3 minute read

Riding mother of two, Alison Smith reckons it’s getting even harder to win on her home track Orange and if typically outnumbered by high profile city stables, she offers form and massive value at Friday’s TAB meeting.

Alison Smith, a two-decade training local, has four runners throughout the Orange eight-race program where Bjorn Baker, second to Chris Waller on the Metropolitan premiership and Gary Portelli have a dominant presence and even the Maher & Eustace team has a maiden entry at Orange.

"Those city stables are coming a lot more often, but with big numbers they've got to find them a run and educate them somewhere; it is getting harder for us locals - but that's racing," Alison offered.

At least Alison is favoured by home track and vital inside barriers at the tight circuit, and her lightly raced speed filly, Billabong Isle ($3.30 favourite on TAB) has put two dominant wins together.

"Up in grade but doing everything right, I ride her work; lovely progressive filly drawn inside at '1000', coming off two really good wins and ran time - so hopefully."

Billabong Isle contests the Angullong Wines BM 58, 1000m with 59kg for Kath Bell-Pitomac who rode the Mikki Isle (Jpn) protégé for a recent Dubbo double in slick time.

She'll lead again or be right on the speed. Alison has How's It Kev ($9.50) and Suomenlinna ($5.50) in respective modest maidens.

"They both ran decent placings last start and drawn in the right races to be competitive again I think.

"Soumenllina has always shown the ability to win races - still learning though."

Meanwhile, Baker's best combining with South African rider Brandon Lerena is Wolf Queen ($2 fav), coming off a dominant Gosford maiden win and progressing to a Kennard's Orange Class1, 1000m.

Presently Orange is a Good 4 in fine weather.