Robinson hoping luck turns for promising duo at Taree meeting

He’d be the first to admit they’ve both served up frustration in spades, but local trainer Matthew Robinson is still eyeing off a double-strike at Tuesday’s feature Taree meeting with a pair of “almost” gallopers.

Leading his five-strong team, capable five-year-old Mr Eighty Eight and talented four-year-old sprinter Zaru emerge as the biggest hopes. Both are desperate to cast aside a string of often luckless minor placings from previous campaigns.

Tuesday’s feature meeting is a seven-race card at Taree.Credit:Fairfax Media

Mr Eighty Eight, by leading NZ staying sire Tavistock, is chasing a breakthrough win third-up at his ninth attempt in a Class 1 & Maiden Plate at set weights over 1609m.

In fact, it’s mind-boggling how this gelding hasn’t yet broken through, having been placed six times, often by the narrowest of margins from tough draws.

But getting weight from his main rivals in what is only a moderate quality field, Mr Eighty Eight won’t get a better chance to get the monkey off his back.

Similar could be said for Rubick-sired Zaru who incredibly has just one win, but 10 minor placings, from 15 starts, including a fast-finishing second here resuming in a stronger Class 2 three weeks ago.

Dropping back to CL1 grade over 1300m, Zaru is poised to claim a second career scalp, and end seemingly non-stop frustration which started back late in 2019.

In his first eight starts, Zaru ran five second placings, three of those beaten by a neck or less.

Last year, on either side of a maiden win at home in early June, he went under by a neck, head and nose, among other close-up results, leaving punters wondering whether there was any other horse in country NSW saddled with as much bad luck.

But fast-forward to Tuesday, and Zaru looks well paced in a Class 1 Hcp (1308m) despite drawing wide.

Meanwhile, another local trainer will be under the spotlight with a power finishing five-year-old who hasn’t started since late April.

Farmer’s Friend, a lightly raced gelded son of Zoffany, is now in the Taree stable of Joseph Burges having transferred from Cody Morgan at Tamworth.

A back-marker renowned for booming finishes, Farmer’s Friend hasn’t been seen since making up late ground in a much stronger feature behind smart sprinter Ice In Vancouver.

But after a few setbacks and a change of environment on the NSW Mid-North Coast, he returns in a Benchmark 58 Hcp over 1005m for CL2 and above-rated gallopers.

BEST BETS:
R2 10. GRECIAN LASS
R3 10. MR EIGHTY EIGHT

BEST VALUE:
R6 2. TEARS OF EFFORT

Tips supplied by Racing NSW.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au.

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