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By Graeme White

There may never be another day to equal January 2018 for Coffs Harbour trainer Paul Smith, but he is hopeful he can make his presence felt with his two starters on Sunday.

Smith will saddle up last start winner Bold Contender as well as Borlotti in the Owen Larsen & Family Class 1 & Maiden (1600m).

Apprentice Jasper Franklin - has four rides at Coffs Harbour on Sunday

Smith can’t recall training a quinella in his career, but he did prepare three winners from as many starters at Coffs Harbour in January of 2018.

“They were More Thunder, Single Image and Plectrum and Raymond Spokes rode the three of them,” he said.

Spokes will be aboard Borlotti, while in-form apprentice jockey Jasper Franklin will partner Bold Contender.

Borlotti has finished third and fourth at his past two starts and his trainer feels he is the better of his two chances, but a wide draw has him cautious.

Bold Contender ran second in four consecutive starts before finally breaking through for his maiden victory at Grafton on August 30 – the same day Barlotti ran fourth.

“I think the 1600 metres is suitable for Borlotti and he is the better of my two chances, but the draw is the issue although he did jump from a wide gate last start,” he said.

“Bold Contender is dropping back from winning over 1700 metres and ideally I would have liked an 1800 metre race for him.

“He has been a slow maturing type who keeps getting better with racing. He was a bit frightened early on, very wary of everything, but I think he will make a handy stayer.”

Bold Contender is raced by Fred and Roz Xerri who at this time last year were preparing for the ride of their lives as a slot holder for The Kosciuszko.

They drew the eventual third-placed Man Of Peace and some of the prizemoney they acquired was put towards obtaining some future racing stock that is now with Smith.

The 52-year-old only has three horses racing at present – the other being recent Port Macquarie winner Northern Wilderose – in his team of nine horses in training.

From a racing family and a permanent fixture of the Coffs Harbour racing scene for many years now, Smith believes the drop back in grade provides Borlotti with the opportunity for an overdue win.

Borlotti won on debut for Smith at Grafton in April and has had 12 subsequent starts for three placings.

“He has been racing in Benchmark 58 races and also Class 2 and 3 races and this is a Class 1 and maiden,” he said. “He is due for a win and he did try really hard last start after being caught deep.

“It’s not a good draw for him again, but with luck he will be running on strongly.”

Meanwhile, Spokes will be attempting to match his feats at last month’s Coffs Harbour Cup meeting with a full book of seven rides. He will ride Borlotti over Bold Contender which he won on last time, while he has a few rides for leading trainer Brett Bellamy.

Spokes landed a winning treble at Coffs Harbour on August 5 of which two were for Bellamy.

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