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By Tony Megahey

Northern Rivers doyen Wayne Wilkes is pondering just how far unbeaten Cool Duke can take it, but the spectacular ride for family and friends again has ample favours into Saturday's TAB Highway during The Coast Raceday at Newcastle.

Cool Duke ($6.50 into $5.50 on TAB) is as adept in the wet as a seahorse, winning three in succession on extreme heavy by wide margins at Tuncurry and Taree, so likely similar conditions are massive for the four-year-old up in grade into the $120,000 Class 3, 1200m episode.

Cool Duke (Shae Wilkes) returns after winning at Tuncurry-Forster. Image by Trackside Photography

After persistent downpours Gosford at present is a Heavy 10 in showers with more rain forecast, with Cool Duke, a gelding by USA sire Frosted, carrying 56kg for in-form apprentice Dylan Gibbons and a vital six draw in the capacity field.

Cool Duke has spaced modest opposition with the advantage of a 3kg claim for Wayne’s daughter and first season apprentice Shae Wilkes on gruelling Heavy 9 and 10 tracks.

It was an emotional family day at Tuncurry in early March for Shae’s debut race ride and also Cool Duke’s first race start, handled by her brother Joel a pre-trainer now based at Scone.

After winning trials with Shae, Cool Duke took it to the races, winning a steady maiden by a nose. But the upside was spectacular.

A subsequent winning double by a total of near six lengths on bog tracks and heavy tracks have been near statewide so it's 'Highway here we come!'

It’s yet to be determined if Cool Duke is predominantly a wet track demon as he has yet to race on a firm surface.  But with heavy tracks the ‘norm’ and so many suspect in it, a 'W' in the form lines is a pre-requisite on Saturday.

However, all intriguing is Cool Duke departing the Warwick Farm stables of Group-winning Con Karakatsanis without a race start but an impressive trial win and then then spelled for six months.

Over to the 30+ years Taree trainer who started his career as foreman for the iconic Bart Cummings.

“The horse just refused to load, they got him to the races a couple of times, but he wanted no part of the barriers, but he came up here in really good order,” Wayne explained.

“We just took him quietly and kept persevering with the issue and his trackwork was exceptional. Eventually he settled in, appreciated the different environment, I think.

“He always showed way above average ability in trackwork and trials. Finally took it to the races and has just answered every question put to him - yep, he's exciting.

“And while he’s only ever raced on heavy tracks there’s no reason to think he won’t be just as effective on firm.

“But the way the weather is, it's wait and see for everyone. But Saturday, good draw, nice weight, he’ll be on pace and we know he’ll relish the conditions if others don’t get through it.”

Wayne was never tempted to retain his daughter, despite her three wins and a trial on Cool Duke.

“No just her first season, this gelding was Shae’s first race ride just in March, way too early to ride against all those experienced seniors in a big field.

“Shae’s a fast learner, worked hard to get her weight right and making really good progress; her turn will come.”

Meanwhile, in the early 80s Wilkes moved from Taree for extended time to be foreman for Bart, Dr Geoff Chapman and Brian Mayfield-Smith before returning home and taking out a licence in 1995.

He’s had regular success in the Highway series in recent seasons, notably with tough and genuine Chase My Crown who won two episodes and was placed in several more.

In early markets Cool Duke is second favourite behind Todd Howlett's Tanglewood which has been crunched from $4.80 into $2.80.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Gosford here