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By John Schell

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in Saturday's $150,000 Newhaven Park Mid North Coast Country Championships (1400m) at Tuncurry.

1. BANTARKI (Tony Ball): Four-time winner from 15 starts and while they have all been on country tracks, he has raced well in city grade races of late when finishing just behind the placings when close-up. Has drawn a wide gate here but has Aaron Bullock to ride which is in his favour.

2. AUZSTAR (Marc Quinn): Midfield in Highway grade midway through last year then won at Taree before being spelled. Resumed with a fourth behind Bantarki at Taree in November and has since had a run in both January and February when not disgraced in either. Harder task here though and place looks best.

3. LION CLASS (Glen Milligan): Was a Kempsey and Taree winner either side of a Highway flop last preparation. Has since resumed with two runs at Gosford and Newcastle and hasn’t threatened in either of them. Would need to improve in order to be a chance here.

That's Molly (Pic: Trackside).

4. THAT’S MOLLY (Glen Milligan): Talented mare that has won five of her 17 starts and comes into this fresh having not raced since last July when winning at Coffs Harbour. She’s run well in Highway races and has had two solid trials to prepare for this. Looks to be one of the leading contenders.

5. CENOTES (Colt Prosser): Hit winning form when scoring three straight victories at Grafton, Moree and Tamworth in easier grade. Has contested three Highway events since resuming from a spell and followed a resuming 12th with a much improved third at Rosehill. Since ran well again when close-up at Rosehill and only needs to run up to those efforts to be a chance in this.

6. YOUR TEMPTATION (Wayne Wilkes): Resumes from a spell here and won two of his most recent starts before being spelled at Coffs Harbour and Newcastle. Finished fifth at Randwick before the break and place looks absolute best here.

7. HE’S A COPY BOY (Ross Stitt): Has been a bit hit and miss during his career with three wins and three third placings from 14 starts. Resumed from a spell with a second at Taree then was well down the track in Highway grade at Randwick. Would need to improve in order to be a chance of threatening these.

8. DIS IS HEAVEN (Colt Prosser): Was a Grafton winner five starts ago but form since then hasn’t been the best with four unplaced runs, albeit three of them in city grade races. Ran home well enough when midfield at this track last time out and could sneak into the placings.

9. BINKOU (Robert Agnew): Was safely held in a couple of Highway runs towards the end of his last campaign and wasn’t beaten far behind Agirlsbestfriend when finishing third at Coffs Harbour three starts before the spell. Resumed with a third at Grafton and place looks best again.

10. KAIHOKO (Colt Prosser): Won a couple on end at Grafton and Coffs Harbour at the end of last campaign and was then spelled. Has had three runs back from the break and they’ve all resulted in midfield finishes in Highway grade. Has been racing well enough to give this a shake.

11. STRATUM CHIEF (Glen Milligan): Best win to date has been in a class 2 at Taree and comes into this having missed a place in each of three latest starts either side of a spell. Would need a massive rise in form to be given any chance here.

12. TAYLA’S ONE (Glen Milligan): Was a winner at Taree back in August and then was midfield in Highway company before being spelled. Resumed from a spell with another Taree victory before failing to beat a runner home at Newcastle. Form is patchy and can only be taken on trust.

13. AGIRLSBESTFRIEND (Marc Quinn): Talented mare which is favourite for this event on the strength of some solid form. Was performing well towards the end of last campaign and since resuming she improved on her first two runs back from a spell with a couple of handy Highway runs at her past two starts. Has a powerful finish and can be expected to be hitting the line well here.

14. LOW PROFILE (Colt Prosser): Form has been consistent of late but against easier grade than what she meets in this. Most recent win was in a BM45 event and that doesn’t look good enough to be any hope here.

Agirlsbestfriend (Pic: Bradley Photos).

15E. THE COAT HANGER (Tas Morton): Has finished third in two of three runs back from a spell at Coffs Harbour and Taree. This is a step up in class and doesn’t look up to it at this stage of career.

16E. AVOID ME (Joseph Burges): Has only won the one race from 18 starts and while she was placed at this track two starts ago, she is likely to find this too tough an ask.

17E. ALL TOO ROSY (Tony Ball): Still a maiden after 17 starts and looks to be totally outclassed in this event if she manages to secure a start as an emergency.

18E. MISS CAPRICORN (Terry Evans): Only managed to break her maiden to starts ago in a Taree event and since then finished third at this track in easier grade than what this is. Looks to be aiming too high in this event.

19E. AREYA TUCHUZY (Terry Evans): Has only had the one win and two placings from his 13 starts and hasn’t threatened the placings in any of his most recent starts. Cannot entertain as a chance in a race like this.

SPEED MAP: Looks to be a solid speed with Bantarki and Stratum Chief expected to push forward from wide alleys and be tracked by Tayla’s One and Auzstar. Cenotes looks to get the run of the race on the fence, while Agirlsbestfriend and That’s Molly should settle in the second half of the field and be hitting the line well.

SELECTIONS:
4 THAT’S MOLLY
5 Cenotes
1 Bantarki
13 Agirlsbestfriend

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