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By Brenton Le Grand

Local trainer Wade Slinkard is aiming to bring up a hat-trick of wins with his consistent galloper Legistation ($5.50 on TAB fixed odds) at Hawkesbury on Thursday and it’s no secret the Aussie Rules gelding loves his home track, with all five of his career wins coming on this surface.

Having saluted on June 10 and June 21 there, the six-year-old looks to bring up three wins in the space of a month for his connections: “He just grows a leg here at home,” Slinkard said. “He’s had five wins and a few placings, and a bunch of fourths as well! He could’ve won seven or eight here by now with a bit more luck."

Legistation (Jean Van Overmeire) wins narrowly at Hawkesbury. Image by Bradley Photographers

Earlier on the card, Slinkard saddles up Trades Star ($26) in the Blakes Marine Metro and Provincial Maiden Handicap over 1500m.

Having raced all four career starts on his home surface, the three-year-old Nicconi gelding has never been far away and gets his chance in the small field on Thursday.

“He came from a long way back last start and really finished off nicely,” Slinkard said. “The step up to 1500m should suit and we know he is rock hard fit.”

With ten horses in work, Slinkard and his wife Doreen are always kept busy at their home and training ground Windermere Farm. Along with assisting with the horses Doreen leads a double life as an author, she is well known for her Wicky Wacky Farm children’s series, based on life at Windermere.

For the past five years she has expanded her horizons by writing an adult trilogy. The first book in the series of an Australian historical family saga ‘For the Love of Patrick’ is published and available in hardcover and Kindle. The next book ‘For the Love of Freedom’ will be published early 2019.

“I love working with the horses, but it’s also great being able to follow my creative pursuits,” Doreen said. “My first book contains episodes from The Australian Light Horse Brigade, so it’s not too far from home!”

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