Goulburn hosts a seven-race card on Monday and local trainer Scotty Collings will be hoping history can repeat itself.
Collings trained a winner on the corresponding program almost 12 months to the day (9th July 2021) and has a strong chance of doing so again this year with late bloomer Master Joe.
Master Joe ($2.50 favourite on TAB) goes around in Race 5, The Goulburn Soldiers Club Maiden Plate over 1000m and has already raised an eyebrow or two despite only having just set out on his racing journey.
The son of a Magic Millions winner (Unencumbered), Master Joe posted two slick trial wins in the autumn. Collings has since been pleased with the he four-year-old's output under some genuine race day pressure, returning to the runner-up stall at his first two starts.
"I thought his first two runs were super runs, especially his last run being a provincial meeting at Goulburn," Collings offered.
Nick Heywood takes the sit again and Collings was positive about the hoop's feedback after his latest effort at home on a heavy surface: "He thought he ran really well, the horse has just got to learn how to put it away. He has come through his last run well"
Collings also highlighted why it's been a 'one step at a time' journey to get Master Joe to debut at age four: "The horse got hurt as a three-year-old out in in the paddock."
Like many racetrack newbies of late the horse has done all his public work on soft or heavy tracks and finds more of the same on Monday with Goulburn currently rated a Heavy 8.
Collings has been going about his business with a reassured stable build over the past twelve months and now has 23 horses now on the books. Since the start of June Collings has notched a win and another six minor placings (including four seconds!) from fifteen starters.
In addition to Master Joe, it looks a potentially spicy day for Collings with three other runners accepted for Monday's home game. He sends Garratt Road ($23 - Jeff Penza) around in Race 2, the oxygen sapper on the card (Brisbane Meadows Class 1 & Maiden Plate 2150m) with the stayer lacking nothing in the fitness stakes.
He also has live chances late in the day with make all type Extravagent Lad (Jean Van Overmeire) rated a $6 chance in early markets for Race 6, The Radio Goulburn Class 3 Hcp 1000m. Extravagent Lad is building a solid overall record from just ten starts and looks well placed back to home surrounds after boxing on strongly to place at the Kensington circuit last start.
Collings also looks to have new stable acquisition Newtown Braveheart $6 (Nick Heywood) right where he wants him third up in Race 7, The Electel Services B58 Hcp 1300m. The galloper has had two starts for Collings now and the trainer is upbeat about his chances after an energetic back half in a recent six furlong outing.
"He should run really well based on how he went with his last start at Moruya." Monday racing at Goulburn kicks off with Race 1 timed to go at 12.45pm.
