By Graeme White
Six winners in as many weeks with just three horses has helped close out the season on a positive note for Canberra trainer John Rolfe and his family who share in the ownership of the trio.
Rolfe has been training for a few decades and is experiencing a consistent run of winners with the likes of William, Dubai Centre and Arctic Desert which will start at Corowa on Thursday in the Barlens Event Hire Benchmark 66 (1000m).
Arctic Desert has been successful at Queanbeyan and Moruya while Dubai Centre (Moruya, Narrandera) and William (Queanbeyan and Parkes) have kept the stable flag flying.
Arctic Desert (Billy Owen) proves too strong at Moruya. Image by Bradley Photographers
Arctic Desert, who will be ridden by John Kissick, has taken three victories from his past five starts and steps up in grade again from a Benchmark 58.
Rolfe will also start A Book Of Days in the Balldale Hotel Country Boosted Class 3 (1200m) and Ten Feathers in the Corowa Chaff Mill Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1400m).
A Book Of Days, who is third-up from a spell and drawn the outside barrier (gate 10), faces a tough test.
Topweight Just Google Me finds the perfect assignment at his fourth start this campaign after contesting tougher assignments.
The consistent Loch Erin, with a win and third this campaign, and Hellinda (first and second in two starts this preparation), loom as the main threats.
Brial Rose is another capable of figuring after one start back, while Rocket Rudee is close to breaking through after two seconds from his past three starts.
Leading jockey Nick Heywood will ride Just Google Me as he closes in on a century of winners for the season: "I have a few more meetings to try and ride five winners to reach 100,” he said.
Just Google Me’s trainer Scott Spackman feels it’s the ideal race as he looks to open his winning account after three runs back.
“He went to Flemington first-up, then ran well to place at Wagga in a Benchmark 82, then beat a couple home in the Creswick Stakes (Listed race) at Flemington last start,” he said.
“He is coming back in grade and is very fit. I plan to put him out for a break after this with the Country Championships in mind.”
Goulburn trainer Danielle Seib prepares Hellinda as she looks to push towards another successful season with close to 40 winners.
She will also have Perigean starting second-up against Arctic Desert with 60.5kg after the claim for apprentice jockey Jessica Brookes.
Antisocial has won her past two starts at Swan Hill and Wagga and is another of the main chances.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Corowa here