3 minute read
Local trainer Tony Ball unleashes two of his best sprinters resuming from a spell in the feature Johnson & Mongan Class 2 & Above Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1000m at Manning Valley Race Club's meeting at Taree on Monday.
They are five-year-old gelding Adamdeeant, to be ridden by apprentice jockey Madelaine Owen, and four-year-old gelding Ready To Chase in the hands of top jockey Aaron Bullock.
Both gallopers have had three jump outs in readiness for the speed battle and they will have to overcome some handy visiting sprinters.
Adamdeeant has shown a "wing on every hoof" in five wins, two of them scoring at Taree on December 19 and January 2 before being spelled whereas Ready To Chase has had one win at the distance, not at Taree, but has been placed three times at the track.
Tony Ball said Adamdeeant hadn't won first-up but had always raced better second-up: "He is full of beans and can run a good race and the track conditions won't worry him.
"Ready To Chase also likes the wet and will be on the speed," he said.
Backing up from Black Jacamar's impressive win last Taree meeting is runner-up four-year-old mare Discompose, trained at Muswellbrook by Tim McIntosh.
One to watch is resuming four-year-old mare Outreach Belle, trained on the track by Ross Stitt who had a winning double at Taree's last meeting.
Taree trainer Jim Louizos reckons Nevada Smoke is always a chance as the four-year-old mare "always tries hard".
Another exciting galloper returning from a spell is Kempsey four-year-old mare Markjievicz which had three wins in a row, one in a Highway race in Sydney, before being spelled by Kempsey trainer Barry Ratcliff when it was a good sixth in another Highway race.
The horse looks well placed to resume in the Horsepower Class 3 Handicap over 1250m with jockey Matt Bennett taking the mount.
Leading country jockey Ashley Morgan, fresh from a winning treble at Port last week which took his tally so far for the season to 110, has a top hope in four-year-=old mare L'Esperance Rock, trained at Wyong by Allan Denham. The horse was a good third behind Yorikiri at Taree on May 9.
This time it is up against some handy opposition in the Wingham Cup Friday 10 June Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1600m which could see engaged some aspirants for the $29,000 Cup at Taree.
Medowie trainer Grant Marshall has six-year-old gelding Achi Baba freshened since a good fourth last start: "He has missed some work but if he runs well he could be considered for the cup."
Port's consistent Condover Hall, trained by Neil Godbolt, is also worth consideration. The horse has won here at the distance and has been a model of consistency.
