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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Brett Dodson doesn’t know if Parksville is too brilliant to run out a strong 1410m but he does know the promising sprinter will give his Newhaven Park Northern Rivers Country Championships rivals something to catch at Grafton on Saturday.

Trainer Brett Dodson (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old has won four of his nine starts and while he has lost what Dodson thought was an edge with the transfer from a wet track at Coffs Harbour he’s had a perfect build up for the $150,000 race.

Parksville led all the way to win the Preview at Grafton over 1175m a few weeks ago and with his speed from an inside gate he’s expected to pounce on the early lead.

“Over 1400m he’d make an outside gate look like an inside gate,’’ Dodson said.

“When he was first-up in Sydney last time he drew the outside and was in front after 50m and going quick.

“He’s just as adept on top of the ground but I probably would have preferred it at home, he’s had a couple of starts there and bolted in both times.”

To be a live chance in the $500,000 Newhaven Park Country Championships Final at Royal Randwick on April 2, Parksville ($7.50 with TAB on Friday) will need to prove his strength at the 1410m at Grafton.

Dodson admits it is a query but the fact is he hasn’t been tried at it yet.

“I’ve always thought that he’d get it but until they do it you’re not 100 per cent sure,’’ he said.

“So far this preparation he hasn’t done anything wrong. His first run was super and his second was a nice win, he eased up on him the last bit and still ran nice sectional times.

“The good thing about him is he’s going to be up there making his own luck and they are going to have to run him down.”

That last start win is worth some examination.

While he found the lead easily enough, Parksville was kept company up on the speed and after he kicked away in the straight he started to run around, which he’s done before, and jockey Matt McGuren eased up on him from the 100m which made the margin flattering to the runner-up.

“Matt said he gave him a squeeze and he found and the last 100m he sat up on him, he didn’t realise the other horse was so close,’’ Dodson said.

The gelding was one of a few Country Championships aspirants to head to Grafton for a grass track gallop on Tuesday and McGuren also took him through his paces there. Dodson said the gallop topped him off.

“It was a good hit out for him, he had a good blow and that’s what he needed,’’ he said.

Dodson is enthusiastic about the lightly raced Kapsali backing up his first-up maiden win in the Blues Brews & BBQs 27 March Handicap (1410m).

Parksville wins at Grafton on January 23

The three-year-old posted his first win on the same program as Parksville and while the margin was under a length the trainer said it was like a second trial for him.

“I know it was only a maiden but he was underdone and had improvement in him, and he beat an odds on favourite,’’ he said.

“I thought he would have had enough the last 50m but he won well. It’s always hard to win a maiden then their next start but he’s a horse going forward and has to be a good chance as well.”

Kapsali has drawn ideally in five and McGuren also rides the gelding.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Country Championships meeting at Grafton