HORSE RACING
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Doug Ryan
THE pressure of the $400,000 Country Final of The Championships for about a dozen Mid North Coast gallopers takes centre stage in a prelude to the $100,000 qualifier at Bushland Drive Racecourse in Taree tomorrow.
Most of them are entered for the Country Championships Preview Class 4 Handicap over 1300m but others are nominated, some doubly, for the Class 2 Plate over 1400 metres.
Port Macquarie has strong nominations in Portatorio, Explosive Scene, Miss Money Talks, Dixie Lad and Shotgun Roulette.
Coming into form in the past few weeks have been Taree three-year-old filly Another Valley who has picked up three wins from its past five starts and Taree winners at its last meeting Port's Miss Money Talks and Shotgun Roulette.
Four-year-old mare Miss Money Talks, trained by Glen Hodge, came from well back to score in the last couple of rounds over 1255 metres, making it two wins and three placing's from six starts.
Owners paid $10,000 for the mare which had a throat operation before she raced.
Three-year-old filly Shotgun Roulette won at Taree in her third start, coming from the rear to win.
"That's her pattern of racing. She did the same in her trials."
"I would like her to be in The Championshiops and I am hoping that I have enough wins for her to be there."
It was a promising win as she was hampered at the start and during running.
A lot of interest is in five-year-old gelding Explosive Scene who returns from a spell after it was eighth to last year's Country Final winner Artlee and trained by Marc Quinn,
It has since run third in a barrier trial to Marmaduke's Lady and is set for The Championships after just failing to make the final last year.
There are plenty of others which could upset in the two most intriguing races on a card packed with plenty of action and excitement.
Taree Wingham can also figure with Ocean Grand, Ever So Natural, Another Valley, Marmaduke's Lady and Aim For Glory.
Kempsey is represented by Gladstone's Art's Got A Gun although a surprise could be on the cards.
Three-year-old gelding Portatorio is the boom horse in country starts having had only five starts for three wins and a second with its latest start resulting in a 2.8 length win under the guidance of Hall Of Fame jockey Robert Thompson over 1100m at Grafton.
It has had two easy wins at Taree over 1000m and 1250m and in each case has looked every bit a galloper going places.