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By Greg Prichard

Local trainer Glen Milligan rates Time To Commit, which went up at odds of $71 with TAB, as his best chance of landing a winner at the Taree race meeting on Thursday.

Milligan knew Time To Commit would be posted at double-figure odds in race three, the Sky International Maiden Plate over 1250 metres, but didn’t think it would be anywhere near the odds available.

The three-year-old filly has had two runs for a fifth of 10 in a Country Maiden over 1006 metres at Port Macquarie on March 16 and a sixth of 10 in a Maiden over 1100 at Armidale on March 29.

Trainer Glen Milligan

Time To Commit began on terms with the field at each of her starts but was burnt off in the early stages as the speedsters went forward and she settled down back in the field.

Milligan is hoping the increased distance of this race will mean a less feverish pace early on, allowing Time To Commit to settle in the first half of the field from barrier two and mount a challenge from there.

“She hasn’t got any early speed and they were a bit sharp for her over 1000 and 1100,” Milligan said.

“She’s no superstar, but I’m convinced she’ll run a good race at big each-way odds.

“If you have a look at the video you’ll see her running up the backside of horses in the straight at her second start.

“She should’ve finished a lot closer and now going to the 1250 I reckon she’s my best hope on the day.”

Film of the race at Armidale shows apprentice jockey Emily Farr riding for luck in the home straight and going for inside runs only to be blocked and having to ease back on the horse and let her coast to the line over the closing stages.

Time To Commit probably should’ve finished in the minor placings rather than sixth.

Milligan’s other runners are Bonjour Bill ($23) in race four, Miss Bugatti ($14) and Dam Impact ($10) in race five and Melaten ($4.20 favourite) in race eight.

Meanwhile, talented apprentice Mollie Fitzgerald has a solid book of rides at Taree including winning chances for two high-profile Sydney trainers.

Fitzgerald will ride Tigletta ($4.20 with TAB) for Bjorn Baker in race four, the Inglis Xtra Bonus Series Maiden Handicap over 1000 metres, and Chistota ($4.60) for Ciaron Maher in race eight, the Mark Hubbard Mate Of The Month Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1600 metres.

Each horse is drawn wide, which will obviously call for a high level of expertise from Fitzgerald to try to manoeuvre them into a good position during the early part of the race, but there’s no doubt she has the ability to do that.

Fitzgerald has come along in leaps and bounds during her career so far, to the point where she has outridden her claim at country tracks.

Big-name trainers remain prepared to put her on ahead of apprentices who can still claim up to several kilograms off the allotted weight for their mounts in what is a great vote of confidence in her ability.

The surface for the meeting, which features a $100,000 prize for eligible runners in the Inglis Xtra Bonus Maiden Series, will be perfect after being rated a Soft 7 on Wednesday and with further good drying weather.

*First race midday. Gates open 11am. Entry $10 adults and $5 concession. Café Nosh Taree bistro, bar and full TAB and bookmaker facilities in the air-conditioned Winning Post Function Centre. See Manning Valley Race Club Facebook page for more details.

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday's Taree meeting