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By Doug Ryan

Local trainer Tony Ball is convinced his gelding Senatorial can step up in distance and make it two wins in a row at Manning Valley Race Club’s mammoth nine-race TAB meeting at Taree on Friday.

The four-year-old gelding stormed home late to score by just under a length for 26-year-old birthday jockey Mikayla Weir over 1600m at Taree on January 13, and the 2018m of the Winning Post Function Centre Class 1 & Maiden poses no problems.

“My horse has pulled up really well and the extra distance is a nice progression,” Ball said. “He has probably done better than before he won last start.

“I have kept him relatively fresh and always thought a middle-distance would suit,” he said.

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer hasn’t given up hope that his four-year-old gelding Genghis Khan can return to the winner’s list in the race.

Since winning its maiden at the track over 1814m, the gelding has had two thirds and a second at middle-distances.

He scratched it from a race at Newcastle on Saturday to concentrate on this race which he said suits at the set weights.

“I thought I would take him back to the track he won his maiden on. He hasn’t missed a beat; all is good with him,” he said.

Deamer had two runners at Taree’s last meeting for two wins and is hoping to have one win from one starter.

Also in the mix is five-year-old mare Power To Play, trained at Wyong by former jockey Stephen 'Beaver' Schofield. She won over 1800m at Gosford four starts back in December and was beaten less than a length over 1900m in a class 1 race at Gosford on January 16.

Can punters again forgive costly conveyance Fair Dinkum, trained on the track by Ross Stitt, in the Liquor Stax Harrington Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1007m.

Stitt suggests punters “forgive his last run” when 10th, beaten 5.7 lengths, at Port Macquarie’s last meeting.

“He seems to never go well on that track and you can forget the run. He is bright as a button and the drop in weight for the three-kilo claim jockey (Kylie Wilson-Taylor) helps.”

Dangers could be two resuming gallopers in Bill ‘N’ Ted, trained at Gosford by Adam Duggan, and local On My Terms, trained by Matthew Robinson, both which have won fresh.

Gosford trainer Kristen Buchanan has been having a ball with recent winners and could get two in a row with Paavo in the Country Championships Heat at Taree 23 February Class 1 Handicap over 1412m.

The three-year-old gelding won its first race at its first start here over 1250m and she has opted for this race in being a dual acceptor.

SELECTIONS
RACE 1: Henschel 1, Great Excitement 2, Miss Fox 3.
RACE 2: Senatorial 1, Ghenghis Khan 2, Power To Play 3.
RACE 3: Hidden Hills 1, Lady Animalia 2, Sunday Special 3.
RACE 4: Toguchi 1, Hibern 2, Sapphires Son 3.
RACE 5: Paavo 1, Shirazzle 2, She’s Independent 3.
RACE 6: Fair Dinkum 1, Billy ‘N’Ted 2, On My Terms 3.
RACE 7: Blinkin Snazzy 1, My Desire 2, New Tycooon 3.
RACE 8: Gironde 1, Oakfield General 2, Boyles 3.
RACE 9: Titus 1, New Major 2, Sugarland Express 3.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Taree here