Port Macquarie trainer Jenny Graham is set to try and sweep the qualifying positions from next month's North Coast Country Championship heat with promising three-year-olds Victorem and Awesome Pluck, and stable stalwart Portatorio.
Graham will start Awesome Pluck in the Country Championship preview at Port on Friday as the series draws nearer with the $150,000 heat two weeks later on February 18.
Awesome Pluck and Victorem have been the subject of big offers from Asia and Graham has not ruled out chasing some black-type wins with them during the autumn carnival, but the Country Championship is an ideal target with a $150,000 race on their home track.
"I have had a few good horses before, but I've not had a couple of young ones like these come through together," Graham said.
"It is a bit of challenge because they haven't been to the 1400 metres before, but we will get them there."
Graham would like to see Awesome Pluck improve his racing manners on Friday after a third and fourth at Randwick to start his preparation.
"He is a big horse and just needs to learn how to race properly and not get so keen," Graham said.
"I just have a blood issue with Victorem at the moment and will try to give him a run before the heat."
Graham's long-term goal with Portatorio will be achieved when he runs in the Country Championship heat. He sits on the cusp for entry after recording his fourth win from 19 starts at Taree during the week.
"I looked at this race last year for him and he gets there in good form and is worth his place in the field," Graham said.
Meanwhile, trainers from throughout the state continue to question the running of the wildcard heat in the Hunter region for the third straight year, suggesting it is a massive advantage to horses from that region.
The wildcard at Muswellbrook gives a second chance to those horses that don't qualify from the regional heats, but is only six days from the April 7 final at Randwick.
Surely it would be better positioned at a city mid-week meeting 10 days out from the final, which would encourage trainers to bring more runners to Sydney.
Race diary
Monday: Armidale, Goulburn. Tuesday: Orange. Thursday: Muswellbrook. Friday: Canberra, Port Macquarie. Saturday: Geurie, Grafton, Sapphire Coast, Tumbarumba.
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