THE trainer-jockey combination of Brett Thompson and Hannah Martin could be in for a big day at Coonamble today, with strong chances together in two races on the seven-race card.
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Martin, who has ridden 50 winners since starting race riding 10 months ago, will be aboard last-start winner Excited Lover and consistent sprinter Hewentwhoosh with both looking to be good winning chances based on recent form.
Hewentwhoosh will be out to add to his record of 11 wins and 21 minor placings from 20 starts when he carries topweight Agrigrain Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).
The six-year-old, a winner of more than $200,000 in prizemoney, was originally allocated 62kg but after the claim for Martin will lump just 60.5kg.
He goes into the event on the back of three top recent performances when fourth to Sugera at Gilgandra, a narrow second to Pennyforyathoughts at Gilgandra and third to Sutton Queen in a high-quality event at Dubbo.
Excited Lover, meanwhile, will be out to show a dominant maiden win at Wellington recently was no fluke when she lines up in the Agrigrain Fillies and Mares Class 1 Handicap (1100m).
With Martin in the saddle the Excites x Lover's Lookout filly stormed to an easy four-and-a-half length win first up in slow conditions and with Coonamble receiving 40mm of rain late last week, she should relish the sting out of the track today.
One thing against Excited Lover is the barrier draw.
The filly has drawn barrier 13 but could come in three spots if the emergencies don't get a start.
"I thought Excited Lover won really well last start but there hasn't been any suitable races for her since so Brett has had to be patient," Martin said.
"She got through the wet at Wellington so I'd imagine she will again and hopefully I can settle handy to them from the bad barrier so we don't have to make up too much ground in the wet.
"Hewentwhoosh has a big weight again but there's no suitable races for him out here so he has to go around in these races and cop big weights.
"But he tries hard all the time and he will give everything he has again."
As well as the two rides for her boss, Martin also looks to have some good chances for outside stables.
She will ride handy gelding Royal Rival for Narromine trainer Lindsey Kennedy in race one, with the four-year-old a chance after some recent good runs and in the last she will ride Orbitor, which ran well at the provincials at his most recent outing.
The first race at Coonamble is scheduled for 1.47pm with the last set down for 5.31pm
