A full field of youngsters is expected to face the starter in the $12,000 Judith Gelder Memorial two-year-old country plate over 1,000m at Musellbrook’s Skellatar Park Racecourse next Monday, February 15.
This event is the feature on the seven-race program, which could be extended to eight races with a division likely.
Local trainers Mack Griffith, Pat Farrell and Stephen Gleenson will be represented in the race, as well as Broadmeadow trainer Paul Perry, Scone’s Paul Messara and Peter Bloomfield.
Dejavu Rock, trained by Mark Wallace, has good form for this race with a win and a second from two starts.
Most experienced of the nominated two-year-olds is the Baden Parrett trained Silent Winn, which has had four starts for one second.
Mack Griffith’s Cool Racer, has had only one start for a second.
A number of the youngsters will be stepping out for the first time.
Unfortunately for the Race Club, a former Miss World title holder and leading model, Newcastle’s Jennifer Hawkins, will not be among the racegoers at Skellatar Park on Monday.
However, a filly called Our Jen, has been nominated for the three-year-old Maiden Handicap over 900 metres.
Trained at Broadmeadow by Alan Scorse, Our Jen is owned by Newcastle businessman Andrew Pacey, who named the Youthful Legs filly after the glamorous Jennifer Hawkins.
Our Jen might have some of the ability of her namesake, having won a barrier trail last week at Broadmeadow.
The Rita Englebrecht trained gelding Caliban, makes appeal in the Benchmark 50 Handicap over the 900 metres dash.
Winner of four races from 15 starts, the five-year –old gelding could be hard to run down over this distance.
Kris Lees’ Dixie Las, and Geoff O’Brien’s Best On Board might be hardest to beat.
In form Scone Trainer Luke Griffith, has several top chances nominated, including Dysturb (Bench-mark 50, 1280m) and Last Rain (Class 2, 1450m).
Last Rain has won two of its last three starts, whilst Dysturb has a win and three placing from its last four outings.
Luke’s brother, Mack, has nominated Etalica in the Class 2 event, and the four-year-old chestnut is not far of running up number one.
At his last start on the track he ran unplaced, but was narrowly beaten when third behind Shrewd As and Try To Please on his home turf on January 4.
Given fine weather, the track will be in great condition and racegoers can be assured of an excellent afternoon of racing.