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Born and raised in Bowraville, jockey Raymond Spokes would love nothing better than to win Sunday's $20,000 Golden Sands Tavern Bowraville Cup aboard Briefing.
Last year he went ever so close, narrowly beaten by Instant Success on the Brett Bellamy-trained Fiori, owned in the same interests as Briefing, a full brother to Melbourne weight-for-age star, Maldivian.
Spokes is a clear leader in this season's Northern Rivers jockeys' premiership.
Coffs Harbour-based Bellamy too is looking for revenge, Fiori going on with Spokes aboard to be narrowly beaten in Bellamy's home town cup.
Briefing heads to the undulating Bowraville track for the first time Sunday over an unsuitable distance, Bellamy though believing the inside barrier and Spokes navigation a major bonus.
“The horse has just got better and better since he's been with us,” Bellamy said. “And importantly he's a happy horse, relishing his racing and work.
“I think he'll handle Bowraville.
“There's no loafing early, it's a charge to the first corner then it's every man for himself thereafter.
“Raymond knows every blade of the grass being born and bred there.
“The Bowraville Cup is one of two races he'd dearly love to win. The other is the Coffs Harbour Cup.
“We just got pipped with Fiori last year. We're not greedy, hoping to go just one better this time.
“There's nothing like winning your home town cup and after Bowraville the plan is to start over 1600m at Grafton on Grafton Cup day then the Sawtell Cup and Coffs Harbour Cup.”
Briefing, an eight-year-old by Zabeel, scored dual wins at Coffs Harbour (1509m) and Grafton (1710m) in May and was an impressive 3-¼ length last start winner over 1510m at Murwillumbah on June 27.
“He's been an under rated horse,” Bellamy maintained. “All his wins have been good, good tough wins.
“He goes to the front, they've taken him on but he's toughed it out and held them all off.
“He's going into Sunday ten foot tall and bullet proof. I'm not going to tell him otherwise.
“Raymond is of the opinion he's getting better every start.”
Briefing was purchased at a tried horse sale in Melbourne by Bellamy's long-time client, Mark Killian.
Bellamy's major concern Sunday is the state of the track.
“I don't want it too wet,” he stressed.
The Gayna Williams-trained Instant Success and jockey Marlon Dolendo are back to defend their crown and the gelding put the writing on the wall for a bold return with a last start second to rival Lots Of Success at Port Macquarie on May 30.
