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By Graeme White

Trainer Theresa Bateup will start a stable high ten horses at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday as she looks to close the season out on a winning note.

Bateup has had a sometimes frustrating past twelve months with a huge number of placings and narrow defeats, but hopes to finish off on a high.

Trainer Theresa Bateup (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“We have had some good stable horses retire and are at that stage with young ones coming through and it all takes time,” she said.

“I don’t think I have had ten starters at a meeting before and I have a few good chances and nice horses starting off.

I have a few in the same race and I’m looking forward to seeing Prized Rose start because she is the first horse I have bred along with Paul (Nottage).”

Bateup has taken out several Sapphire Coast trainers’ premiership and despite the long haul from her base it remains one of the tracks at the top of her list.

Sapphire Coast Turf Club is only six months away from its popular two day Bega Cup carnival where Bateup always has high race numbers.

With ten horses racing on Sunday, it’s a fairly major operation with an eight-horse transport truck plus a two horse float.

Throw in several hours of driving and it’s little wonder why Bateup hopes to make it all worthwhile with multiple winners.

She has high hopes for Mulvader ($3.10 fav NSW TAB) in the South Coast Timber Workers Class 1 & Maiden Plate (1600m) and Kickamushu in the Florabel Maiden Plate (1400m).

Kickamushu is the $2.30 favourite on the NSW TAB, while Bateup also has another favourite in Gunnaheadovski ($2.90) in the Hotel Australia Maiden Hcp (1200m).

“Gunnaheadovski had a pelvic injury and has a bit of class. He has only had one trial since his first start when he was a $100 chance but ran well above that to finish fourth,” she said.

“He can win on ability, but it’s a big ask after so long off but his trial was very good.

“Kickamushu is honest and has been placed at Canterbury – it’s her chance to win.”

Gunnaheadovski’s main danger could be the race fit One Smart Cookie who has finished second this campaign behind the promising Hulm.

One Smart Cookie’s trainer Paul Murray is also looking to close out the season on a high after one of his most memorable recent race wins at the Sapphire Coast earlier this year with Winning Point in the Bega Cup.

Winning Point is back in training as she heads towards The Big Dance at Randwick in November.

The feature race on Sunday is the South Coast Timber Eden Cup Benchmark 66 (1000m) where there is no end of winning chances.

The top two, Highballer and Old Gregg, are both well performed with the latter having his first start since winning at the Sapphire Coast in February.

The gelding hasn’t missed finishing in the top five at his past eight starts and while he hasn’t placed first-up in three attempts he has the class to win.

Devine Outcast won first-up and was gallant in running fifth after being in front until the 150 metres at her next start.

Sebastian’s Flyer ran an improved race to finish second at his latest start behind Tip Top Timing who has won again since at Canberra.

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Sapphire Coast meeting