The Canberra-based training partnership of Barbara Joseph and Paul Jones will saddle up stablemates Thereheiz and Delabombell during Friday evenings Canterbury meeting.
Five-year-old gelding Thereheiz will contest a No Metropolitan Wins Handicap over 1100m after resuming last start at Goulburn.
Thereheiz has a perfect second-up record having won all three of his career second-up runs after a spell.
Despite finishing ninth last start, three-lengths adrift and rising in class here, co-trainer Paul Jones said he expects Thereheiz to feature strongly.
“That was a $15,000 race at Goulburn and a very strong race as well. He wasn't really beaten by a great deal in the end and didn't get the best run so I was quite happy with how he went,” Jones said.
“He is probably a fringe mid-week class horse at the moment but we'll be hoping he can get his first metro win up there”.
Peter Robl has been engaged to ride Thereheiz and will start wide from barrier ten. Jones said that Robl needs to get away well if he is to challenge for the win.
“Ideally he can't get too far back on them. I'm expecting a fast pace so I'll be hoping Peter can get him across into about midfield, maybe three-lengths off the lead. I'll be very happy if he can get him into that position.”
Joseph and Jones' second runner, Delabombell will resume after almost five months in the paddocks when she contests a Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1100m.
The five-year-old mare ended her last campaign with a win and second place at Canberra's Thoroughbred Park. She is yet to trial publically since those runs.
“She has had a couple of unofficial runs out at Canberra since her last race so fitness won't be an issue for her,” he said.
“I think she should be at least somewhere in the top five at the finish. I'll be disappointed if she finishes any lower”.
Apprentice jockey Shaun Guymer will ride Delabombell on Friday evening with his three kilo claim helping to negate the mares 59.5kg topweight.
“Shaun has ridden a bit of track work on her before, so he knows the horse quite well. I'll want him to ride a positive race,” Jones said.
“Ideally he needs to get her forward and slot in just off the lead”.
Jones said that Joseph and himself are still not certain where they will take their two horses after the Canterbury Park meeting.
“I don't know where we'll be taking Thereheiz at this stage, but I think we'll probably take Delabombell to Hawkesbury next start,” said Jones.
“She seems to like that track so we'll try and find a race for her out there.
“Another option would be to find a 1000m race out at Mooney Valley, but that would be our second option.”
