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By Tony Megahey

Another highly promising Neasham staying import, Kingdom of Logres ($3.20 favourite on TAB) combining with a Group-winning South African jockey attracts plenty of interest at Thursday’s Nowra TAB meeting and is a likely big firmer.

Kingdom of Logres is a valuable three-year-old (Camelot (GB)-Darting (GB)) colt resuming off two early wins and trials, destined for bigger occasions into the Superior Turf Services 1600m, BM 66.

Kingdom Of Logres (Shaun Guymer) lands the money at Bathurst. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

The galloper opened at $4.20 and will be ridden by Heavelon Van Der Hoven who won a Group One $I million race at home as an apprentice.

“We’ve always had an opinion of this colt, the early wins indicated a stayer of genuine promise - while he’ll be better over more ground, 1600m fresh off the two trials is an ideal starting point this prep,” enthused Neasham Racing Manager, Rob Archibald from Warwick Farm.

“He’s a Camelot; bred to stay and he certainly did enough in two trials to give us expectations for this grade and drawn to be forward.”

Kingdom of Logres has had just three races starts and was strong at short odds in February winning over 1610m at Orange and a more suitable 2000m at Bathurst.

The Neasham stable is usually proficient first-up and is already in the zone with exciting staying import Naval College impressive winning again at Royal Randwick last Saturday.

Into the bargain is Van Der Hoven who has ridden Kingdom of Logres in work at Warwick Farm.

Where he started his Australian campaign with Bjorn Baker and could only ride for that stable until gaining permanent resident status.

“He’s freelancing now rides, work and races for us and knows this colt.”

Of course, trials at home and at Rosehill Gardens over 800m and 1000m were far too short but naturally primers for a ‘mile’ first-up.

Meanwhile, Zouatica ($1.85 fav) from the Joseph and Jones stable appeals as the bet of the day in the HQ Insurance 1400m for in-form Shaun Guymer.

The stable is flying with recent wins at the regionals from Super Helpful, Too Sharp and Two Aye.

There are no stronger credentials at the meeting than Zouatica’s solid second to unbeaten four-race winner Sister Moon at Wagga Wagga prior to her TAB Highway win, and and Zouatica then winning by a wide margin at Queanbeyan at $1.55.

Sister Moon’s trainer Keith Dryden rates the mare, now spelling a genuine The Kosciuszko contender. And vitally with Nowra a soft 6, Zouatica is a swimmer.

His last start runaway win was on a heavy 9 and his placing to Sister Moon on a soft 6.

The three-year-old Zoustar protégé invariably leads, has barrier three at the tight and turning Shoalhaven circuit, is two wins from four starts. And at three years certainly much more to come.

At present Nowra is a soft 6 in overcast weather.

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