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Wauchope trainer Colt Prosser is counting on some overdue luck with the barrier draw and a return to a better racing surface to turn things around for his filly Aqua Chimera in the $40,000 Country Maiden Plate (1200m) at Port Macquarie’s Showcase meeting on Thursday.

Prosser hopes to make a mark with several runners at the eight-race Showcase meeting which carries total prizemoney of $250,000.

Aqua Chimera, runner-up in two of her four starts, is coming off her worst performance when eighth of 11 behind Rubel on a heavy 9 at Tuncurry on October 29.

“The track at Tuncurry was very heavy and I’m hoping that effort was just a one-off,” said Prosser. “A couple of horses who failed in those conditions that day have since come out and raced well, including Sawtell who bounced back to win at Armidale at the weekend.

“Hopefully my filly can also bounce back on Thursday and at least she has finally drawn a good alley this time – she’s drawn wide in all of her previous four starts.

“I had her spot-on when she ran at Port Macquarie first-up (October 6) but she drew a terrible gate. She’s drawn gate two on Thursday and she’ll just jump and run.”

Colt Prosser gives Can't Skate a pat after his win at Bundarra in September. Credit: Bradley Photographers.

Prosser has several other runners set to line up on Thursday, including consistent sprinter Prince Mayted in the Showcase Hcp (1200m), Apocalyptic Fun and Metre Eater in the Class 2 Hcp (1500m), Can’t Skate and Manning Treasure in the Benchmark 55 Hcp (1000m) and Robynlucy in the Maiden Hcp (1000m).

Prosser expects Prince Mayted to run his usual strong race and has booked 2kg-claiming apprentice Chloe Baker to ease the burden for the six-year-old who was allotted 61.5kg in the Showcase Hcp.

Prince Mayted has been placed in each of his three runs this campaign, including a last-start third to Satirical Magic and Fanning in a Benchmark 70 Hcp over 1100m at Canterbury on November 1.

“He wouldn’t know how to run a bad race,” said Prosser. “He was probably a bit unlucky last time at Canterbury – he was taken on in front and the ‘swoopers’ just got him late.

“He is a slight query at the 1200m on Thursday– he’s best around 1100m - and that’s why I’ve booked Chloe to give him that bit of weight relief.

“He’s owned locally so it would be great if he could get another win on Thursday, especially on a day when the prizemoney is so good.”

Prosser is also expecting good performances from Apocalyptic Fun, Metre Eater, Manning Treasure and Can’t Skate on Thursday.

Apocalyptic Fun, formerly trained in Melbourne, was a strong winner over 1600m at Tawmorth three runs back but failed badly at Coffs Harbour at his most recent outing on October 13.

“It turned out he had a bad blood count that day, we’ve freshened him up since and hopefully he can bounce back on Thursday. If not, he’ll probably go for a spell,” said the trainer.

Prosser will have two runners in the final race – recent stable newcomer Can’t Skate and Manning Treasure.

“Can’t Skate is owned by a mate of mine and asked me to take her on recently,” he said. “She’s won two of her three starts for me and in her one defeat (at Armidale on October 28) the 1100m probably just found her out. And Manning Treasure improved last start and may have turned the corner.

“We’ve got a few runners who should run well and it would be nice to pick up some of that great prizemoney available on Thursday.”

View the fields, form and race replays for Port Macquarie's Thursday meeting here.