OPPORTUNITY is attracting more metropolitan trainers to Racing Orange meetings.
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Monday’s Christmas Eve meeting at Orange’s Towac Park will include starters from eight metropolitan trainers.
Rosehill’s Greg McFarlane will have three starters in Monday’s meeting and said he was happy to bring his horses to Orange.
“We’ve always brought horses out that way,” McFarlane said.
“We take the horses where they can win races.”
The trainer said country meetings are often a great preparation for horses before they move to metropolitan class.
“The increase in prize money and the BOBS (Breeder Owner Bonus Scheme) gives us more incentive,” McFarlane said.
McFarlane added country meetings also gave many of the owners, who may not be from Sydney, a chance to see their horses race.
McFarlane will have Jamie’s Star in the Orange City Council 3YO Country Plate (1280m), Demon Nurse in the Vaada Benchmark 50 Handicap (1600m) and Primus Equus in the Hansen Yuncken Class 1 Handicap (1400m).
“All three can win. I expect all three to go close,” McFarlane said.
“We’ll try to get the owners some early Christmas presents.”
Other metropolitan trainers making the trip to Orange on Monday include Rosehill’s Con Karakatsanis and Mick Hood, Hawkesbury’s Bernie Kelly, Garry White, Wanda Ings and Richard Nutman, and Warwick Farm’s Bjorn Baker.
The region’s trainers will also be there in force including Orange’s John East, Sonja Sharp, Peter Stanley, Lee Van Den Bos, Sylvia Szabo, Brian Buckley, Don Oakley and John Langworthy.
Monday’s meeting will include seven races with the main being The Royal Hotel Morgan Brothers Trust Benchmark 75 Handicap (1000m).
The Royal Hotel won the silent auction to have the race, which is in support of the families of Steve and Trent Morgan, named after the business.
The race day will cater to the entire family with plenty of children’s activities planned.
The Towac Park gates will open at 12pm on Monday and the first race will jump at 1.10pm.
The last race starts at 4.50pm.
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