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By Greg Prichard

Port Macquarie trainer Robbie Agnew is confident everything is in place for Show ‘Em Howl to prove his Evergreen Turf Country Championships worth when he takes on a strong field at the Taree race meeting on Friday.

Show ’Em Howl, a three-year-old gelding which has only had three career starts, will contest the Sky International Championships Preview - Class 4 Handicap over 1250m against a bunch of seasoned competitors.

But Agnew is excited about Show ‘Em Howl’s prospects of being very competitive, particularly since he drew barrier one in the 14-horse field.

Anna Roper brings Show 'Em Howl back after winning at Taree

Show ‘Em Howl has had to come from well back in the field after drawing wide barriers in his two starts so far this campaign, but he still managed to win each time – in a Country Maiden at Taree and a Country Benchmark 58 at Port Macquarie.

“His maiden win was great,” Agnew said. “I thought he’d be better than them there and he was.

“Going from a maiden to a 58 and drawing badly again, I didn’t expect him to do what he did. I thought the bad draw on top of taking a step up in class would make it very hard for him.

“But he gave them a big start and won, just like when he gave them a big start in his maiden and won.

‘It’s obviously another step up again now and I’m not sure I’d be running on Friday if he drew wide. I had another race picked out at the next Taree meeting as a back-up.

"But he’s drawn the inside so we’re ready to go. You want to be very competitive against and hopefully beating the sort of horses he’ll be taking on in Friday’s race if you’re planning to run in a Country Championships heat.

“He jumps well, so he should be midfield in the run and he just needs clear running from there to be right in it. He’s rock-hard fit and he’s done everything right between runs, so there’s no excuses.”

Promising apprentice Anna Roper rode Show ’Em Howl in each of his wins, but she can’t ride him at Taree because she is riding at the Canterbury Park meeting on Friday night. But Agnew has engaged the hugely in-form Ashley Morgan instead.

Agnew already has another promising three-year-old gelding, Pony Soprano, heading towards the $150,000 Evergreen Turf MNCRA Country Championships over 1200m at Port Macquarie on February 16.

The first two placegetters in each of the seven qualifiers and the winners of the two wild card events at tracks spread throughout NSW will qualify for the $1 million Evergreen Turf Country Championships Final over 1400m at Randwick on April 5.

Agnew said the plan was for Roper to go back on-board Show ’Em Howl for the qualifier and Morgan to ride Pony Soprano, which he steered to a fighting win in a Class 1 race over 1206m at Port Macquarie last Friday.

*First race is 1.20pm and gates open midday. Full TAB and bookmaker facilities. The Turf Bistro and bar inside the Winning Post Function Centre open. General admission $10 and concession $5. See the Facebook page Manning Valley Race Club for more details.

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