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Hawkesbury co-trainers Mitchell and Desiree Kearney are content to “fish in the shallows” – at least for now - with first-upper Spin Bowles on their home track on Thursday.

The Kearneys initially intended to tackle a midweek race at Warwick Farm today, but changed tack with the former Victorian and instead will start the gelding in the T & L Fowler Concreting Class 2 Handicap (1000m).

Josh Parr, successful on Spin Bowles at Gosford on May 31 when he broke through for his first win before going for a break, will reunite with him.

“We nominated Spin Bowles for the 1100m Benchmark 70 Handicap at Warwick Farm today, thinking it might be a nice race to kick off a new preparation with him,” Mitch Kearney explained this morning.

“But it came up like a Saturday class race, so we chose to wait for Hawkesbury tomorrow.

“Spin Bowles went to the paddock for seven weeks after his Gosford win, and we have taken him along slowly since returning to the stables.

“He has come back a stronger horse, and trialled well at Warwick Farm recently.

“The rails alley tomorrow is a bonus, and we do feel he has the ability to make the grade to at least midweek company in town.”

A lightly-raced five-year-old by triple Group 1 winner Le Romain’s sire Hard Spun from four-times Melbourne winner Raven Protector, the Kearneys recommended to their main client Peter Knight to buy him after he had raced five times in Victoria for two placings on the Pakenham synthetic track.

Understandably, they were delighted when Spin Bowles shed his maiden status at Gosford after four minor placings (three of them at Hawkesbury) from seven starts since joining their team.

Spin Bowles drew attention to his first-up prospects when third (not being pushed out and beaten just over a length) to Super Ex and Miss Que (both city winners) in a 794m barrier trial at Warwick Farm on September 7.

The Kearneys’ second Hawkesbury representative is Artesano, another ex-Victorian who makes his NSW debut in the Industrial Workwear & Safety Benchmark 64 Handicap (2100m).

Apprentice Robbie Dolan’s 3kg claim will lessen the former Darren Weir-trained gelding’s weight to 52kg (2kg below the minimum), and his new trainers have put a lugging bit and tongue tie on him.

Artesano has been placed at three of his last four starts, the most recent when third (beaten just under a length) with 58kg in a Wangaratta Benchmark 58 Handicap (2000m) on September 3.

“Desiree bought him for Peter (Knight) at a spring sale just after that race,” Kearney said.

Mature apprentice Rebeka Prest, striving to make a name for herself in the metropolitan area, is chasing a Hawkesbury breakthrough tomorrow.

Now on loan to Matthew Smith at Warwick Farm from former Sydney trainer Tim Donnelly, based at

Wagga, former approved rider Prest is in winning touch.

She has already ridden seven winners this season, including Sweetest Eyes (Newcastle last Saturday) and Boom Queen (Taree the following day) for her new boss.

Prest rides Kaffka (1100m Griffin Air Conditioning Maiden Plate) and American Salute (in Spin Bowles’ race), as well as Prima Stella for fellow Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman in the Redbank North Richmond Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).

Both Smith horses are resuming. “Kaffka is one-dimensional but has a chance in a small field whilst American Salute hasn’t raced for nearly a year and returns as a gelding,” Smith said.

“He has ability but is stepping up from country to provincial company. He has been working well and will go back from his outside draw.”

Smith has high praise for his new apprentice, who joined him about six weeks ago. “Rebeka is a great girl, has a terrific work ethic and is going well,” he said. “She is very focused on her career, and decided to come to Sydney to try to better herself.”

Smith’s other Hawkesbury runners are His Kingdom (Tye Angland) and Lashes (Andrew Adkins) in the Angels Florist & Richmond Residential 3YO Maiden (1000m).