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By Tony Megahey

Battling with a small stable, young Muswellbrook trainer Luke Thomas, father of five young ones and yet to train a TAB Highway winner, will be the sentimental favourite with outsider Best Of Maher ($12 on TAB) against the regular series heavyweights at Newcastle on Saturday.

In a support race to a tremendous day of Group and Listed events at the premier provincial track featuring the $Im The Newcastle Herald Hunter, Luke has his best prospect yet in three-race winner Best Of Maher for a large country ownership group with 55.5kg for Jay Ford in the $120,000 Class 3, 1600m.

Best of Maher (Aaron Bullock) proves too good at Muswellbrook. Image by Bradley Photographers

Murwillumbah’s Matt Dunn, with over 30 series wins, and Goulburn’s Danielle Seib with a dozen, have strongly favoured stablemates.

Danielle heads the markets with Cable Express at $4.80 (favourite) along with Ghost Walker ($9.50), whilst Dunn has Bandasha ($7.50) and Bravely ($6.50).

“They’re always hard to beat with the right horses, but I’ve never seen a more open Highway - I’ve been placed in a few but this is my best chance,” Luke offered.

“I’m coming with a real tough, genuine horse and some favours, I think.

“He's off two strong wins with a big weight drop, suited at the mile off a 1750m win (when at $1.75) and he’ll appreciate the big track.

"He carried 61kg to win last start at home and drops to 55.5kg - a big factor.

“I told the owners while it’s so hard winning one of these, just enjoy the occasion of having a Saturday runner on a big day of racing. I know I will!

“And I think he’ll give us a sight with winning form and well weighted. The timing is right for the level of prizemoney, to have a crack when they’re in winning form and having an upside.

“He’ll get 2000m eventually and handles all surfaces.”

The five-year-old Al Maher gelding offers the consistency of three wins and four placings from 15 starts.

“We’ve drawn 12 but likely to come in with scratchings and our intention is to be on pace and that’s where he’s been winning in easier grade.

“You’ve got no hope getting back in Highways in capacity fields when they’re evenly matched restricted graders.

“He’s a leggy, gangly big strider, in a big field I’d prefer drawn wider with galloping space than be inside and traffic.

“But it’s nice to get a smart horse again for the biggest raceday in the region. When I started out, we won five races with Asudem and we’ve got another decent one.

“I’m battling along OK, but I’ve had to cut right back with costs and staff ... and five kids, our eldest is 14 now.

“It takes some managing daily with long hours running a racing stable, needs of five kids and school. But it’s what it is and we love it.”

Luke took out a licence in 2017 after being in pre-training and breakers and hitting a winning streak with Asudem who was shaping as a Kosciuszko contender with five wins in 2020-21.

Now the winning run of Best of Maher somewhat relieves lean times for Luke’s stable with five wins over the past 12 months.

At present Newcastle is a Soft 5 with some showers before cloudy Saturday.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Newcastle here