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By Doug Ryan

Six-year-old Port Macquarie mare Gold Rhapsody ($26 on TAB) may have been beaten into 7th place at Taree last start but the run was full of merit for a similar race at Manning Valley Race Club's TAB meeting at Taree on Tuesday.

It was a race of plenty of interferences and stewards found that trainer Margaret De Gonneville's mare suffered enough to suggest her form should be forgotten in the Iron Horse Global For Saddlecloths Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1007m.

After 500m, Gold Rhapsody was held up on the heels of Whatyoulookingat before shifting to its outside and was then unable to secure clear running until near the 150m mark. Stewards thought so much about the antics of Whatyoulookingat, beaten 12 lengths, that they dictated it must barrier trial to their satisfaction before being allowed to race again.

"Despite being badly checked, my mare fought on well, has got to be in the finish mix on Tuesday and is very honest," she said.

Ironically, the winner of the race was the unreliable Fair Dinkum, trained at Taree by Ross Stitt, it being reared until broken in as a two-year-old by De Gonneville before going to Stitt.

She has again given the mount on her galloper to Port apprentice jockey Georgina McDonnell who again is able to claim 2kgs: "Valuable as my mare is only small."

Gold Rhapsody has shown her consistency in mainly winning around 1000m three times on her home track and twice at Taree, along with four placings, from 29 starts and prizemoney of $73,220.

She is from Gold Waltz who has had four of her progeny win races. Her opposition from many districts should provide spirited opposition.

Eight-year-old Coffs Harbour mare All About Charlie ($10), trained by Brett Bellamy, three starts back was third here to handy Port galloper Buck Pharoah and since has run second at Grafton and fifth (2.7 lengths) on its home track.

Wyong trainer Kristen Buchanan has four-year-old mare Eyewitness ($3.20) coming off a win over 1000m at Port in April before a second in a Wyong barrier trial on August 2. Four-year-old mare The Night Train ($41), trained at Newcastle by Paul Perry, is resuming but three starts previously won at Taree.

Wyong trainer Kim Waugh certainly has her share of luck and is resuming with last start Muswellbrook winner three-year-old gelding Turning ($2.70 favourite) returning from the July (2.37 lengths romp) event after a third in a Scone trial.

Last season's premier country trainer, Kris Lees from Newcastle, is usually good for a win or more and he has four-year-old mare Dunara ($7) resuming in the Iron Horse Global For Silks Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1412m. The horse won over 1500m at Muswellbrook on March 4 and has run fourth in trials at Muswellbrook and Newcastle in readiness for a return to racing.

Another big watch is four-year-old mare Chase My Crown ($5.50), resuming for Taree training partnership Joel & Wayne Wilkes, in the Kennards Hire Taree Class 2 Handicap over 1257m.

The horse was third to Taree's Charmmebaby in the $150,000 MNCRA Country Championships Qualifier over 1400m at Taree on February 21 and has fresh form in what should be an exciting seven-race TAB meeting.

SELECTIONS
RACE 1: DUNARA 1, NASHIAN 2, LORD AVATAR 3.
RACE 2: APACHE JEWEL 1, GLENBURN HOTEL 2, OSO GOOD 3.
RACE 3: PLUCK 'N'TANGO 1, SQUEEAK 2, NADFARAJA 3.
RACE 4: RIVA DEL SOL 1, ZETARITA 2, ANTARCTIC PRIDE 3.
RACE 5: ENDORPHINS 1, FLUTTERSHY 2, CALAVERAS 3.
RACE 6: ROCK THE DREAM 1, SAVE YOUR KISSES 2, CHASE MY CROWN 3.
RACE 7: GOLD RHAPSODY 1, EYEWITNESS 2, ALL ABOUT CHARLIE 3.

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