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Wyong mare Margie Bee, admonished for her tearaway tactics last start, could be the pin-up winner of the $100,000 Stacks Law Firm Taree Cup (2000m) at Manning Valley Race Club's $345,000 Showcase TAB meeting at Taree on Sunday.
She is burdened with the topweight but the Kristen Buchanan six-year-old has the "calming" hands of recently turned senior rider Mikayla Weir to give her every chance.
Margie Bee came under the scrutiny of racing stewards after she led by up to 15 lengths before weakening to third over 1900m at Rosehill on October 30, that being after she was second to Mister Smartee in the Krambach Cup over 1600m at Taree.
At Rosehill, jockey Josh Parr said that once he got to the front on Margie Bee she raced fiercely and took off, thus not responding to his efforts in the closing stages.
But given all things associated with the race, the mare's run had some merit in being beaten by Lord Armore and Mightybeel, both trained by Chris Waller. Mightybeel then went on to beat Lord Armore over 1850m at Newcastle on Saturday to frank the good form.
Buchanan is bullish about Margie Bee's chances in the cup as has dreamt of winning it for many years. Last year her Jazzland ran third (1.52 lengths) to Newcastle's Decroux, trained by Jason Deamer and ridden by Christian Reith.
The winner has since been sold and is racing in north Queensland: "I have tried a couple of times to win this cup, the mare is very genuine, tough as teak, to give me plenty of hope.
"She is not really a boy's horse (for jockey) and goes well for the girls."
Buchanan has engaged Weir as she has ridden Margie Bee on many occasions, winning on her over 1400m at Warwick Farm in January, then being aboard for seconds at the Farm over 1600m in June and at Canterbury over 1900m the same month.
In 44 starts Margie Bee has had eight wins and 14 placings for prizemoney nearing $300,000. Buchanan said her mare's "formidable cruising speed" is her galloper's positive.
But there is plenty of hope for a win coming from the opposition, some from Sydney stables and others from provincial and country yards in what should be an exciting race.
Margie Bee loves to dominate from the front whereas Taree is pinning its hopes on five-year-old mare Charmmebaby, trained by Bob Milligan and to be ridden by Grant Buckley.
Charmmebaby has a habit of being slow away in her races but has a powerful finishing burst, a racing style which at times needs plenty of luck. But the Taree mare has been a "find" of the past and present season in notching six wins and six placings from 25 starts for prizemoney of $272,065.
Most notable of her wins was in the $150,000 Mid North Coast Association qualifier for the Country Championships then running second to smart Art Cadeau in the 1400m final at Royal Randwick on April 10.
Milligan's son and Buckley believe, despite the mare only racing up to 1600m, is showing signs she will run the cup's 2000m.
"I don't think the field is overly strong and with a soft run, we believe she will finish well. She will only be beaten if she can't handle the weight over the distance," he said.
Warwick Farm trainer Richard Litt said his seven-year-old gelding Master Shuhood only needs to emulate its fourth (2.85m) in the 2100m Wyong Cup on September 3 to win. Last year's winning jockey Reith takes the mount and Litt is more confident of a win if there is rain.
The gelding has had 49 starts for six wins and 11 placings for just over $300,000 prizemoney and has a great record in big middle distance races,
Another is seven-year-old Real Time Warrior, trained at Coffs Harbour by Joanne Hardy, which comes into the race after winning over 2000m at Rosehill on November 6. She said her race jockey, Jon Grisedale, confirmed her observation that Real Time Warrior continues to thrive.
Warwick Farm trainer John Steinmetz is a former Kendall resident and has always had a dream of winning the Taree Cup, John having five-year-old gelding Microna coming into the race after an 1800m win at Hawkesbury on September 9 and another win at the track over 2100m on November 4.
Newcomer to the Taree training ranks, Mark Stewart, is excited, looking forward to seeing how much his last start 1900m Kempsey winner, five-year-old gelding Battle Guardian, has thrived since.
"The time between races has resulted in my horse's best work this preparation," he said. What is more he has on fire local apprentice jockey Georgina McDonnell riding his hope again.
"It is not the strongest field and my horse is weighted well, hopefully on a track with some rain on it."
Probably better suited on a dry track are Dunoon and Party Host, both winners over 2000m, trained by Joel and Wayne Wilkes from Taree. And despite the strong hopes outlined, there is still room for a long-priced upset!
Meanwhile, the Taree stables of Bob Milligan and his son, Glen, could be in for a good day apart from Charmmebaby being the big hope in the Stacks Law Firm Taree Cup.
They have a string of horses in other races, some last start winners, others knocking on the door after spells. They include Faatinaat, Valley's Sister, last week's winner Vicky's One, recent Kempsey winner Swamp Nation and resuming My One.
