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By Graeme White

There will be no $101 on offer about Ivira at Moruya on Tuesday after her breakthrough victory last start for owner and trainer Rodney Howes.

Ivira’s starting price was one of the longest in New South Wales racing this season when she stormed to victory for jockey Michael Travers at the Sapphire Coast on June 12.

Ivira (Michael Travers) scores at the Sapphire Coast. Image by Bradley Photographers

The six-year-old lines up in the Adelaide Hotel Moruya Benchmark 58 Handicap (2000m) with Travers back aboard for his only ride of the days travelling some four and a half hours from his base at Wagga.

Ivira is also Howes only horse in training which he exercises at home before he heads off to work at the local sawmill.

The trainer turned 68 on Saturday and is hopeful Ivira can make it consecutive wins.

“I take her to the Moruya track three times a week for work and the rest of the time I give her lunging work at home,” he said.

“I knew she had ability when I bought her as she had won at Canterbury earlier in her career for Clarrie Conners.

“She had a few little issues and once I sorted those out she has been pretty good.”

Ivira has raced 10 times for Howes with her best run prior to her latest win being a second at Moruya.

Ivira, who is listed as a $10 chance in the TAB market, will step up to 2000 metres for the first time this campaign.

The favourite El Lago ($1.85) is one of a few strong winning chances for his trainer Paul Murray. Reflecting on the longest priced win of his career, Howes said he only trains one horse at a time.

“I had a good horse a few years back called Dad’s Cash who won five races and my previous winner was The Potato Pontiff,” he said.

That win was in March of 2019 – more than three years earlier – but during that time Howes hasn’t had a lot of starters. Ivira’s first prizemoney winnings of more than $12,000 more than repaid her purchase price of $7250.

Howes didn’t support his mare himself despite the juicy odds.

“But my wife did and she got $51. I did expect her to run well and if the track isn’t too wet she should go alright again,” he suggested. “She is only small so if she can keep out of trouble she is a chance.

“Her coast has come good in the last month and the race suits her on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, the Moruya contingent of starters at the seven-race meeting look well suited to grab their share of wins.

Blue Glass ($3.30) is aiming for three straight wins when resuming for trainer Michael Gatty in the Civil Construction Hire BM 58 (1000m), while Lights On The Hill ($6) and stablemate Secadia ($41) are other winning hopes for local trainer Jamie Stewart.

Recent Moruya winner Last Quest ($5) for Moruya trainer Colbey Hill also finds a winnable race, while Natalie Jarvis has a few winning chances headed by Awesome Audrey ($2.40 fav) and Brave Maso ($3.30 fav).

Moruya trainer Greg Backhouse has two runners including recent long priced home track winner Raging River ($26). Moruya’s track is rated a Heavy 9 with the forecast for possible showers on raceday.

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