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By Greg Prichard

Local trainer Tony Ball is looking forward to the likely heavy track conditions perfectly suiting his pair Telegraph and Run Rory Run in the last two races at Taree on Monday.

The Taree surface was rated a Soft 7 on Friday, but weekend rain if it arrives as predicted would likely force it into the heavy range.

Run Rory Run in particular is a heavy track specialist and will contest the last race of the day, the Can Assist Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1262m.

Run Rory Run (Siena Grima) heads out to the barriers at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

By far Run Rory Run’s best performances have come on heavy tracks and Ball jokes that the seven-year-old gelding was “born in a swamp” he loves the wet so much.

His 12 starts on the heavy have brought all five of his career wins, as well as three seconds and a third.

He’s had nine starts on soft tracks for just the two thirds and 13 starts on good tracks for just the one third.

“Yeah, born in a swamp this fellow,” Ball said. “He’s ready to find something close to his best form as well, third-up.

“His run last-start at Muswellbrook was outstanding. I thought he was going to win halfway down the straight, but he just ran out of gas in the last bit.

"He just needed the run and he’ll be much better off this time around. It was a Soft 7 that day and the wet weather is obviously going to enhance his chances.

"Teighan (Worsnop) is back on him after riding him at Muswellbrook and she understands him. It’s a good match, those two.”

Run Rory Run will start from the outside barrier in the field of 11, but that could turn out to be a good thing if it keeps him away from the fence and able to get a clear run in the difficult conditions.

Telegraph’s heavy track form isn’t quite as good as Run Rory Run’s, but it’s still clearly better than his firm track form.

He has won once and been placed three times in the heavy and won twice and been placed three times in the soft.

Also a seven-year-old gelding ,Telegraph will contest race six, the Sky Racing Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1007m.

Luke Rolls, who has ridden Telegraph in two of the horse’s four career wins, is back on-board for this event.

“His last-start run here at Taree, when he finished fifth, was good,” Ball said. “He did a bit wrong and wanted to over-race and do silly things, so I’ve taken the blinkers off him for this race. Hopefully that does the trick.”

*First race 1.10pm. Gates open midday. Full TAB and bookmaker facilities along with the Turf Bistro and bar - all inside the warmth of the Winning Post Function Centre.

Admission $10, concession $5. See Manning Valley Race Club's Facebook page for more details.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Taree here