LATE last month leading country trainer, Greg Bennett, brought two horses to Port Macquarie from his Scone stable and finished second in their respective races.
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It was the first time the stable had started horses here for a number of years but Bennett was so impressed with the improvement to the track he promised he would be back.
True to his word the stable will have another two runners at today’s meeting - Howdiddydoit (Robert Thompson) in the Master Builders Association Hasting Hcp (1206m) and the impeccably bred Hamel (Alison Threadwell) in the BDM Constructions Benchmark 65 (1506m).
“The track is really good now and with the new Hunter Expressway plus the expressway from Raymond Terrace it is not a hard drive,” Bennett said.
“I will not be afraid to take horses there when I find races that suit.
“Howddiddydoit has a lot of weight but he will run a brave race and Robert Thompson has stuck with him after his first-up fifth at Rosehill.
“Hamel is back to his right grade after running ninth in the Muswellbrook Cup. Alison Threadwell rode him in the Cup and she stays on him.
Howdiddydoit was having his first start for Bennett when he ran fifth over 1100 metres at Rosehill on October 25.
Hamel faces a tough task today against the Tas Morton trained Another Charger, having his second run back after resuming for a third at Taree over 1250 metres.
The step up to 1506 metres is much more to his liking.
Another Charger is the winner of five races and last preparation ran two fourths at Warwick Farm against harder company than this.
Originally Morton intended to start Another Charger in the Muswellbrook Cup but he suffered a slight setback and that plan was abandoned.
“He will go back to Sydney after this race,” Morton said.
Meanwhile Morton’s pocket rocket, Nuclear Class, is back in work and will resume in a 1000 metre race at the Villiers meeting at Randwick on December 13.
Last preparation Nuclear Class won the Hurricane Stakes (900m) at Newcastle, ran second in the Group Three Concorde (1000m) at Randwick and also had a win at Gosford and a second in Saturday company at Randwick to her credit.
“She has come back well, she didn’t grow much but she looks great,” Morton said.
Tips
1-1.00, STOWE AUSTRALIA MAIDEN, 1106m: MAGNAKALI 1, Just Like Albert 2, Sea Dream 3, Funny Name 4.
2-1.37, A W EDWARDS MAIDEN, 1106m: MAITLAND GEM 1, Snitzel’s Lass 2, Whatstheintention 3, The Lady Teases 4.
3-2.12, KENNARDS HIRE MAIDEN, 1506m: SUGGESTAPARTNER 1, Regents Park 2, Halfway To Heaven 3, What The Heck 4.
4-2.47, MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION HASTINGS HCP, 1206m: HARD MARKER 1, Howdiddydoit 2, All About Willy 3, French Command 4.
5-3.22, ONESTEEL CLASS ONE AND MAIDEN, 2012m: ALPRESTO 1, Scruff 2, Tenebrae 3, Princess De Lamour 4.
6-4.00, BDM CONSTRUCTIONS BENCHMARK 65, 1506m: ANOTHER CHARGER 1, Hamel 2, Alma Girl 3, Pradnya 4.
7-4.40, MITRE 10 BENCHMARK 55, 1006m: SPINNING GOLD 1, Rocchetta Miss 2, Whateverchic 3, Ruling Class 4.
8-5.20, TILES WITH STYLE BENCHMARK 50, 1206m: REFORMATSKY 1, Remos 2, Bridgeview Babe 3, Baby She Rocks 4.
Best Bets: Another Charger, Reformatsky.
