Port Macquarie trainer Tom Higgins will head to Taree’s Manning Valley Race Club on Thursday, confident he can land a winner or two.
Last-start winner on the track, Star Of Yamba (Camille Houlgatte, $14), headlines his stable’s chances in the 1312m Benchmark 58 Handicap, while stablemate Discreet Lady (Madi Derrick, $15) boasts strong claims in the same race.
Recent purchase and last-start placegetter at Coffs Harbour, Welcome Back (Camille Houlgatte, $26), looks over the odds in the 1007m Maiden Plate, while Yamba’s Star (Camille Houlgatte, $101) and Waterside (Julia Presits, $81) are both considered outside chances in the 1614m Class One/Maiden Plate.
Higgins, known best for his success with 14-time winner Sky Biscuit, believes he can land a winner despite bookmakers thinking otherwise.
“I think a couple of them will be hard to beat, and with the maiden (Welcome Back), you only have to look at her form to see that she is a chance,” Higgins said.
“Her run at Coffs Harbour was good. She was the only horse to make up ground on the day, and she came from eight lengths back; she would have run a good last 600m.”
With Star Of Yamba and Discreet Lady, Higgins is adamant that both can win, but he couldn’t, or at least didn’t want to split the pair.
“There’s nothing between them, nothing at all, and I think both can run well, but whatever I say, the other one will prove me wrong, Higgins laughed.
“One of them (Discreet Lady) raced on Sunday, but the 1100m was too short, and 1300m will be right up her alley.
“With Star Of Yamba, she won well for Camille, and I’ve kept her on because it was a very good ride.”
Houlgatte has landed three of Higgins’ rides on the day, and the trainer has a very high opinion of the three-kilogram claiming apprentice.
“She has been working for Paul Perry for eight years or so, and she’s now a jockey with a three-kilogram claim, and I think she goes well and is a very, very talented apprentice,” Higgins said.
It’s shaping to be a good day at Taree, with the course proper a good six, while there are 98 acceptors on the seven-race program.
Gates will open at 11:30 am, and bistro and bar facilities are available, with adult admission at $10.
The first race is set to jump away at 12:35 pm, and for fields, click here.
