With NRRA Country Championships heat run and won it is sad to report that despite his best efforts Noble Missile just failed to qualify for the final at Randwick when he was a solid third in the qualifier on Saturday. It remains to be seen if the stable decide to have another crack at qualifying in the Wild Card at Scone later in March.
Whilst Grafton did not qualify a runner for the CC final all was not lost with two winners on the eight race card being provided by Grafton Trainers.
Shane Everson continued his strong year when the very speedy Toy Boy Roy led throughout to win the Maiden 800m.
Ridden by Luke Rolls Toy Boy Roy went straight to the top and was never in any danger of defeat racing away to win by over two lengths.
It was the sixth race start for Toy Boy Roy which had already indicated his skill level with three close up seconds in his career.
As they say in the A team I love it when a plan comes together and for Taree trainer Ross Stitt that is exactly what happened on Saturday.
Ross had always had an opinion of Roman Rebel from day one but to say the horses barrier manners were of concern is an understatement.
Ross had tried all his tricks but with what is now a boutique stable he was down on the required staff to get the gelding going properly.
Then the penny dropped both Sam and Matt McGuren had been apprenticed to Ross during their careers. Matt had already developed a reputation of being able to coax a bad barrier horse into a more professional racehorse.
With this in mind Roman Rebel was transferred to Sam McGuren in July last year. Things were not exactly going to plan when Roman Rebel refused to load twice once at the races then once in a trial before Matt was finally able to weave his magic and get him passed to race.
A well earned spell to keep his head right then first up to Coffs Harbour on Saturday in a Maiden 1200m was the plan.
Matt McGuren elected to stick with a Matt Dunn runner. Brooke Stower became the rider of choice having had success for both camp McGuren and camp Stitt in the past.
Romam Rebel jumped straight to the top before Brooke took the drag to be leaders back but ended up shuffled back coming to the turn.
Once in clear air below the 300m Roman Rebel worked through the field to get to the top in the shadows of the post.
In one of the better kept secrets on the day it was part owners Ross Stitt’s birthday so there is no better way to celebrate.
