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By Greg Prichard

Proost ($6 on TAB) is a horse on the rise that has gobbled up the increased distances of her recent races and the four-year-old’s trainer Paul Shailer believes now is the perfect time to strike at a race like the $100,000 Stacks Law Firm Taree Gold Cup over 2000m on Sunday.

Shailer has only had the mare for four races since her owners transferred her from Queensland trainer David Vandyke and after kicking off with a third at her home track of Port Macquarie she has won successive races at Grafton, Ballina and Kempsey.

She has been going through the grades and the Taree Cup is a significant step up for her at this stage of her career, but it is all about timing and this is an opportunity for her to attack such a race while in great form but still with a low weight.

Trainer Paul Shailer - out to claim the Stacks Law Firm Taree Gold Cup. Image by Bradley Photographers

“That’s exactly the way we’re looking at it,” Shailer said. “The horses that will be the hardest to beat have been weighted accordingly.

"Proost is on the limit weight (54kg) and some of the others are giving her six, eight or even nine kilograms.

“They’re all horses we have a healthy respect for, but they wouldn’t be coming to the Taree Cup if they were going to be competitive and winning at metropolitan level so I think that sort of brings them back to the field a bit.

“The rest are weighted similar to us and I’m convinced that when I look at the field and consider her form she’s going well enough to warrant running in the race.”

Shailer explained how the horse came under his wing and what he has done to get the best out of her.

“David Vandyke had her and I think David was of the opinion she wasn’t going to make the metropolitan grade in Queensland, so the owners decided to send her to me to give her a go and it’s worked out really well,” he said.

“She turned up in great order as you would expect from the Vandyke stable - his horses always look fantastic - and she raced soon after arriving here and within a short space of time she’s had an unlucky third and then gone on a little winning streak.

“I watched her replays and I was convinced she needed further and she’s now won over 1700 metres and twice over 1900m and the way she’s been finishing off her races and winning with ease suggests she’ll have no problem getting 2000.”

Manning Valley Race Club's CEO, Jack Penfold is delighted with the acceptances for the Taree Gold Cup meeting and in particular the continued support of trainers who will be “coming from everywhere for the main race as well as plenty of other races on the card”.

Penfold said Sky Racing personalities Dave Stanley and Luke Marlow would be there to mix with the crowd on the day.

“Dave and Luke will be at the Calcutta at the Manning River Hotel on Saturday night and backing up on Sunday,” he said. “I’m sure they’ll share a beer or two with the crowd. It should be a big crowd, too.”

*Gates open 11am. Entry tickets for $10 on the Manning Valley Race Club’s Facebook site, or $15 at the gate. Food vans and full bookmaker and TAB facilities.

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