There is a common theme with the line-up Albury trainer Mitch Beer will present at Wagga on Monday – consistent and winning horses.
Beer’s team of three would be the envy of many trainers heading into the April Fool’s Day meeting, but it could well be the region’s most progressive trainer who has the last laugh.
His representatives are all winners or been placed in most of their recent starts.
The trainer will open a potentially huge winning day with Victorian jockey Nikita Beriman and Shinseki ($3.10 on TAB fixed odds) in the Benchmark 66.
Beer relocated to Albury last year and his horses have found their mark with his stable numbers also growing to be near the largest in the region.
Winning and having consistent horses is the mantra Beer tries to adhere to.
“The move up here has been fantastic for the stable and my owners. If the horses aren’t winning they haven’t been far away and that is all you can ask for,” he said.
A case in point is Shinseki who won a Class 1 race as a 15-start maiden and has gone right on with the job. He has returned this campaign with wins at Wagga and last start at Benalla.
“The horse is flying and has come from not showing much to really going on with it since we moved to Albury,” he said.
“It was a terrific win at Benalla coming from last with 61.5 kilograms. He is a progressive staying horse who looks my best chance the way he is racing.”
Nicconi Poni ($3.30 favourite) – the horse with the rhyming name – is searching for her second win after six straight placings. Ideally drawn in barrier one, Nicconi Poni was placed at Caulfield in December and finds a suitable race, according to her trainer.
“She has a good turn of foot and it’s a drop in grade for her,” he said.
Rising eight-year-old What A Hoot ($10) hasn’t raced for several weeks and faces a strong test in the Flying (1000m).
Gundagai Snake Gully Cup winner My Maher ($7) returns in an ideal race as does Miss Liffey ($13) who has 62 kilograms. The in-form Jester Angel ($3.40 fav) and Flash Fibian ($10) add interest to the feature race.
“He has won four races since he joined our stable, but would need the track to dry out to be a good chance,’” Beer conceded.
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