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By Greg Prichard

Local trainer Tony Ball will be represented by six horses at the Taree race meeting on Tuesday and rates Taree specialist Toy Story as his best winning chance.

Toy Story has had 16 career starts for two wins, five seconds and a third and when you narrow his record down to runs at Taree his liking for the track jumps out and hits you between the eyes.

Trainer Tony Ball

The four-year-old gelding has had three starts there for two wins and a second and the bulk of that success has been recent.

Three starts back, at his first start of this campaign, Toy Story won a Class 1 handicap over 1250 metres at home and at his last start he was second to Otium in a Benchmark 58 handicap over 1400 there.

His other Taree run came back in October, 2023, when he won a Country maiden over 1250 metres.

Toy Story was taking ground off Otium at the finish in his most recent start and Ball has kept him at the 1400 metres of the Stacks Law Firm Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap.

Apprentice jockey Leanne Boyd, who will reduce the weight Toy Story has to carry from 62 kilograms to 59 with her claim, rode him in his most recent win.

Toy Story had been dogged by wide barrier draws this campaign, but that luck has finally changed with him drawing barrier three for this event.

“He’ll still get back a bit from that draw because he’s just not showing any early speed,” Ball said.

“He just likes to plod along a bit in the run. He doesn’t like hurrying. He’s a bit like me, he just likes to relax. But he’s been finishing off well and that’s what matters most.

“He’ll probably be sixth or seventh settling down and he’s just got to get out at the right time so he can nail them, you know.

“The rail is in the true position for this meeting so that suits me with Toy Story. He can go back a bit and he’ll still be a chance.

“I’d say my best chance at the meeting is Toy Story. He’s just got to get a clean run and Leanne knows how to ride him.

“She rides him in all of his work and she was on him when he won first-up this campaign.”

Ball also has Highly Tempted in the race. The three-year-old gelding, to be ridden by apprentice Siena Grima, drew barrier 12 and would start from 10 with the emergencies out.

“He’s drawn a sticky gate, so Siena’s going to have to make a decision early on about whether to go forward or try to slot in somewhere,” Ball said. “I’ll leave that up to her.

“There’s not a lot between my two, but Toy Story looks better off from the draw.”

Ball also has two runners in the Congratulations Wilkes Racing Country Boosted Maiden Plate over 1400 metres - Scattering and Take A Break.

“Scattering’s been a bit unlucky his last two runs, when he finished second each time,” the trainer said. “It’s just his pattern of racing, getting back, but he can finish off.

“Take A Break had a hard run at his last start when he drew very wide and had to work to the front. But he still hung on for third and now he’s got barrier one.

“I like them both and if we win the race it’ll be with whichever one out of those gets the best run.”

*First race 2.10pm. Gates open 12.30pm. Full TAB and bookmaker facilities. The Turf Bistro and bar inside the Winning Post Function Centre open. General admission $10 and concession $5. See Manning Valley Race Club Facebook page for more details.

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Taree meeting