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Lightly raced four-year-old Propose A Toast ($5 on TAB) couldn’t have hardly delivered a better beginning for his new training combination and is well suited to continue the trend in The TAB Federal (1200m) at Queanbeyan on Friday.
Propose A Toast has raced twice for Ron Weston and John Nisbet for a first-up second and a last start determined win in the Highway at Kembla Grange.
The gelding was formerly trained by the late popular trainer Neville Layt whose wife Barb retains a share in the progressive galloper.
Propose A Toast is one of the fancied candidates in the feature race where Canberra trainer Norm Gardner has a strong hand with Delacour ($4.60) and Cyborg ($8).
The topweight Jawwaal ($2.90 favourite) ran fifth in a Kensington Track Highway which followed an impressive trial victory, while Takissacod ($18) resumes for new trainer Donna Scott after some impressive performances last preparation.
Scott expects Takissacod to run a forward race fresh after two trials and a jump out, but her first-up form of four unplaced runs suggests she will need more distance.
"She hasn't won under less than 1400 metres and isn't fully wound up as yet," Scott said. "Generally, when you aren't a renowned first-up horse they don't come out and win fresh.
"She has had the work and trials to suggest she will be running on well at the finish."
Propose A Toast's co-trainer John Nisbet is also a little reserved regarding the 1200m for his runner after winning last start over 1400m. The galloper was formerly trained on the track by Neville Layt and has only finished second on one occasion at the course from four starts.
Nisbet, whose daughter Kayla will be aboard Propose A Toast, can't fault the galloper's work since his last start win which was the third of his 13 start career.
"The horse tries very hard and the distance may be a bit short for him, but he is going terrific," Nisbet said. "It was terrific to get that last win in a Highway, but looking at the field I think this Federal is a bit harder.
"There are some nice horses in it and I think my horse would definitely prefer a bigger track, but in saying that he was trained there for a long time."
Nisbet will be instructing his daughter to place Propose A Toast where he is comfortable and let the galloper's strong finish come to the fore when it matters. Propose A Toast was attacked from all angles when he held on to win the biggest race of his career last start.
First prizemoney of $46,400 pushed his earnings close to six figures and with his best racing still ahead of him, Propose A Toast has better things in store, according to his trainer. The chestnut was contesting Class 1 races before winning on August 28 and Nisbet feels Propose A Toast is coming into his own with maturity.
"Neville did a terrific job with the horse and we were pleased to get him to train," Nisbet said. "He has done well so far to win a Highway and I expect him to run a big race although I feel it will be harder to win than last time."
Nisbet and Weston's promising galloper Smuggler's Run – a winner of two of his three starts – has also returned to training and provides the combination with another leading chance for some better class races.
Meanwhile, Scott hopes to have Takissacod going well enough to win a Highway of her own before her racing days are over. She has races like the Wodonga Cup also in mind for the mare who last preparation took out the Corowa Cup and was placed in the Wagga edition of the Country Championships.
Scott doesn't often run horses at Queanbeyan but feels the race is an ideal starting point: "She has a high rating so finding suitable races in the country can be hard, but this one is ideal and I expect her to be finishing off hard," she said.
