They have some top hopes at Manning Valley Race Club’s only Saturday TAB meeting, one that should lure patrons to Bushland Drive Racecourse to cheer on their local hopes in the Royal Randwick 1400m final.

The Mid North Coast is represented in the final by three-year-old gelding Victorem and four-year-old mare Shelley Beach Road.

Port Macquarie trainers Jenny Graham (Victorem) and Glen Hodge (Shelley Beach Road) will be hoping to get a slice of the record $500,000 prizemoney whereas Prosser and Stitt will be happy to do well in the local $20,000 races.

Punters will be able to back their fancies at both meetings with the bookmakers or TAB as well as enjoy a hot rod and custom car display by the Manning Valley Cruzers Group on course.

Prosser’s main hopes rest with Stop The Fight, Rocket Monkey and Haames whereas Stitt is heavily involved with Editors, I’ll Take Money, Natural Image, Miss Zodiac and Bluemoon Dream.

Editors and Rocket Monkey clash in the Saxby’s Drury Distribution Country Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1400m where Stitt’s three-year-old gelding may have the advantage of having won at the track and at the distance.

Stitt said his galloper had to be ridden upside down when the rail was out and favouring leaders last start when third here to Warwick Farm gelding Bold Dapper over 1257m.

“My horse likes to get back and finish hard…the 1400m suits better.”

He did a favour for trainer Jenny Graham by making up the numbers with Editors in Victorem’s winning trial at Port on Saturday and that run should have the gelding ready.

“He took no harm and has pulled up good,” Stitt said.

Prosser said that Rocket Monkey was left in front too early over 1400m at Armidale last start and was beaten in a photo finish by Mahboob.

Previously the four-year-old gelding won at Armidale over 1100m late January and also scored over the same distance at Port on March 11.

He has engaged Port apprentice Cejay Graham, a winner at Grafton on Tuesday, to claim and try to win its first race over the distance.

The same jockey’s claim should help the task of Prosser’s five-year-old mare Stop The Fight in the Saxby’s Bottled Water Benchmark 50 Handicap over 1250m.

Her father, Peter Graham, was on the mare when resuming over 1007m at Taree last start and he was blocked for a run at a vital stage in the straight in a race blitzed by Taree mare Lobban Hood.

“My mare is fitter, is better suited by the distance and has won at the track,” Prosser said.

Stitt has I’ll Take Money in the same race and it won at Grafton before a second to Port’s Latitude at its home track, the winner since just being beaten to frank the form.

“She is little, very fit, tries hard and will have three kilos off for Olivia Pickering,” he said.

Prosser’s three-year-old gelding Haames has had two seconds and a fourth here behind Stitt’s Leiladane since resuming from a spell and gets its chance in the

Saxby’s Diet Ginger Beer Country Maiden Plate over 1400m.

Stitt said Miss Zodiac’s run for 8th last start can be forgotten as she was posted four-wide most of the journey and would enjoy her home track in the Saxby’s Flavoured Soft Drinks Benchmark 55 Handicap over 2000m in a tough race.

Doug Ryan's selections:

Race 1: All Too Soft 1, Haames 2, Saint Denis 3.

Race 2: San D’Amour 1, Musical Family 2, Color Purple 3.

Race 3: Stop The Fight 1, I’ll Take Money 2, Mosgiel Lucy 3.

Race 4: Natural Image 1, Ten Carat 2, Rosaria Caterina 3.

Race 5: Art Attack 1, Miss Zodiac 2, Southern Delight 3.

Race 6: Editors 1, Rocket Monkey 2, Rush Of Blood 3.

Race 7: Loban Hood 1, Sniponet 2, Our Trolley Dolly.