While the Magpies celebrate their Group 11 Premierships and have a race named after them, Alex Prout will be the strapper of Viva Lavino a five-year-old mare he part owns with family members.

Due to contest the 1600 metres Peter Maher Shearing Services & Bryton  Wool Benchmark 58 Handicap, Viva Lavino is trained at Parkes by Alex Prout’s mother-in-law Sharon Jeffries and will have his wife, well known jockey Tiffany Jeffries, in the saddle.

Alex Prout had the opportunity to attend the recent NRL grand final between the Sydney Roosters and Melbourne Storm but chose to be the strapper for Mungery Picnic Cup winner Viva Lavino which had won at Mendooran the previous start.

An opponent tomorrow is the Rodney Robb, Nyngan trained Rusty Motorbike (Katelyn Jenkinson), a fast finishing second to Viva Lavino at Mungery.

The nine-year-old gelding Rusty Motorbike is racing in top form this campaign with recent wins in the Louth Cup and Cobar Picnic Cup.

From the Greg Hook stable at Kandos, Subway Surfer is capable of surprising having been second at $81 to Hirokin in the Bathurst Cup then winning at Mudgee and being placed at later starts before going for a spell.

Trained at Gulgong by Brett Thompson, Sorry I’m Awesome won a 1600 metres Maiden Handicap on Forbes Cup day in August and the most recent start was at Royal Randwick when unplaced on a heavy track.

Champion jockey Greg Ryan, who most seasons rides the highest number of winners in New South Wales, will handle Son Of A Fox, a last start fourth at Canberra, for Hawkesbury based trainers Tara and Philippe Vigouroux.

Greg Ryan has a full book at Forbes including Jane’s Dream, Egyptianbear, We Love Rugby, Hu Hit Hu and Kezaam in other races.

First race at Forbes is scheduled for 1.43pm.

Hoofnote:-Peter Maher, co-sponsor of the opening race at Forbes and a Forbes Jockey Club committee member, is a part owner of promising three year old Sneak Preview, a recent winner against a big field at Dubbo for trainer Kody Nestor.

Fields page 16.