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By Ray Hickson

Coffs Harbour trainer Brett Dodson says he probably couldn’t find a deeper TAB Highway (1000m) to bring Petticoat to Sydney for the first time but an ideal draw presents him an opportunity to play to what he feels is her strength.

Trainer Brett Dodson (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old, whose two wins have come when first-up, competed in strong company through the summer in Queensland and Dodson said he’s had his eye on the race for some time.

He couldn’t have been happier when the mare drew barrier two as it opens up all options to jockey Tommy Berry.

“There looks a tonne of speed in it so it might give us the chance to just park in behind them because she has a really good turn of foot if you can hold her up,’’ Dodson said.

“She got squeezed out when she won at the Gold Coast (first-up last prep) and she put four on them.

“I’ve always wanted to ride her off the speed but she has such good gate speed she’s nearly always ended up in front.

“That Highway we set our sights on a long way out, that’s why she’s had a couple of trials, and she’s a very good fresh horse. It was a perfect race to kick her off in and we’ll see where we go from there.”

After Petticoat’s first-up win in December she was placed behind Arabian Summer and Cosmic Fire in a 1000m three-year-old race at the Gold Coast.

Both of those horses have subsequently won stakes races and Arabian Summer was Group 1 placed in the Moir Stakes two weeks ago.

That third placing run saw Petticoat, $4.80 with TAB on Wednesday, line up in the $250,000 Sunlight Consolation in early January where she was beaten two lengths by Cosmic Fire.

“She ran a cracking third to Arabian Summer, she was off the track, and the natural progression was to go to that Sunlight Consolation,’’ he said.

“Robbie Dolan came back and said if she’d got the run and the winner didn’t keep her in he reckons she beats it.

“She probably tapered off a little after that and she had some minor surgery done, and she’s come back better than ever.

“I’m looking forward to throwing her in the deep end but she’s raced against some pretty good horses. She has the formlines there and now’s the time to give her a try.”

Meanwhile, Dodson is hoping to give apprentice Grady Spokes his first professional winner with Full Press heading to Saturday’s Bowraville Cup (1370m).

The 22-year-old son of jockey Raymond Spokes has eight wins at picnic level and has recently made the transition under the eye of trainer Brett Bellamy.

And if he’s able to guide the eight-year-old to a first-up win it’d be even more special given the venue.

“He’s only just started riding (professionally), he’s a Bowraville boy and the last turn off before the racecourse is Spokes Road,’’ Dodson said.

Petticoat run second in a Grafton trial on September 9

“It’ll be a big thrill to him to head to Bowraville where his grandparents have a property and we’ll see if we can give him a winner in the Cup.

“The horse has trialled up well, he’s been in the same trials as Petticoat.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting