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By Tony Megahey

It’s an odd but amicable situation when a leading regional trainer is opposed by his foreman into a TAB Highway Handicap at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Queanbeyan ace Joe Cleary has a substantial satellite stable at pristine Moruya managed by local Shaun Coady who also trains just three of his own there.

Joe has former Tracey Bartley five-year-old gelding Kissing Supido ($23 on TAB) with 56.5kg for Big Dance winner Tommy Berry, while Coady has three-race winner Fourcade ($23) with 55.5kg for Amy McLucas in the TAB $120,000 Class 3, 1200m, episode.

Coady continues rich family racing traditions. His grandfather Wally Coady, originally from the Riverina, trained for decades at Warwick Farm and as a 10-year schoolboy in 1906 was a stable boy for Banjo Patterson at Wee Jasper near Yass.

Fourcade wins at Moruya for apprentice Coriah Keatings. Image by Bradley Photographers

Of Shaun’s three gallopers, Fourcade and Snappy Jim both won at recent Moruya TAB meetings.

But at the opposite end of the scale of fortune he was kicked by the third and spent time in hospital.

“Career horseman Shaun, does a super job, when you’re winning races it’s well worth a crack in town to see how far they can take it,” offered Joe Cleary.

“My horse is race fit third run in this prep, he’s genuine and out to his right distance range.

"Has a good gate, his jockey is at the top of his game and yep, we’ll run a race at odds,” enthused Joe.

Last month at Queanbeyan Kissing Supido was beaten a neck by My Last Hooray trained by Joe’s racing great father Frank Cleary who prepared a Golden Slipper winner.

My Last Hooray with three successive wins is rated one of the hottest prospects in the southern region.

“It’s a pearler, goes enormous, only got us late so a good form line for a class 3 here. Dad's horse will win better races.”

Joe, a Highway original and with several series winners, is wider in the markets as is Fourcade.

Goulburn's Danny Williams has the $3.80 TAB favourite Atmospheric Rock with Jason Collett riding.

And typically record series winner Matthew Dunn has $8 chance Zelgaria off successive wins at Ipswich and Ballina and an earlier Eagle Farm placing.

With Dunn’s regular series rider Nash Rawiller in Melbourne, Joao Moreira replaces with 59kg and barrier 6.

The Messara & Gavranich-trained Gentileschi, the $4.20 second favourite, was considered promising enough to contest the Queensland Oaks last prep off three impressive regional wins.

While she has been primed by successive trials, barrier 18 is a disaster in a capacity field with emergencies as the Dundeel mare is back in distance.

Early scratchings are Lordster, Burrandana, Cyclone River and Dancenuff from wide barriers. The Gardens at present is a Good 4 in overcast weather.

View final fields with full form & race replays for Rosehill Gardens here