Scott Garraway has only recently started to crank up his training operation and it's already paying handsome dividends.
The 2019-20 season has been by far the Cabarita horseman’s busiest with more runners and more winners.
Garraway has prepared 140 starters for 23 victories and more than $130,000 in prizemoney. It’s a big lift on his previous best campaign of 2018-19, when he produced 13 winners from only 41 starters.
Garraway looks well placed to lift that winners tally with a squad of four aimed at tonight’s Mildura meeting.
Pictured: Simon Jardine and Scott Garraway with Cocos Beach, courtesy of Harnesslink.
The best chance appears to be stable newcomer This Is Bill, who is looking to make it three wins in succession after back-to-back Globe Derby triumphs when in the care of Ryan Hryhorec.
Garraway had the horse nominated for three races last week, but he failed to gain a start in any of them.
"There is no issues with the horse. He was just balloted out, he was first emergency for each race," he said.
"He won on the Monday (September 7) and then basically came straight to me.
"The draw is against him. If he goes as good as he works at home I think he'll win, but he's over 2190m and has been racing over 1800m.
"There's a couple of factors there against him. The draw and he's probably unknown over the distance... most of his racing has been over the shorter trip."
Garraway's other runners include Orama in race two and Wilshire Boulevard and Heaven Attracts, who clash in race five.
SCOTT GARRAWAY'S ON HIS CHANCES
RACE 1: This Is Bill (driven by Simon Jardine)
"He hasn't missed a beat, the horse is well and if he runs up to his work at home I think he'll win."
RACE 2: Orama (driven by Simon Jardine)
"She's only been with me for a week and I don't know a lot about the horse. I gave her one fast work at home and she went quite well. Coming from down there it's probably a drop in grade for her racing in Mildura and we expect her to run well still. Drawn out the back over the short is probably not ideal."
RACE 5: Wilshire Boulevard (driven by Luke Watson)
"He is probably stepping up a bit in grade. He's come out of a three-year-old straight in as a 58 so he's racing seasoned horses, but it was a good run last week. He ran on from out the back. He'll push forward at the start I reckon from the draw and he'll run a good race again. I'm pretty impressed with him. His work is pretty good."
RACE 5: Heaven Attracts (driven by Simon Jardine)
"He's got some gaiting issues - he's a bit of a rough-going horse. I've re-shod him again in the last few days just trying to get him off his knee. He hits his knee real bad so we've changed a couple of things with him. We are just hoping we've got it right really. He's probably a better horse than Wilshire Boulevard at this stage only because he's a seasoned horse, but Wilshire Boulevard is probably drawn better than he is and gets around the track tractable. Heavens Attracts, your heart is in your mouth with him. If he doesn't get up outside the leader early I think he is in a bit of trouble."
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TUNE IN at MELTON
First Race: 1.47pm Last Race: 5.30pm
Host/Racecaller: Dan Mielicki will be joined by co-host Rob Auber to provide coverage from the VHRC Parade Ring to the Winners' Circle.
Trots Vision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: WATCH LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
TUNE IN at MILDURA
First Race: 6.03pm Last Race: 10.37pm
Host/Racecaller: Luke Humphreys.
Trots Vision: WATCH LIVE
SEN Track: WATCH LIVE
RSN 927: LISTEN LIVE
BLAKE REDDEN ON MELTON
R3: SCHWEPPES 2YO MAIDEN PACE
EARLY SPEED:
3 (Potential leader) + 1? 2? 7?
SELECTIONS:
RENDEZVOUS (5), SHAUN TO THE MAX (7), OUR KINKY BOOTS (3), ALL THE FOURS (2).
RATINGS:
5 / 7 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 6 / 4 / 8
SUGGESTED BET:
RENDEZVOUS (5) To Win.
LUKE HUMPHREYS ON MILDURA
R3: TAB LONG MAY WE PLAY 3YO PACE
EARLY SPEED:
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
SELECTIONS:
ROBERT CROCKA (3), BETTERTHANFEDERER (6), MISTER JIMARINGLE (8), COSTLY MISTAKE (7)
RATINGS:
3 / 6 / 8 / 7 / 1 / 5 / 2 / 4 / 9
SUGGESTED BET:
ROBERT CROCKA (3) to Win
For tips and speedmaps for all races visit Good Form at thetrots.com.au