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By Tony Megahey

Ambitious trainer Mitch Beer is expanding rapidly and has a tip for the future as well as the present into Monday’s Nowra TAB meeting.

“I’ve e-mailed my syndicates and owners that we’ve doubled our boxes to 40 at our Kembla Grange satellite," enthused Beer from his main Albury base.

Open Sky (Grant Buckley) in full flight at Nowra. Image by Bradley Photographers

"We’ve got the numbers and some of the nicest types I’ve had in a long while.”

Winners have been regular enough, Open Sky won impressively at the previous Nowra meeting and attempts back-to-back in the Kel Campbell Fuel Haulage Class 2, 1600m on Monday with 59kg, again for Grant Buckley.

Artful Persuasion and Old Gregg won at Sapphire Coast and Apollo Mission at Gosford in recent weeks.

“Has to be hard to beat again Open Sky, fitter third-up and he’ll be strong at the ‘mile.’

"He cracked his hoof badly winning a maiden at Narrandera and had five months off.

“We thought he’d go through his grades before the setback but this prep he’s showing the ability we knew he had.

“But probably the most promising of our young crop is the Sapphire Coast winner Artful Persuasion, without a doubt one to follow.

“Took a lovely trial to the races, won unextended (1008m) by a margin and in fast time, looks a real talent.”

Artful Persuasion was a $40,000 yearling purchase from the Inglis Sales.

But Beer has just as ambitious plans for Open Sky if he runs to expectations again at Nowra.

“Look, by Dundeel (NZ) he’s bred to stay, we’re building him up now for 2000m.

“Logically the ‘mile’ was short of his preferred distance so he did a really good job and the upside is obvious.”

So, Beer has his new operation at Kembla humming along nicely.

“Fantastic area facilities and training tracks and the horses relate to that. But the main asset is Kembla’s proximity to the Sydney tracks and the south coast circuit.

“It’s been lot tougher coming from Albury, but it covers the Riverina circuit and when we’ve been lucky enough to have one good enough for Melbourne.”

Meanwhile, in-form Bjorn Baker has the young promise and numbers for a productive day on Monday.

At present Nowra is a Heavy 9 after recent rain but with little or no rain forecast before raceday an upgrade is on the cards.

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