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By Ray Hickson

An in depth look at the chances of every runner in Sunday's $150,000 Evergreen Turf Mid North Coast Country Championships (1200m) at Port Macquarie.

1. Sumo Fish (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Really found his feet late last preparation and picked up where he left off getting up in time to dead heat when resuming at 1106m. The way he put them away, albeit in lesser grade, around the 1250m in his two wins before a spell says he’ll relish that extra ground. He’s won three from five at this track so that’s a plus and he seems to run for Shae Wilkes. Yet to win second-up but hadn’t won fresh until last start so can’t mark him down. Drawn to get a nice run behind what should be a generous tempo and chance to have the last shot.

2. Outreach To Henry (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Two runs back since a year off the scene haven’t been what you’d want to see going into a Championships. Looked to be dropping out in the Lightning at Walcha last week then rallied a bit to finish midfield. All four wins have been at 1100m and below and he’s yet to record a placing in six starts at 1200m. Add to that a tricky gate and he’s entitled to be big odds.

3. Sixspeed (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): You’d love a wet track to allow this gelding to play to what looks like his strengths fresh at the 1200m with a heavy track win at 1400m to his name. Did win on a good track first-up last prep at Muswellbrook over 1000m and was competitive in a couple of provincial grade races at Newcastle later in the campaign. Given a decent hit out when winning a trial on his home track two weeks ago. We know he can run well fresh and his style means he will appreciate some speed on up front. Has to be considered and moreso if it rains.

Bodhi Boy (Pic: Trackside).

4. Dis Is Heaven (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Have to be forgiving of his first-up run at this track last month, he had 61kg and a wide gate and was stuck three deep throughout. At the same time he weakened late. Since then he just held Bomarea to win a trial at Taree. Has a good record at this track, his last win was over 1106m at Port back in October, and finds the leading country rider. Hasn’t ticked the 1200m box, which is a concern, but if the first-up run didn’t take too much out of him he could run a cheeky race.

5. Bjorn Ironside (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Overall record is good especially if you take out his couple of Highway failures, in two pretty strong ones, in the spring. Made light work of 62kg to win first-up at Taree, enjoying a soft run behind the speed and sprinting away. Won twice at 1200m back in June and gets the perfect gate to replicate the passage he had last time. Good each-way hope.

6. Bodhi Boy (Lyndall Olson, Taree): Unbeaten in three starts, this is the biggest test for the three-year-old but he’s looked stronger with each win. Sat outside the lead and was too tough over 1100m back on January 3 then back in trip and led all the way to an easy win. First go at the 1200m but he’s by So You Think and he has a Country Championships Final winning jockey in the saddle. It’ll be interesting to see what he does from the middle draw with so much speed engaged, if he copes he’ll be hard to beat.

7. Lensman (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Always well back in a particularly strong Highway at Randwick when resuming last month from an 11 month absence. He’ll be fitter but his best form has been over a bit further, even though he’s won at 1250m. That was on a soft 7 track. He’ll be giving them a start with the blinkers off and look to be hitting the line but a win would be a major upset.

8. Pony Soprano (Robert Agnew): Another lightly raced three-year-old with a handy record and he comes off a first-up win over this track and distance. He sat up outside the leader, served it up then prevailed in a driving finish to defy a betting drift. Tactics will be interesting, he’s drawn right near the likely leader so may have the opportunity to tag across onto the speed. Obviously more depth here but he has some upside and is worth considering.

9. Laizabout (Wayne Wilkes, Taree): Very interesting runner who has had just three starts and caught the eye with a closing third behind Bodhi Boy first-up. Pulled up sore when beaten at this trip before a spell but shapes as though 1200m will be ideal on the way he hit the line after getting right back from a wide gate. Drawn to get a smother behind the speed, another with plenty of upside, and if he gets a shot at them can be in the finish.

10. Bomarea (Marc Quinn, Port Macquarie): Clearly the highest rated horse in the race and because of that is extremely well weighted on the 55.5kg. She’s run well at Highway level, winning one of them, and she’s had a taste of open company with a second in the Kirby at Grafton behind Compelling Truth. No other runners can boast such form. She’s fast so she’ll look to get across from the wide gate and the challenge for her is to run out 1200m first-up. She is unbeaten fresh but all those wins are at 1000m. If class counts she’s the horse to beat, can’t help but think she’s going to be vulnerable late.

11. Super Impressive (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Returned to form after five unplaced efforts on end with a dead heat win (with Sumo Fish) at 1106m at this track. Led there off a wide gate so did a good job to hold on. Tried 1200m twice, in a Highway on a heavy track and when resuming last start at Inverell and didn’t fire in either. Barrier one is interesting, she could be afforded a nice sit just behind or make them work to cross her from out wide. Double figures would be her right place in the market.

12. Floss’s One (Glen Milligan): No doubt an honest mare but she’s been dealt a blow with the outside barrier (which will become 14). Stepped up to this distance in the Queen Of The North third-up and looked the winner when she hit the front in the straight only to be denied in the last few strides. They’re likely going to have to take the medicine and go back or ride for luck and look for a trail. Appears she’s good enough, will just need a decent amount of luck go her way.

Bomarea. (Pic: Steve Hart)

13. Get Some Fun (Karen Owen, Taree): Showed some promise in her first campaign winning two of her first four starts including a win over Pony Soprano over this track and distance back in October. Tracked wide and was outsped over 900m first-up at Newcastle, just working to the line okay. Previously, she’d been right on the speed in her races so expect up in distance and from a good draw for her to be more prominent. It’s just whether she’s ready for this level.

14. McKeon (Joseph Burges, Tuncurry): The draw makes her job tougher but aside from that on face value she could be a dark horse. Last win was at Newcastle back in May and she resumed with a handy effort in the Queen Of The North where she tried to make her run with the runner-up but weakened late. Fitter for that and no surprise to see her settle back and run on.

15E. Mossgiel Daisy (Matthew Robinson, Taree): Record says a wet track is what she’ll need to be effective in this race but if she happens to get one she could be a cheeky each-way chance. Far too good first-up last preparation over 1250m on a heavy track at Taree, she’s struggled to be as competitive on firmer ground with a third on a soft 6 her best result away from testing ground.

16E. Kaihoko (Colt Prosser, Wauchope): Ran up to some specking in the betting first-up at Taree when a solid third behind Zaru. That was over 1250m so he’d prefer to be going up in distance rather than back, especially given his last win was over 1600m at Moree. Will have to go back rom the wide draw and run on but imagine it’s too sharp for him.

Other emergencies: King Larry (Wayne Wilkes), Toy Story (Tony Ball), Mischievous Molly (Wayne Wilkes) and Golden Honour (Glen Milligan).

SPEED MAP: It's hard to imagine Bomarea not crossing from her wide gate and taking up the front. It's her natural style. Super Impressive kicks up and holds a spot from the inside gate with the likes of Pony Soprano, Outreach To Henry, Get Some Fun and Bjorn Ironside looking to be handy. Bodhi Boy has the speed to lead if needed but suspect he might look for a trail just off them. This should be genuinely run.

SELECTIONS:
1 SUMO FISH
6 Bodhi Boy
9 Laizabout
10 Bomarea

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Port Macquarie