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By Greg Prichard

Vastly experienced Port Macquarie trainer Neil Godbolt has enjoyed a terrific run of success recently and is optimistic about the chances of it continuing if Heart Of Platinum can overcome a wide barrier at the Taree meeting on Monday.

The three-year-old filly will contest race four, the XXXX Gold Class 1 & Maiden Plate over 1600 metres, and has drawn barrier 14 in a field of 14 and four emergencies.

One runner has already been scratched and if the three remaining emergencies come out Heart of Platinum will start from 12.

“It just depends if she can get a bit of luck from that draw,” Godbolt (pictured) said.

“She gets back a bit anyway, but you’d like to be able to drift back a bit from a good draw rather than have it dictated to you because you’ve drawn out wide.

“She’ll be back in the second half of the field somewhere. She hasn’t got any real speed early. I’d like a decent pace and hopefully she’ll be one off the fence and still in front of a few.

“I’d be surprised if she doesn’t run a good race.”

The barrier represents a challenge, but there are multiple other important factors in Heart Of Platinum’s favour.

She’s in form, with a win and a third at her last two starts, she’ll be ridden by one of the Mid North Coast’s top jockeys in Ben Looker, she’s a winner at Taree, she likes the track to have some give in it and she’s well treated at the weights.

Looker combined with Heart Of Platinum for that Taree win two starts back, when Heart Of Platinum won a Maiden event over 1400 metres on a track surface that was rated a Heavy 9.

Her last-start third in a Class 1 Set Weights race over 1812 metres at Port Macquarie was on a Soft 5 surface.

Taree, which has a great natural cushion in the surface anyway, was rated a Soft 5 ahead of Monday’s race-day.

Heart Of Platinum may still be only three, but it’s very late in the season and in a field of Class 1 and Maiden runners the weight she’ll carry – 55kg – is four kilograms below the top weight that was allotted and only half-a kilo above the lowest weight.

“She gets in OK at the weights and she likes the sting out of the ground a bit - she handles it without any worries” Godbolt said.

“All you can do once they jump is rely on the jockey to get the best possible run and we’ve got a good one on in Ben.

“She’ll run the mile out strong, which is why I’d like a solidly-run race. I think she’ll get up to 2000 metres eventually.”

Godbolt has trained a winner at each of the last two Port Macquarie meetings, on June 15 and 24, and also had one at Taree on June 5.

Going back to April 5 he has had six winners from his last 25 runners, including three from his last nine.

“The horses are happy and racing well and nearly all of the horses I’ve got in the stable can handle the winter tracks, too, which helps a lot when they get wet,” Godbolt said.

“You’ve got to have the right horses for the conditions and I’ve managed to find a few good races for them.

“It’s been a good run. I don’t keep a close eye on the numbers, but if those are the numbers then you’d like that sort of average all the time, certainly. Let’s hope it continues.”

*First race 12.10pm. Gates open 11.30am. 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 Facebook page for more details.

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