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By John Schell

Australian Bloodstock runner Saraya ($3.90 on TAB) is out to follow-up some strong trial form when she debuts in the John Clift Maiden Plate (1000m) at Tamworth on Tuesday.

A three-year-old filly by Headwater, Saraya will be ridden by jockey Andrew Gibbons for trainer Kris Lees, and heads into the Tamworth even on the back of two barrier trials.

“I wasn’t on her in her first trial but she ran well enough when fourth behind a handy sprinter in Spywire,” said Gibbons.

Jockey Andrew Gibbons - has two fancied rides at Tamworth on Tuesday. Image by Bradley Photographers

“In her second trial I got on her, and it was a strong performance when finishing second behind Mogul Monarch at Wyong.

“She was beaten less than two lengths and gave me a good feel.

"Then [trainer] Kim Waugh took her horse Mogul Monarch to Hawkesbury to race and it bolted in there, so the form looks pretty strong.

“The 1000m at Tamworth should suit her and she’s drawn soft in barrier two which should also assist her chances,” he said.

Gibbons will link with trainer James Ponsonby when Grenoble ($3.20) contests the Pat & Terry Burke Benchmark 66 Handicap (2100m).

“He’s had plenty of chances with two wins from 23 starts but this race should suit. He’s had three runs back from a spell and been placed in two of them, and the step up in distance should suit him.

"He’s drawn to get a good run as well,” said Gibbons.

Gibbons had two other rides at Tamworth, but the Todd Howlett-prepared Gold Sluice scored at Taree on Monday, and the Lees-prepared Exceedaqa will run at Newcastle on Thursday instead.

“It looks like I’ll be left with the two rides in the first two races, but they both look to be strong chances and it would be good to leave with a double,” Gibbons said.

Local trainer Cody Morgan will have some good chances going around at Tamworth in the shape of Turbo Charged ($6.50) in the Bob Scherf Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

He'll also have Cyclone Rupert ($4.20) in the Merv Corliss Tamworth Rush Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m) and Last Frontier ($3.40 favourite) in the Noelene Martin Class 3 Handicap (1000m), with Braith Nock riding all three.

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