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By Frances O'Shea

Mark Stewart has mixed feelings about Wyong, with three of his previous four runners at the track all finishing second.

The Taree-based trainer returns for Thursday’s KFC meeting, hoping to breakthrough for a win.

“I haven’t had a lot of Provincial runners and certainly Wyong has been good for me with three of them running second,” he said.

“I’ve had good and back luck I suppose because it would have been nice to win, but hopefully we can go one better on Thursday.

"I know all three race well at the track and can handle heavy conditions, so that’s a bonus.”

Stewart’s trio Gracious Gracie, All Beans and Preferred Choice all finished second at Wyong in their current preparations, giving him plenty of confidence heading into the meeting. Alysha Collett will partner all three.

All Beans, a three-year-old son of Spill The Beans, starts in the 1100m Provincial & Country Maiden over 1100m. He has been runner-up in three of his eight starts, including a second at Wyong over 1200m on April 28.

“He was second at Moree last start but really should have won. He over-raced badly that day and got on the back of heels.

"We’ve taken the blinkers off for this race, just to see if we can get him to settle a bit more, and hopefully he’ll finish off even stronger.

“I’ve had him since he was a weanling, and I think he could turn out to be a pretty handy horse.”

Choisir mare Preferred Choice lines up in 2000m Class 1 and Maiden, with Stewart confident she’s ready for the step up in distance. The four-year-old has had a win and two placings from five starts since joining Stewart’s stable and should relish the track conditions.

“I think she’s a dead set wet track horse. We took her to Moree the other day, it was a soft track, and she didn’t like it. She’d won in the heavy at Taree the start before and was second at Wyong.

“I don’t think she liked travelling to Moree. It took her a few days to get over it and Wyong is just down the road. If she comes to the races like she did when she won, she’ll be there at the end.”

Stewart’s Dream Ahead mare Gracious Gracie is a dual acceptor in the 1350m 4YO & Up Maiden and 1600m Maiden.

“I’ll try and work out the best race for her. She’s been a bit frustrating running plenty of seconds and I think she’s looking for a mile now.

“The 1350m looks an easier race but she’s drawn wider in it. I’ve had her for four starts now. She came to me with a few feet issues but she’s about 90% sound now.

"Once she’s fully sound I think she’ll be a pretty handy horse.”

The first of eight races gets underway at 12.15pm.

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