PORT Macquarie trainer John Sprague is banking on last start winner Pradnya repeating the form of two years ago in making it two wins in a row at Taree Wingham Race Club's TAB meeting at Taree on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The five-year-old mare overcame a wide barrier and a torrid battle with stablemate With A Twist to score when resuming from a spell at Taree last Sunday to suggest she has returned to her good form of 2013.
On that occasion in June she scored over 1000m in the heavy at this track and then won on a soft track at home over 1006m 12 days later.
Prior to her last start win here over 1250m her previous victory was over 1500m in the heavy at Port on June 15 last year.
The step up to 1300m on Monday in the Manning River Times Benchmark 65 Handicap is within her grasp as Sprague reported "she has pulled up good since her win."
Unfortunately, Pradnya will be without three kilo claiming Wauchope apprentice jockey Jesse Graham, who rode her to win here last start because he was injured when his leg was slammed against the barriers by a horse at Cessnock on Tuesday.
But stable apprentice Gabrielle Coleman, a 1.5kg claimer, who was on runner-up With A Twist last week, also in the race, is no stranger to the mare.
"Last campaign nothing went right for Pradnya and I hope she can do what she did a couple of years ago and make it two wins in a row,'' Sprague said.
"It was a big effort by both my gallopers last week because they drew wide and took up the running."
Pradnya drops four kilos after the claim but meets a pretty handy field, many of them being aimed towards the $20,000 Wingham Cup over 1600m at this track on June 5.
Consistent Broadmeadow gelding Source Of Harmony, trained by Grant Marshall, has been no further back than third in six of its past nine starts and rates highly.
"He has to be ridden back and needs luck in the run home," Marshall said.
"He is better on soft grounds and he should get the conditions should there be rain."
Port trainer Neil Godbolt has trained 33 winners so far this season, is the leading Mid North Coast trainer from Wauchope mentor Colt Prosser on 21 wins and has consistent Hardmarker engaged.
The galloper has overcome a stone bruise,is fresh,and normally races best when resuming from a slight break.
Another Port trainer, Tas Morton, is hoping for an improved run from Star Of Legs in the race, it being formerly in the stable of suspended Luke Griffith.
"I only had it for two weeks for its last start run at Gosford and the jockey who rode it said more distance would suit and it gets it on Monday," he said.
The race is full of chances, one of them being last start winners, Gentleman Joh, trained at Broadmeadow by Allan Scorse, With A Twist and Port's Elkay Star, trained by Ronald Broomhall.
PORT Macquarie trainer Tas Morton has spent a lot of soul searching trying to get right resuming five-year-old gelding New Divide,formerly in the Sydney stable of Anthony Cummings,which is in the Taree Cup Weekend 21-23 August Class 3 Handicap over 1000m, another choice ride for Gabrielle Coleman in Monday's TAB race program at Taree.
Morton, Paul Hassab and Sid Brown bought the gelding for $10,000 from Goree Stud despite it having problems as it had won races at Gosford and on the Kensington track and would be suited to country class.
"It has had back and breathing problems but I have taken it along slowly," Morton said.
"I sent it to Scone for water walker exercise and have had a chiropractor to him.
"It is working nice and along with Nuclear Class,they are heading towards the Grafton Carnival."
John Sprague could have a good day as he has three other good chances in Cavell in the 2015-16 New Members Welcome Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1600m and resuming Rio De Janeira and last start second placegetter Zizou's Dream in the Max FM 107.3 Today's Hottest Music Maiden Handicap over 1000m.
Doug Ryan's selections:
Race 1: Rocking Horse 1, Galizia 2, Ole Sal 3.
Race 2: Bachelor Heir 1, The Past 2, Smooth Element 3.
Race 3: Testone 1, Cavell 2, Hushed Tones 3.
Race 4: Zizou's Dream 1, Rio De Janeira 2, Akamin 3.
Race 5: Tutelina 1, New Divide 2, Fun With Indy 3.
Race 6: Pradnya 1, Source Of Harmony 2, Hard Marker 3.
Race 7: Skipper 1, Deceptive 2, Anchor Chain 3.