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The Nowra TAB meeting on Tuesday sees the combination of Kembla strike trainer Theresa Bateup and rising Tumbarumba apprentice Molly Bourke provide a compelling punting push at value with speedster Maddison’s Missile ($4 on TAB).
The four-year-old mare was dominant winning for them on a heavy 8 at Wagga Wagga (1000m) recently and races on a heavy 10 and the same weight, 56kg after Molly's 2.5kg claim into a Kel Campbell Fuel Haulage Class 3, 1000m flyer.
Maddison's Missile is drawn to lead on the tight Shoalhaven track. Ironically, the topweight Cotton Fields (60kg - $4.20) is trained by Doug Gorrel and Molly is now indentured to him at Canberra.
"Molly [pictured left] will probably beat me at the weights, I also had Cotton Fields nominated for Warwick Farm (Wednesday).
"Theresa gives Molly regular opportunities, she rated her mare a treat winning at Wagga and booked her early," Doug said. "Molly's a natural lightweight, lovely balance, horses travel for her.
"She loves what she does, the affinity is there from riding I reckon since she could walk on the family farm at Tumbarumba."
Molly was initially apprenticed to Riverina veteran George Dimitropolous with a small team, but she moved to the ACT for more opportunities.
Molly has rapidly reduced her claim with 22 regional winners. And at Nowra, aside from Maddison's Missile, Molly offers value with rides for Jason Coyle and Greg Stephens.
Molly is emerging after the Covid restrictions delayed her initial season.
Meanwhile, Cotton Fields has solid Doomben and Sunshine Coast form, previously was with the Vandyke stables. Doug' s father Graham was a long time editor and racing writer for the Wagga Wagga Daily Advertiser and still races horses with Doug.
If Theresa Bateup is outnumbered by profile Sydney stables she rarely misses at Nowra and Maddison's Missile is perfectly placed from barrier four attempting her fourth win up in grade from just 16 starts.
Numerous Sydney stables provide the Shoalhaven meeting with depth on a heavy 10 in overcast conditions.
