Byers went into hospital on Monday to have a knee reconstruction but is confident that he will make it trackside to not only watch Sewell in the race but also apprentice Taylor Marshall who will be riding another of his gallopers, resuming eight-year-old gelding Nonino.

Who Is Game won at Muswellbrook before finding it difficult to get a run in the straight when fifth at its next start and has kept its form for the Taree Cup On 21 August Benchmark 62 Handicap over 1412m on Monday.

“She had a nice trail,was pushed back,and then only plodded to the line without being tested.

“Nonino runs well first-up from a spell and I am expecting him to run well,”said Byers.

Interesting runner is four-year-old gelding Secret Webb,to be ridden by Rachel King for Newcastle’s Paul Perry stable,it providing plenty of winners at Taree over the last couple of months.

It is resuming from a spell but last campaign it was in great form with three wins from its past five starts and is promising.

It is a pretty open race with many chances,one of them being Port grey four-year-old gelding Bazza’s Boy which was fourth in a barrier trial at Port on Wednesday for trainer Jenny Graham,she also having the first three placegetters in the trial won by handy sprinter Sixty Paces.

Aiding Bazza’s Boy is leading apprentice,in-form Samantha Clenton who is a multiple winner on the Bushland Drive track at Taree, and having another 400m in the race as against the trial..

Two Port gallopers,one a trier in placing 13 times in 23 starts,and another rescued from getting the sack,could spring surprise wins at Taree Wingham Race Club’s TAB meeting at Bushland Drive Racecourse,Taree,on Monday.

They are four-year-old gelding Banknote Beau,a most consistent placegetter without winning for trainer Marc Quinn,and eight-year-old mare Just Good,trained by John Sprague, which is aiming for two wins in a row after missing being sent to another trainer when last at Taree because the truck was full.

Banknote Beau has about $33,000 prizemoney, or the equivalent of winning four TAB races without going up a class, through its 13 placings and tackles the Prime 7 News Maiden Handicap over 1412m with top NSW apprentice jockey Samantha Clenton in the saddle for the first time.

Quinn used four kilo claiming apprentice Chloe Baker when the gelding was always just behind the leaders when third at Coffs Harbour last start and when she was unavailable he secured in-form Clenton who may just do the trick and win for Port owner Greg Anderson.

Clenton at the time of writing had 81 winners for the season,a remarkable effort for an apprentice jockey,for prizemoney of over $2.1 million,the leading jockey being senior rider Brenton Avdulla with 119 wins.

Quinn said his owner “has been very patient waiting for the win,so I hope it comes this time to end both our frustrations.”

This will be Banknote Beau’s sixth run back from a spell and with a close second and a third at its last two starts,it can win this event,in what should be its best distance this time in.

“The horse has no great turn of foot…it just grinds away,”said the trainer.

Just Good,in the Mid Coast Automotive Group Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1614m,won at its 14th start at Coffs on May 6 when ridden by Kempsey Jockey Terry Treichel and he again takes the mount after giving her an easy run in the last 100m to score with a bit in hand.

Prior to that minor shock for Sprague and Port owner Greg Middleton,the win came after she was sent to Taree,not to race,but to be taken to another trainer,that not accomplished  due to a full load.

“We thought she had no ability but the bigger track at Coffs must have suited her..so we will give her another crack,”Sprague said.

Doug Ryan's selections:

Race 1: Who Is Game 1, Secret Web 2, Bazza’s Boy 3.

Race 2: Lobban Hood 1, Sensational Song 2, Macquidez 3.

Race 3: Little Moots 1, Enigami 2, Breaking Story 3.

Race 4: Banknote Beau 1, Black Creek 2, Dancing Jill 3.

Race 5: Desmon’s Pride 1, I’ll Take Money 2, Bobby Be 3.

Race 6: Laredo Hussler 1, Shining Brooke 2, She’s Invincible 3.

Race 7 Just Good 1, Kenian 2, Talisa 3.