Latest News

By Graeme White

Washington Towers will return to racing at Queanbeyan on Tuesday with connections hoping he can deliver a display worthy of gaining the attention of a slot holder for The Kosciuszko.

The talented five-year-old won his final two starts prior to a spell and takes on a strong line-up in The TAB Federal (1000m).

Canberra trainer Todd Smart has Washington Towers exactly where he wants him heading into his first race start since winning a Benchmark 66 at Wagga in March.

Washington Towers is well down the list in betting markets for The Kosciuszko, but a win on Tuesday would boost his chances of gaining a spot prior to the draw for slot holders on Thursday.

Smart has also taken the precaution of nominating the gelding for races at Gosford and Hawkesbury this week in case further rain affects the Queanbeyan track which is rated a heavy ten.

The future race agenda isn’t as high as a Kosciuszko for Canberra trainer Rob Potter with his representative Scalded who resumes in The Federal.

Scalded is one of three mares Potter has resuming racing on the day and he is confident they will all perform up to expectations.

Washington Towers wins at Wagga in March

“The track being a heavy ten brings her right into contention as she is an absolute swimmer,” he said.

“I think she will get back a bit from where she is drawn as there is a lot of speed in the race so I expect her to be getting home hard.

“Her form is ordinary first-up, but she hasn’t been first-up on a heavy track before either.

“She is a knockout chance at odds if they go hard up front.”

Leading country jockey Matthew Cahill will ride Scalded, while apprentice rider Damon Budler will be aboard his other starters, More Shots and White Liar.

It will be the opposite in The Federal with Budler to ride Washington Towers.

Potter is expecting his trio to acquit themselves well and feels White Liar is his best chance of winning in the Allbids Maiden (1000m).

“She is probably the most talented horse I have got and when the penny drops with her she will be a nice horse,” he suggested.

“She has easily worked with higher graded horses – if she puts it together she probably wins.”

Meanwhile, Potter will gain a better guide on how More Shots is looking this campaign when she resumes racing in the Queanbeyan Leagues Club Benchmark 58 (1460m).

More Shots took 16 starts to win her first race, but then won two more in succession including a $50,000 feature race at Orange in April.

Potter is confident the same version of More Shots will be seen this campaign.

“I have had her for nine starts - she had several others before that – and now that I have worked her out she is going really well,” he said.

“She is about 90 per cent fit for this race and also has a big weight first-up over 1460 metres, but I reckon she won’t be far away.

“She is pretty talented and even though she has had 19 starts she is still learning.”

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday's Queanbeyan meeting