Three-year-old gelding Laurentian, formerly trained at Warwick Farm, has only been in Sprague’s stable since being bought for $7500 about 10 weeks ago and since has posted two wins from two starts.

One win was by just over four lengths and the other by 1.5 lengths, both over 1000-metres, at Taree.

The last win for new owners Lesley and Peter White was on June 16 when again heavily backed into favouritism.

Monday’s Hydra Hose Class 2 Handicap over 1007m has twice winning Kempsey jockey Terry Treichel again in the saddle.

“This horse has surprised me big time,” Sprague said.

“It wasn’t a great deal when I got it but it is learning along the way.

“The horse is strong and has done well since its last win.

“It is always hard to win three races in a row but he keeps improving in his trackwork.”

Mrs White said after the first win it was a bit of fun, but the prizemoney and BOBS bonuses now nearing $30,000 has them racing a bargain.

It is the first Mid North Coast Racing Association meeting under the new increased prizemoney of a minimum $20,000 per TAB race and all those in the industry are welcoming the uplift.

Sprague has three other runners, Pradnya, Ibelieveinmiracles and Regal Witness at the meeting and hopes to add to his 10 wins in about as many weeks.

Six-year-old mare Pradnya is having her second run from a spell in the Eddie’s Fresh Chickens Benchmark 60 Handicap over 1412m and if she runs well she is likely to be aimed at the $50,000 Mother’s Gift over 1400m on Grafton Cup day,July 14.

The mare resumed in a 1006m race on the $3.7 million reconstructed Port Macquarie track on June 19 and although finishing last of the seven runners,there was merit in her run.

She was left flat-footed,the winner Ms Wicked Wanda clocked a sensational 58.80s,and she was making ground from well back to be only 4.6 lengths behind the winner after the last 600m was run in 34.68 on the slow 7 track.

“She made up good ground despite the winner coming home fast in the best of the day,”said Sprague.

He said she usually posts a win in her first couple of runs from a spell,likes the wet,and is better suited by Monday’s increased distance.

Five of her six wins have been on rain-affected tracks,three of them posted at Taree.

Another being aimed at possibly the $50,000 South Grafton Cup over 1600m on July 10 or another race at the carnival is seven-year-old gelding Butane,trained at Kempsey by Barry Ratcliff.

Butane won by four lengths over 1900m on his home track before striking a hard surface over the same distance at the track for a third last start and has been freshened since.

Second in Butane’s last race was Shadow Rein which has subsequently won and placed to frank the form.

Bought by Ratcliff’s wife at the Magic Millions sale,Butane has had 80 starts for 12 wins and 17 placings for prizemoney nearing $103,000 and has won at the distance.

“Port apprentice Melinda Graham will claim and I expect my horse to run well,”said Ratcliff.

Others in the mix are Port six-year-old mare Golden Melody,trained by Margaret De Gonneville,Toquay from the strong Broadmeadow stable of Paul Perry and last start Port winner Best Dressed Lady,trained on that track by Jenny Graham.

De Gonneville is also hoping for a good showing by four-year-old gelding Rangiora Gold in the MJR Accountants Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1257m after being off the scene following a throat operation.

But Sprague with Ibelieveinmiracles,not suited last start on the rain-affected Port track,and last start Taree winner three-year-old gelding Mr Bonjove,trained at Fairhall Park by Larry Fairhall,will prove hard to toss.

Sprague said Ibelieveinmiracles “hates the wet” whereas Fairhall believes Mr Bonjove’s last win at Taree showed the gelding was nearing its best,similar to what resulted in good form before a spell.

As for Sprague’s Regal Witness in the Cleaver’s Tyres Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1614m,he believes its first-up fifth could be improved upon as that was its first run since coming from Melbourne.