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By Tony Megahey

While Kris Lees and team Messara-Gavranich have the form and numbers to dominate Sunday’s Muswellbrook ANZAC TAB meeting, Tony Ball is respected for his knack of long-priced winners travelling from his Taree stables.

Messara and Gavranich are coming off a Scone winning double in a spectacular first season combination that has produced a Group 3 winner in Genzano, while Lees has three favoured runners on a seven-race card.

Taree-based trainer Tony Ball. Image by Racenet

Veteran Tony Ball, previously a decade long Godolphin assistant foreman, has four outsiders and is renowned for getting the best out of discards.

And seven wins on Queensland provincial tracks suggest Polylithic, a Gerry Harvey bred six-year-old, is capable of getting the ball rolling at his first start for Tony at any old odds.

A short course specialist, Polylithic’s wins are from 800m to 1000m into the Lone Pine Charge, 1000m BM 84 assisted by Mollie Fitzgerald’s 2.5kg claim off 59kg.

“Genuine speed horse, worked a treat since I bought him for the right price from Mark Currie, training at Toowoomba - he can lead and just about win in this grade,” Ball enthused.

“I’d set him especially for my dad’s memorial race (Peter Ball) at Kempsey recently, but they were called off.

“No concern the wide draw (11), confident Molly can still lead. He’s well in as a seven-race winner.”

Ball is also positive Where’s Fire in the third race and Better Explain in the last will be major improvers: “Both are better than the form reads and drawn in.

“Both are back in grade, since his maiden win Where’s the Fire has had absolutely no luck, none at all, smashed in traffic at Newcastle off a tardy start.

“He’s got nice ability and his run at Gosford was good in a lot harder race. Better Explain is fitter for racing back from a tougher ‘68’ and has the speed to be on-pace.”

At present Muswellbrook is a Soft 5 under cloudy skies with some rain forecast for Saturday.

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