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Regular Goulburn visitor Jason Coyle heads to the tablelands track on Friday looking for an improved result with his mare Lightning Nic.

In a week with plenty of provincial options, Coyle looks to have pulled the right rein with his Nicconi offspring, placing her back in grade and up to a preferred trip all in one acceptance.

Jess Taylor guides Lightning Nic to victory at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

Despite finishing eighth at her last outing, a Benchmark 80 at Randwick over 1400m, her trainer believes the run was better than it looks on paper.

“I thought it was a really nice effort over the 1400m; she is looking for the mile and will appreciate that trip tomorrow at Goulburn,” Coyle said.

Lightning Nic, who will tackle a Benchmark 68 rated race over 1600m, has been to Goulburn twice previously.

On her first visit in September last year she was minor placed behind the subsequent Country Championships runner-up Don’t Give A Damn. She returned a few months later and chased home the consistent Salesman over a mile in the Fred Cooper Cup.

As luck would have it, Salesman is also in the same race on Friday with Lightning Nic meeting the gelding 3kg better than the last time they met at Goulburn.

Coyle believes the mare is progressing well enough after four runs this campaign to go one better this time around: “I hope so! She gets into the race really well at the weights.”

Lightning Nic has proved herself a genuine mile type and looks close to securing an improved result at Goulburn after tackling city contests at her last three outings. Her run-on style and the spacious tablelands track should see her get plenty of opportunity late in the race.

Lightning Nic will be ridden by Jess Taylor who also pilots Coyle’s two debutantes at the Goulburn meeting, Whykani and Rancho Notorious. Coyle also has Your Witness engaged in the last on the card.

Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Good 4 which Coyle thinks should be around where Lightning Nic needs it: “She probably appreciates the edge off the track, but so as long as it is not too hard, she should be fine.”

Coyle will be looking to kick off the new season in the same style as he finished the last, the stable cheering home seven winners for the month of July.

Goulburn’s race meeting on Friday is their first of the new season with the tablelands track set for a busy month with three meetings slated for August. Goulburn’s eight-race card kicks off at midday on Friday.

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