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Moon And The Stars Set For Stellar Performance At Ballina (Sunday)

Gold Coast trainer Harold Norman believes Moon And The Stars' modest record over 1600m is misleading and expects the mare to take plenty of beating over that trip at Ballina on Sunday.

Moon And The Stars has been racing consistently on the Northern Rivers in recent weeks and lines up again across the border in Sunday's Paradise FM Ballina Mile (1600m).

Moon And The Stars is yet to win in 10 previous starts over 1600m but Norman isn't reading too much into those statistics.

"A few of her failures over 1600m have been at Doomben and she just doesn't seem to perform at that track," he said.

"She has a couple of placings at 1600m and has won at 1530m - I don't think the mile is a problem for her."

The Casino Prince mare on Sunday clashes again with Hudson County who beat her last start over 1400m at Ballina on 13 January.

Hudson County, trained at Beaudesert by Rod Hurley, has a great record at 1600m - winning four of his six starts at the trip.

Hudson County gave Moon And The Stars 3kg last time and gives her 4.5kg this time around.

"She ran a great race behind Hudson County last time and was taking ground off him at the finish," Norman said. "With an extra pull in the weights, I think she can reverse the result this time."

Moon And The Stars drew gate four in the 12-horse field and will be ridden by Jason Taylor. Apprentice Corey Bayliss, who claims 2kg, will ride Hudson County.

Armidale galloper Not Wanted also looks a winning hope in the race after his two previous runs at Ballina - second to Dantga in the Maltese Beauty Hcp (1400m) on 31 October and to Star Of Legs in the Lennox Head Cup (1610m) on 19 November.

Norman is also looking for a good effort from his only other runner at Ballina on Sunday, mare Rainbow Lace who resumes in the Domesday Standing At Aquis Farm Class 3 Hcp (1000m).

"She may find the 1000m a touch short but she's a mare with ability and she goes well first-up," he said.

Rainbow Lace has won two of her seven starts and both of those wins were first-up. Norman said the mare was a touch unlucky not to have won at her last start before a spell at the Sunshine Coast back in October.

"She was in front a stride before the post and a stride after the line," lamented the trainer.

The rail for Sunday's seven-race program will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a good 4.

View the fields, form and race replays for Ballina here.

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