She's the only trainer working out of the Parkes Jockey Club and doesn't get to race at her home track all too often so Sharon Jeffries is very much looking forward to Saturday's Australia Day meeting.
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With COVID-19 restrictions forcing the cancellation of the popular annual Parkes picnics last year there hasn't been racing at the track since a spectator-free Parkes Cup day on May 17.
Jeffries has still managed to find plenty of winners around the west in recent times but is especially excited for the chance to race at home again on Saturday.
"We don't have a chance to race here in Parkes very often, so both Dale (husband) and I are really looking forward to seeing how the horses go on their favourite track," she said.
"They always seem to race pretty well here. They get up and about seeing all the different horses and people step onto their home turf."
They get up and about seeing all the different horses and people step onto their home turf.
- Sharon Jeffries
Jeffries and husband Dale, who is the sole trackwork rider at the moment, have Flashlin and Coulpa set for the meeting.
The Jeffries' hopes will bookend the meeting with Flashlin contesting the day's first event, the Parkes Farm Centre Maiden Plate (1600m), while Coulpa will help bring the curtain down on the meeting in the Telescope Tyres and Batteries Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).
Coulpa heads into the meeting having scored two wins and three minor placings in his last seven starts and will go from barrier 10 with Andrew Banks in the saddle.
"Coulpa has been racing really well of late, he only went down by a nostril last start so I definitely think he is ready to win on Saturday," Jeffries said, before speaking about the stable's handy run of form.
"We've been lucky over the past few months, having success with some ridiculously cheap horses.
"We bought Maria Elisa for only $700 and Coulpa cost just $600. We just look for horses that will be suitable for out here and we get them and give them a bit of TLC."
The class event of the day is the Parkes Gold Cup May 16 Open Handicap (1400m), where Dubbo trainer Garry Lunn will saddle up Careering Away.
Six-year-old Careering Away has placed twice in three starts for Lunn.
Careering Away finished sixth behind Lucienne at Wellington last time out and the Brett Robb-trained mare will also be in action on Saturday.
The field also includes The Long Run from the Wellington stables of Peter Stanley and Narromine trainer Wayne Collison's A Martin Placepick.
