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By Greg Prichard

Local trainer Glen Milligan has been in terrific form since his stable began to recover from the May floods and he is confident of a bold showing from the team he will take on the short walk to the Taree meeting on Tuesday.

Milligan is particularly keen on Queen Of A Hand in race five and both of his runners in race seven - The Comanche and Wing Nut.

Four-year-old mare Queen Of Hand is the $3.50 TAB second favourite in the BLE Building Country Boosted Class 3 Handicap over 1007m.

Queen of a Hand (Emily Farr) wins at Coffs Harbour. Image by Trackside Photography

A 4yo gelding, The Comanche is $5.50 favourite and 5yo gelding Wing Nut is at $7 in a very open McAlpin and Maurer Automotive Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1412m.

“We thought Queen Of A Hand would win first-up at Coffs Harbour and she got the job done the way we expected her to,” Milligan said.

“She’s progressed well. Second-up last time in I was disappointed with her, but it was on a heavy track at Muswellbrook and I just put it down to that.

"She was back competing strongly again on a dry track at her next start.

“The favourite (So Koby, $2.40) has got a stack of speed and will probably jump and lead, but will still have to do a bit of work to cross from a wide gate.

“We should be stalking it from our inside draw and Emily Farr rode Queen Of A Hand well for us at Coffs. She’s apprenticed to us now and the two kilos off will help again.”

The Taree track is rated a Soft 5 with sunny weather. Queen Of A Hand’s win at Coffs was on a Soft 6.

“Teighan (Worsnop) had the choice of rides between Wing Nut and The Comanche,” Milligan said. She’s been riding both of them and she picked Wing Nut, so she can’t go crook at me if she gets it wrong!

“Wing Nut’s no superstar, but his two runs this time in have been good.

“I’ve got a slight leaning towards The Comanche, to be honest. He was a bit disappointing at Tuncurry last start, but he did go straight to a Class 2 there from a Maiden win.

“I took the blinkers off him at Tuncurry and I think that might’ve been a mistake, so the visors go on him for this race.

“There isn’t a lot between them. As I said, I’ve got a slight preference for The Comanche, but Teighan’s been riding them both so she should know.

“The good thing is that as a stable we’ve got reason to like both of them.”

Farr will ride The Comanche and she is also on-board four-year-old mare Devoted To You, a $7.50 chance in race four - the Jack And Co Maiden Handicap over 1312m.

“She was a bit of a surprise packet to us first-up at Tuncurry, when she finished second,” Milligan said. “She’d been a bit hit and miss in her work.

"She didn’t have a lot of luck from the alley and was caught three-wide, but she still ran well. If she can jump out and be up on the speed in this shorter race that will help a lot.”

Milligan said Bonjour Bill ($61) and Dam Impact ($19), his two unraced horses that will contest race two - the Cleavers Tyres Maiden Plate over 1007m - needed to get used to racing.

“They’re both well educated and have shown a little bit of ability, but indications are they’ll want a longer distance,” he said.

“If either runs a place I’ll be over the moon. It’s just a starting point for them.”

Milligan said Queen Of A Hand was the pick of his six runners: “She’s going super in her work,” he said.

“She should be parked there ready to let down. I’ve got a few definite chances on the day, but she looks the best.”

*First race 1.35pm. Gates open midday. Full TAB and bookmaker facilities along with the Turf Bistro and bar in the Winning Post Function Centre.

Program includes the Bakewell Haulage 'Win & You’re In The 2025 Krambach Cup' Benchmark 66 Handicap - with the winner exempt from ballot on Sky International Taree Gold Cup Day on Friday 17 October.

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