The town of Kempsey on NSW’s mid north coast has been home to the Akubra Hat factory for more than half a century and continues to churn out thousands of their popular products each year.

It’s been a dream start to apprentice Mitch Stapleford’s career in the saddle and his boss Scott Singleton says it’s important to him to support the 21-year-old while he’s learning the craft.

For Mitch Beer’s speedster Hardware Lane ($6.50 on TAB), the early booking of champion James McDonald and their mateship is only part of the appeal into a TAB Highway, $100,000 Class 2, 1100m flyer on a spectacular day at the annual stand-alone Hawkesbury meeting on Saturday.

Port Macquarie trainer Denim Wynen believes her stable star Dual Escape ($9.50 on TAB) is primed for win number 11 when she lines up in the 1100m BM64 at Wyong on Thursday.