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By Mark Brassel

Local trainer Holly Williams is set to have a big afternoon at Tamworth on Friday – win, lose or draw.

Williams is hosting an ‘Owners Day’ and will be represented by half a dozen runners with plenty of chances for success.

The trainer has six gallopers entered: Staffa, Rivaldo, Enterprise Legend, Up the Country, All Too Sheik and Golden Passport.

Tamworth-based trainer Holly Williams

“We’ve invited all of our owners to watch their horses go around with tables booked upstairs,” Williams said.

“We had it last year and got a great turnout, so we thought we’d do it again.”

Staffa appears one of the stable’s best prospects in the $30,000 Showcase Benchmark 82 Handicap (1200m).

The mare has stepped out nine times for Williams and won three races (Armidale, Tamworth and Inverell) and is racing in great form.

Staffa finished fast to land the prize at Inverell before running home powerfully when just behind the placegetters on the Randwick Kensington Track (1000m) in what is a very strong form race won by Livin’ Thing.

“She missed the start at Randwick and would have nearly run second otherwise.

"She will be going over the 1200m for the first time but if ever she’s going to run the distance, it will be at home.”

Williams has only had Rivaldo for two starts after coming from Victoria and they’ve both been excellent, finishing from near last for fourth on his home track before winning impressively at Mudgee.

“He’s a pretty smart horse and I think we’ll have a bit of fun with him.”

Enterprise Legend looks Williams’ other best chance, being a last start winner at Coonamble in March before freshened up to win a Tamworth trial last week.

“He’s speedy and rarely far away. He’s a horse that tries hard and will no doubt run well on Friday with Siena Grima again riding him.”

Jack Penfold, GM-Tamworth Jockey Club said: “It is also Clubs NSW Raceday, where representatives from leagues clubs around the north west meet for a conference and a raceday.

“It’s a Racing NSW Country Showcase meeting with $275,000 in prizemoney on offer with the feature the [$50,000] Showcase Super Maiden Plate over 1400m.”

At last year’s meeting the Showcase Class 3 Handicap turned out a hot race with the winner Inferencia landing a Rosehill Gardens Highway two months later on Golden Slipper Day.

The runner-up Fiorsum Fred then finished second in the Grafton Guineas and later won a Highway on Scone’s big Stand-alone Saturday meeting.

Tamworth Jockey Club backs up the following Friday (4 July) with an eight-race TAB meeting.

Next Sunday is Dubbo RSL Club Winter Country Classic Day highlighted by the $30,000 Winter Country Classic Final (1300m).

“The top seven gallopers from the both the fillies & mares, and the colts, geldings & entires qualifiers run on 6 June are eligible for the Final,” said Sam Fitzgerald, General Manager-Dubbo Turf Club.

Missy Moss won the fillies & mares race and Hammering Away took out the colts, geldings & entires event to qualify.

Another feature is the $30,000 Dubbo RSL Motel Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1400m) which is an Inglis Xtra Bonus Series race carrying a possible $100,000 bonus to the winner.

As well as a $15,000 cheque for first, connections of the winner receive the $100,000 bonus if the horse is an Inglis graduate from 2023 and beyond and paid up for the Inglis Race Series.

Another supporting race is the $50,000 North Dubbo RSL Sporties Super Maiden (1100m).

UPCOMING NSW COUNTRY RACE MEETINGS
Monday: Scone, Narromine
Tuesday: Port Macquarie
Thursday: Lismore
Friday: Moruya, Tamworth
Saturday: Gundagai
Sunday: Dubbo, Coffs Harbour