Latest News

By Graeme White

Promising three-year-old Full Press ($4.40 on TAB) will be chasing three straight wins when he starts in the Uralla Bowling & Recreation Club/Moree Services Club Benchmark 58 (1400m) at Armidale on Tuesday.

Full Press has been a work in progress for his Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson, but his persistence and patience has paid off with wins at his past two starts at Armidale in March and April.

Full Press (Matthew Bennett) scores at Armidale. Image by Bradley Photographers

Dodson elected to give Full Press a two-week break in the paddock before returning him to training for his first start in 41 days on Tuesday.

He has bigger goals in mind for Full Press and is hopeful he can pick up from where he left off, but admitted with each wins and step up in grade it becomes tougher to keep winning.

“I have also nominated him for a Highway race in Sydney on Saturday, but it’s most likely her will run at Armidale,” Dodson said.

“He is two from two at the track over the distance he will race over on Tuesday.”

Full Press was purchased as a two-year-old when he had only been broken-in and never had a racing preparation.

It has been a slow process for the gelding who has continued to improve with maturity and Dodson is hopeful he can measure up to some better class races over winter.

“I wanted to give him a little break after his last win as I would le to nominate him for Grafton Guineas in July,” he said. “He has been a slow maturing horse who has started to grow into himself and find his legs when he gallops.

“I told the owners they would have to be patient with the horse as it would take time for him to produce his best.”

Full Press has done exactly that of late after showing some glimpses of potential in seven previous starts before winning consecutive races.

Raced by Dodson’s son Kurt and Chris Thorndike, Full Press won his maiden on a soft track then jumped to a Class 2 for his next success on a good track.

Dodson believes Full Press is best suited to a firmer surface adding that the addition of blinkers had also made the galloper more focused.

“I gave him a jump out last week and he went well so I can’t see any reason why he won run well again,” he said. “He is up in grade with 60 kilograms and against some horses that have won more races.

“It’s the most weight he has carried, but he is a big gangly horse and I think he will be alright.”

Dodson has been training long enough to know how hard it is for a horse to keep winning as they step up in grade and in the weights. Full Press, who will be ridden by Matthew Bennett from barrier eight, will carry 4.5kg more than what he did last start.

“He is most likely to settle back a bit, let him find his legs, and hopefully finish over the top of them,” he suggested. “He has always shown plenty of ability but has been like a big kid trying to find his legs.

“We just had to be patient and I’m confident he will race well after how he went in the jump out.”

The good 3 rated surface will suit Military Bay ($5.50) who has won eight times with seven on those on firm tracks. Another of the better chances, Pipe Dreams ($8.50), has drawn wide and is due for a win after two placings from five starts this campaign.

The gelding will be having his first start for new trainer Graham Payne after doing his previous racing in Victoria.

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