Six years ago when they purchased two mares with foals at foot for “something over $5000” they dreamed big…and so far the trip has been beyond expectations.

One of the foals was Get On The Grange,winner of nine races so far and just over $203,000 prizemoney.

His dam,Lea Tonde,went back to the same sire,Home On The Grange,and the full-brother,Epic Dan,has won three races.

Get On The Grange is owned by Brian Kelly,his daughter Fiona Titus and Martin Bates, whereas they also have shares in Epic Dan along with about another dozen relatives and friends.

“At the moment we are living the dream but a win in the Taree Cup would certainly be the icing on the cake,” Kelly said.

Get On The Grange was trained at Port Macquarie by Neil Godbolt early in its career with him always of the opinion that the gelding could be “a country cups” galloper.

He, unfortunately, didn’t realise that opinion as Get On The Grange was scratched at the barriers in the Port Macquarie Cup won by Taree gelding Phrases.

The Taree bred gelding’s recent form has been mapped by Wyong trainer Allan Kehoe who was in a position to race the galloper in town as in the country it was being handicapped by big weights and distance to races were a problem.

“It was an amicable decision and it has taken time for him (the galloper) to mature,” Kelly assured.

Get On The Grange has certainly struck a purple patch of form this preparation with a win at Warwick Farm over 2200m on June 29, one over the same distance at Doomben on July 9 and fourths at Canterbury and Randwick since.

The track at Randwick was “bottomless”,and a heavy 10,and it didn’t surprise connections that Get On The Grange was beaten 10 lengths by Lie Direct (osehill Saturday) carrying 5kgs less.

“He had some hard runs prior but has pulled up well.

“We have always wanted to win our hometown cup and he gets his chance.”

One thing for sure is that should there be a win it will be greeted by a solid cheer squad of locals.

Such a feat would be another feather in the cap of Danehill sire Home On The Grange,from the stud farm of Steven Fell, as he sired Island Dane,winner of the 2011 Taree Cup.

Another local galloper, primed for the cup,is six-year-old gelding Halfway To Heaven,trained by Bob Haire who is not in the best of health and has left caretaker training duties to fellow mentor Ross Stitt.

Stitt said the gelding came to him looking “well” and “worked very nicely on Tuesday.”

He said being at 2000m and back on its home track should suit the free-running gelding.

Halfway to Heaven won the Gunnedah Cup over 1600m on May 18 and its last run over 2200m at Warwick Farm on June 15 when leading most of the way on a soft 6 track.

It has since had a barrier trial at Tuncurry on July 16 for a close second to Port Macquarie galloper Fred over 850m.

Halfway To Heaven has had five starts at the track and distance for two wins and three placings and loves being up on or making the pace.

But the chances don’t rest there as city and provincial trainers have a good record in the cup,last year’s winner being from the Newcastle stable of Paul Perry with Ghost Protocol and this year he has a good hope with six-year-old gelding Quartermaster.

It has had a win up to 2125m and it should be ready to show its staying ability after a series of runs up to 1900m (5th Canterbury) in the city and at the provincials.

Newcastle trainer Kris Lees snared the cup with Slivovitz the year before and he will be hoping former USA gelding Slow Pace or Olympic Academy can win.

Slow Pace’s city form is solid without winning lately but the gelding must have done some things right as with four previous wins it has about $425,000 prizemoney.

Olympic Academy has been no further back than fifth at its past four starts in Sydney in races up to 1900m and has won up to 2400m.

Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman has Braces accepted for Sydney on Saturday and its form,including a win at this track,has been solid in town whereas Randwick trainer John Sargent’s Elusive Runner is also accepted in the same Sydney race.

Coffs Harbour mare Shadow Rein has three wins at Taree and has won two of its past five starts to be in the mix along with Egyptian Ruler from the Ken Lantry stable,it leading for most of the way in a city race last Saturday before weakening to fourth in what is a terrific but hard race to assess.

 SPEED  to burn makes for a terrific $35,000 Taree Kia Manning Lightning over 1000m at Taree on Sunday.

Muswellbrook five-year-old gelding Don’t Tease Me,also accepted for Sydney on Saturday,ran a close second to Invitations over 1000m at Randwick on August 6 for trainer Stephen Gleeson and he is trying to talk the owners into coming to Taree.

“The distance and class suits and my horse can handle all track conditions,”he said.

There will be plenty of pace on as four-year-old Taree mare Nicco’s Lass,trained by Bob Milligan,flies the starting stalls and is hard to run down.

She won four races in a row over sprint distances at Cessnock before a fourth at Coffs Harbour last start.

Taree’s $421,000 prizemoney “flash”,nine-year-old gelding Floral Insight,trained by Jim Delaney,will be having its 105th start but can add to its 21 wins,some of them in the city.

Coffs gelding Plateau Gold,trained by Jim Jarvis,won the prized Sir Jim Kirby Handicap at the Grafton Cup Carnival last month and is capable of winning this.

Others with great sprint form include Ice Bucket from the Wyong stable of Allan Kehoe and Gunnaza,trained at Coffs by Peter Roach and resuming after two wins and a second before the spell.

Race 1 1: His Spirit 1, Wollartant 2, Pinot Gris 3.

Race 2: Commandatore 1, Roses Need Rain 2, Beebeau 3.

Race 3: Longchamp Lass 1, Time For Three 2, I’m A Rebel 3.

Race 4: Rupavari 1, Solicitation 2, Jemily 3.

Race 5: Baheej 1, Mr Snowman 2, Eyezoff 3.

Race 6: Me Mongo 1, Scratch Me Lucky 2, Septimo 3.

Race 7: Get On The Grange 1, Halfway To Heaven 2, Braces 3.

Race 8: Don’t Tease Me 1,Ice Bucket 2,Nicco’s Lass 3 (if 1 scratched Plateau Gold).