Grafton trainer Andrew Parramore has had a lot of fun with Power Receiver over the years and thinks the 'old boy' is going well enough to add to his record at the Kempsey meeting on Monday.
Power Receiver turns 10 next week, but his runs so far this preparation indicate he is far from a spent force. He will be having the 104th start of his career when he lines up in Monday's Akubra Hats Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m).
The Kempsey race will also complete his eighth season of racing. The gelding goes into Monday's race with the record of 13 wins, 27 minor placings and prizemoney of just under $218,000 in a racing career which began way back in October 2010. Parramore purchased the son of Power Of Destiny for only $5500 at the Classic Yearling Sale in Sydney.
"He's been a terrific horse, year in, year out," said Parramore. "I thought about retirement for him earlier in the year, but he looked so good I thought I'd give him another prep.
"After a good break he's come back in great order and his recent runs have all been good. This will probably be his final prep, so hopefully he can notch another win or so before he does retire."
Power Receiver's 13 wins have been spread over a variety of NSW and Queensland tracks.
He has won three times at Ballina, twice at Lismore and Grafton and won other races at Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Bowraville, Kempsey and the Gold Coast. And he's won at eight different distances from 1000m to 1450m.
One of his best wins came in the 2016 John Carlton Cup (1206m) at Grafton when he scored at $31, earning himself a berth in the Ramornie Hcp six days later. He started $71 against the better sprinters in the Ramornie, finishing 12th, but was still only beaten just over five lengths.
Power Receiver returned to Grafton earlier this month for two runs during their big carnival, finishing third to King Lear and Still Undaunted in the John Carlton Cup (1206m) on July 5 and third again to Zamex and Landmarks in the Maclean Cup (1400m) on July 15.
"His last two efforts during the Grafton carnival show he's probably going as well as ever," said Parramore. "He was third to King Lear in the John Carlton and that horse came out again and won at his next start and I was also very happy with his effort in the Maclean Cup. Obviously he has to carry a bit more weight at Kempsey on Monday, but he's going well and drawn ideally (gate two)."
Parramore has booked 1.5kg-claiming apprentice Cejay Graham to partner Power Receiver who will carry 59kg after her allowance. Power Receiver's biggest threats in Monday's race look to be the Newcastle gallopers Prontissimo, from the Kris Lees stable, and the Ben Smith-trained Chilcotin.
Charge Forward filly Prontissimo won back-to-back races at Taree and Muswellbrook at the end of her preparation earlier in the year and will strip fitter in Monday's race following her first-up fifth behind Dual Escape in a F&M Benchmark 65 Hcp at Muswellbrook on July 6 when she drifted in the market from $5 to $11. Prontissimo looks one of several key runners for the Lees stable on the seven-race meeting.
The leading trainer's other runners are One Invincible Cat in the 3YO Maiden Hcp (1000m), Sunreel in the Maiden Plate (1250m), Red Lily in the Maiden Plate (1900m) and Hermosa Reward in the Benchmark 55 Hcp (1450m).
One Invincible Cat, resuming since February, proved to be something of a nightmare for punters last preparation, going down in several races as a short-priced favourite. She was narrowly beaten at Kempsey back on November 10 as the $2.15 favourite, just beaten again two starts later at Port Macquarie on January 28 as the $1.95 hot pot, then went down at her next two starts before a spell - as the $1.95 fav at Cessnock on February 5 and at Scone as $2.20 fancy on February 23.
One Invincible Cat has finished second in two recent trials at Cessnock and Newcastle and wasn't pushed out in either.
Dundeel filly Sunreel looks hard to beat in her race after her encouraging first-up second at Newcastle on July 7. Redoute's Choice filly Red Lily is coming off a last-start Port Macquarie Maiden win over 1516m and should appreciate the step up to the 1900m of Monday's race.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Kempsey here