| What | Taree Races |
| Where | Manning Valley Race Club – Bushland Drive, Taree NSW |
| When | Sunday, February 20, 2022 |
| Feature Race | Race 7 – Country Championships MNCRA Qualifier (1400m) |
| First Race | 12:55pm AEDT |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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The Country Championships head to Taree on Sunday for the running of the Mid-North Coast Qualifier. HorseBetting’s New South Wales racing analyst has previewed the eight-race meeting and brings you his best bets, quaddie numbers and preview of the feature race. The track is rated a Soft 6 and the rail is in the true position for the entire course. The first race will be underway at 12:55pm AEDT.
Country Championship Qualifier Best Bet – Race 7 #3 Markwell Dreamer $4.80
We do think the market has this race all worked out, with Chase My Crown ($4) and Markwell Dreamer ($4.80 with Aussie racing bookies) at the top of the market. We are with the latter, who comes off a good run behind Testator Silens at Randwick, which looks good form. Prior to that, the Joseph Burges-trained four-year-old won a Highway Handicap at Randwick where he finished strongly over the top of Fangela, and that runner has since come out and won, so the form really is stacking up. From barrier two, Ashley Morgan is going to have this son of Dream Ahead in a nice position – probably a touch better than midfield. There should be enough speed injected into the race to allow Markwell Dreamer to finish over the top. Chase My Crown will make her own luck in front and will prove hard to run down, while Par Avion deserves plenty of respect at this track where she is two from two.
Best Bet – Race 1 #5 Water Dove $1.90
Brett Cavanough and Ashley Morgan combine in the opener with consistent mare, Water Dove. The four-year-old hasn’t raced since last March when second in a Class 2 at Muswellbrook, which came on the back of consecutive runner up performances behind Art Cadeau and Leo at Randwick. The daughter of Headwater won her first two starts comfortably and has some very good form for a Benchmark 66. She has trialled once behind It’s Me, so the 1000m distance should be up her alley to resume her racing career. From barrier three, she looks to map perfectly and will take a power of beating.
Next Best – Race 3 #9 Mauricently $2.30
In race three, Kris Lees and star apprentice Dylan Gibbons combine with three-year-old filly, Mauricently. As the name suggests, she is by Japanese sire Maurice, and like her father, she looks as though she should relish the rise to 2000m for the first time on Sunday. The filly has had just three starts, winning at Coffs Harbour on debut by half-a-length, before going for a spell. She resumed in January with a fast-finishing second at Newcastle over 1350m, before rising to 1614m at Taree 18 days later where she was beaten 4.5 lengths by I Want One. She should be fit enough to go one better on Sunday, as she steps out to a suitable distance. She has drawn wide in barrier 12 under Gibbons, but she tends to get back in the run anyway, so that shouldn’t be too much of a concern. This galloper does also hold a nomination for the Australian Oaks, so that shows that connections have a big enough opinion of her, so we do expect her to be good enough at Taree.
Best Value – Race 8 #10 Highbury $10
Highbury is currently the third emergency in the Country Championship Qualifier, so they will be sweating on gaining a start there, but we think he can win the last race of the day. The Colt Prosser-trained gelding has been running well of late, having had just three runs back from a lengthy spell that saw him sidelined for 15 months. The son of I Am Invincible hasn’t won in either of his three runs back, but he has been knocking on the door at Taree and Port Macquarie, so he might be ready to win fourth-up over 1300m. Digger McLellan will do the riding from the inside alley which is an advantage, as he has been getting a long way out of his ground in his last few starts, so the inside alley can hopefully see him settle closer. This is within his grasp and the $10 quote available with the top betting apps, is well worth a dabble.
Sunday quaddie tips for Taree
| Taree quadrella selections | |
|---|---|
| Leg 1: | 4-5-7 |
| Leg 2: | 4-5-6 |
| Leg 3: | 2-3-9-10 |
| Leg 4: | 1-6-10-11 |
| Investment: | $144 for 100% |
