A lot hangs on Manning Valley Race Club's TAB meeting at Taree on Tuesday - the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup and the $32,000 Krambach Cup - and nominations of about 150 show its importance.
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Tuesday's meeting is the last for Taree until October 16, in between being the feature $32,000 Port Macquarie Cup Prelude over 1800m on September 27, the $200,000 Port Cup over 2000m on October 9 and the $32,000 Krambach Cup over 1800m at Taree on October 16.
And the makeup of those major events is resting on Tuesday's meeting, especially with regard to the running of the TAB.Com.Au Benchmark 58 over 1600m.
Trainers hoping to perhaps take on opposition in those cups and other races will be relying on good runs on Tuesday.
Two local mentors who could envisage being part of the cups are Port trainer Neil Godbolt and Taree trainer Tony Ball.
Godbolt's six-year-old gelding Condover Hall (NZ) has done everything to try for its fourth win with close finishes at its past six starts.
His wife and part-owner,Maxine, said the gelding has been honest and so consistent (runner-up nine times with placings at its last six starts), its last run at Kempsey on Monday being a less than a half-length third to Editors from the Ross Stitt stable at Taree.
Mrs Godbolt said the placings had "picked up a cheque" and sooner or later the gelding would be rewarded for its consistency.
She said the galloper could have run at Tuncurry on Saturday but has been reserved for Taree.
Three wins, its only wins, have all been recorded by five-year-old gelding Senatorial, trained by Tony Ball at Taree, and its fifth in open class at Wyong last start has him excited.
"His runs in open company (Taree Cup and Wyong) have been good and he has pulled up fine.
"The only query is back from 2000m to 1600m but jockey Aaron Bullock should have him in the firing line," Ball said of his charge which worked really good during the week.
Port trainer John Sprague has last start winner, five-year-old gelding Lucky For Some, in form as does Cessnock trainer Luke Thomas who has six-year-old mare Maui Princess engaged.
She was second to Sprague's Lucky For Some at Port last start and was beaten less than a length.
Thomas has nominated five gallopers for the meeting with Spanish Missile in the Horsepower Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1250m being a top hope of going for three wins in a tow.
He also has resuming four-year-old mare Gentlemen's Word in the Krambach Cup October 16 Class 1 Handicap over 1000m where Ball's father, Peter, has a top chance with Lost Light, fitter after resuming with a just over a length second to boom galloper Bear The Crown at Kempsey on Monday.
Premier Newcastle and MNCRA trainer Kris Lees is again well represented with 10 nominations, acceptances being taken on Friday.
