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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the $150,000 Evergreen Turf WRA Country Championships (1400m) at Coonamble on Sunday.

1. Gallant Star (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Destined to start a short priced favourite as he did last year when runner-up in this race. He was only beaten narrowly after settling just off midfield. He’s developed into one of the best country trained horses in NSW as evidenced by his almost five length win in the Barn Dance back in November. He’s had trials over 860m, 1000m and 1200m leading into this and won them all so fitness shouldn’t be an issue and he has drawn a gate he can make use of. He's an easy case to make and bad luck would be his main threat.

Gallant Star (Pic: Steve Hart).

2. Stockholm (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Have to mark him disappointing first-up at Bathurst in a six horse field where he sat second and was first under pressure before conceding six lengths. There may have been an issue leading in as he was seven weeks between his trial and race. Won at 1400m and 1600m last preparation in Benchmark 58 grade but he’s very close in the weights to the much better performed top weight. Draws well and will be fitter so should improve on his first-up run.

3. Pants On Fire (Dar Lunn, Dubbo): Stable won this race last year with Elson Boy and this mare hasn’t started since finishing last in that event. Had no choice but to tackle this first-up given she’s won five races and had 20 starts so she’s trialled three times with the latest of them last Friday. No knock on the trial. She did start $41 last year and this edition isn’t any weaker at the top at least. Would be a big performance for her to fill a placing.

4. Always A Saint (Cindy Monaghan, Dubbo): Has been a successful pick up for the stable with three wins in the past 12 months at 1000m and 1100m. That’s the major query, only the one attempt at the trip and that was with the previous trainers. Rounded them up to win at Orange two starts back then up to 1200m he made some ground but was safely held beaten seven lengths. It’s hard to make a case for him to get into the placings with that distance doubt.

5. Big Shot Legend (Kieren Hazelton, Gilgandra): One run back from a spell wasn’t a great advertisement for his chances as he just battled away back in the field finishing just behind Always A Saint at Warren two weeks ago. He did win second and third-up for the stable last preparation including once at 1400m at Forbes so the distance box has been ticked. With the step up to this trip some improvement can be expected from that resumption, he’s drawn well and if he happened to finish in the top four it wouldn’t completely shock.

6. Deion (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Lightly raced and does show a good deal of potential. He’s improved with each run this preparation to run third at Dubbo a month ago under 61.5kg. Obviously this is a solid class rise for him but he ticked over well to win a trial last week and hasn’t drawn badly. First attempt at the 1400m but with the weight drop he gets the chance to run it out and a placing is within his reach.

7. Joshua (Connie Greig, Dubbo): Won at his first start in the area back in September 2023 and form since then has been mixed. Two runs now for the new stable and he’s been safely held including last time out at Tottenham picnics. On previous form the 1400m will be a plus for him but he looks up against it. Given he’s had 20 starts it’s worth a throw at the stumps.

8. Lostma Cowboy (Ian Holland, Coonamble): Local who failed to fire when resuming at 1000m at Dubbo a month ago and was beaten 20 lengths. Had a couple of stable changes but did win first-up for his current trainer back in July at Warren. Unplaced in five subsequent starts so on form he’s hard to talk up in a race like this jumping 400m off a month’s break. But he is trained here so it’s no surprise he’s having a shot.

9. Plenitude (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Pay little attention to her first-up run as she sat wide throughout in a Benchmark 64 at Newcastle and had to weaken. So she’s fitter for that and draws ideally for the race she’s obviously been targeted at. Been to this track twice for a win in October and a third at the track and distance at the corresponding meeting last year. She’d trialled with Gallant Star leading into that first-up run and wasn’t disgraced in the latest of them. The 1kg over isn’t ideal but she’s one of the major chances for second place.

10. Rouge Moulin (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Consistent type who was placed at 1400m here last year, ahead of Plenitude, and won two of his three runs this time in. Earned his ticket by scoring on the home track last week where he settled back and arrived just in time at the end of 1300m to win. He’ll appreciate a 4.5kg drop in weight and will likely have to be ridden back from the gate but he could run home into the placings.

Sports Page (Pic: Janian McMillan).

11. Shipshape (Kylie Kennedy, Narromine): Stuck on pretty well to run third at 1000m at Orange first-up for the new stable and while up in trip he is proven at the distance. In a different life he ran second on the Kensington track over 1400m in late 2023. Yet to win since leaving Godolphin but he has run a few cheeky races. Possibly at his best at 1200m and below but he’s not without a place chance.

12. Sports Page (Natalie Pearce, Dubbo): In-form mare who overcame 60kg and the outside barrier to win second-up at Orange over 1300m so the 4.5kg drop will be well received. She’s built a handy record and has shown an ability to settle on the pace which looks an option from the soft draw. This is naturally a harder task but if you take Gallant Star out it’s wide open and she could easily finish second to him.

13. Poisen Point (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Just had the eight starts but has been in the top two in five of them so she’s got her share of potential. Narrowly beaten as favourite at Orange two weeks ago but the winner has won again since so it’s not a bad reference. She is coming back from the mile though and is faced with an outside barrier so Zac Lloyd might have to weave some magic to put her into the race. Another who has genuine claims on second placing.

SPEED MAP: There's not a lot of established speed, more a number who like to settle forward in their races. Stockholm and Pants On Fire look the likely first two. A decision has to be made with Poisen Point drawn out after sitting on speed at a mile last time. Deion and Shipshape both have the pace to be in the first few. Gallant Star will likely want to land no worse than midfield one off the fence and Sports Page shouldn't be too far away from him.

SELECTIONS:
1 GALLANT STAR
12 Sports Page
9 Plenitude
10 Rouge Moulin

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Coonamble