilkes, is capable of also making it two wins in a row in the Prime 7 News Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1600m.

Under the guidance of Port apprentice Gabrielle Colemen, Lord Zof in winning at Port took off entering the straight in a lightning move and held on gamely to score from Port's Cavell which was backed from 10-1 to 9-2, a race rival again for Port trainer John Sprague. Wilkes scratched Lord Zof from a Grafton race last week because of the track conditions and the race was won by his son, Wayne's galloper Rinn Pierre.

"I thought I could beat Rinn Pierre as my horse, I think, has improved since the Port run," Wilkes Snr said.

Other possible winners could be Allzin, a last start winner for Wauchope trainer Graeme Hoy,over 1614m at Taree in the Wingham Beef Exports Class 2 Handicap over a more suitable 2000m and Dos Santos, which has struck a purple patch for Port trainer Neil Godbolt, in the Wingham Cup Day on 5 June Class 1 Handicap over 1000m.

Doug Ryan's selections:

Race 1: Light On Ice 1, Surfin' Safari 2, Cospy 3.

Race 2: Don't Tell Mama 1, Anarchy Rock 2, Kooroc 3.

Race 3: Allzin 1, Halfway To Heaven 2, Parchoise 3.

Race 4: Alpine Dragon 1, Deceptive 2, Elite Dubleo 3.

Race 5: Dos Santos 1, Tanzen 2, Cheljoe 3.

Race 6: Lord Zof 1, Cavell 2, Before You Think 3.

Race 7: Groomaze 1, Don't Mean Maybe 2, Curragh Cailin 3.