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By Tony Megahey

Sapphire Coast has long been Theresa Bateup’s most productive track and when she numbers up this time of the season the tip is stay solid into Monday’s TAB meeting.

Kembla-based Bateup has eight runners throughout seven TAB races and emerging prospects in winning form or with multiple placings.

Theresa rarely misses at Sapphire Coast and the confidence is high as she again combines with regular stable rider, Kembla-based Robyn Freeman after she rode a double at Canberra on Saturday.

Mulvader (Jess Taylor) parades at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

Robyn has ridden most of the Bateup team in races or trackwork.

She won on promising Magic Alywns ($4.20 on TAB for the Duci's Merimbula & Isabella Franchi, 1200m) the previous Sapphire Coast meeting and also won a barrier trial after the last on debut runner Button Inthe Plate ($11 for the Eat Festival Merimbula Maiden Plate, 1000m).

The former, a Magic Albert four-year-old mare, progresses to the Class I

Her and Kickamushu ($1.40 favourite) are back in grade off city maidens make strong appeal.

And gelding Mulvader ($1.35 fav) in the fourth race (Bar Monti Merimbula Maiden Plate, 1600m) is coming off much stronger maidens twice at Kembla and Newcastle and fitter for racing.

“We’re coming with nice progressive team, good chances in their right races, we’ve had a lot of success here, so hopefully and Robyn is riding so well,” Theresa enthused.

In the zone Freeman, off her Canberra double, has a super strike rate for Bateup at Sapphire Coast and Moruya tracks and Magic Alwyn’s win promises better races.

“Lovely, strong mare, never easy a maiden to a class 1, she won at 1200m second-up she’ll appreciate when she gets over more ground and hoping the 1200m still isn’t a little sharp at this stage of her prep.

“But drawn in always important here and she did close strongly for the maiden win.

“Nice filly Kickamushu (Jess Taylor), back to a country maiden off Canterbury Park and Kensington Track maidens, won a Kembla barrier trial resuming, fitter for racing and she was placed this track first prep.”

In the same race, significantly stablemate Button Inthe Plate, a six-year-old debutant (Shamus Award), won a Sapphire barrier trial after the last at the previous meeting ridden by Freeman who retains the ride. Has to be a strong lead.

“Bred to improve over further but nice trial win.”

Of course celebrated locals, Joseph and Jones always content and off a TAB Highway win at Kembla with plunge runner Zouatica and Saturday’s ACT feature with Super Helpful, are always hard to beat at home.

Sapphire Coast is a Soft 6 with showers forecast under cloudy skies.

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