Orange trainers Michael Plummer and Brad Draper will have a trio of chances at Bathurst’s Tyers Park on Tuesday, but it’s a future metropolitan contender that has really grabbed the attention of punters leading into the country TAB meeting.
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And, of course, it’s one of Bjorn Baker’s and Greg Ryan has the ride.
The trainer-jockey duo has an unbelievable record at Tyers Park and will link again with three-year-old Bel’s Boy in the Watermart Class 1 Handicap (1106 metres), the gelding is coming off impressive Rosehill and Kembla trials before a wide-barrier win at Orange in his debut two weeks ago.
It should mean he’ll start short odds for a repeat on Tuesday, given his wide draw clearly won’t be a deterrent.
The prolific Ryan will also ride fancied stablemates Hez Lethal and Money Travels in respective races as the link with talented trainer Baker flourishes with regular doubles and even trebles this season and last at the popular Central Districts track.
“He’s shown the progression to suggest he could be up to city grade. His gate speed was impressive, he ran time and won with something in hand,” Baker’s racing manager Jack Bruce enthused.
“We’re staying in the country with him as he’s taken a while to put it together and he needs more race and travel experience.
“But we’re confident about him taking the next step. And the pace he showed to position and finish off, suggests the wide draw won’t be a problem with Greg aboard.”
Bel’s Boys will face Plummer’s four-year-old Will She Appeal, the mare is coming in after a second at Condobolin and a win at Orange before that.
The Orange trainer also has Bathurstian in the fourth, while Draper’s In Our Sights is second-up from a 51-week spell, in the fourth.
Hez Lethal, a three-year-old Stryker gelding, contests the Rural Bin Service CG&E Maiden (1106m) after leading when resuming then a close fourth in a tougher Kembla maiden three weeks ago.
Finally, Baker and Ryan combine with Money Travels, who well is drawn in the 1400m maiden after a strong-finishing photo second over 1300m at Orange recently.
The first race on Tuesday is at 1.50pm.