By Neil Evans
A tough and consistent mare can reboot her bid to claim a spot in the Country Championship Final at Randwick in early April by winning the feature race at Monday’s Tamworth meeting.
Instead, a strong-finishing daughter of the great Lonhro, missed narrowly in qualifying for that $3 million Country showdown when finishing third at the home Mudgee Qualifier over 1400m only eight days ago.
Racing returns to Tamworth on Monday.Credit: Jenny Evans
Coming from the second half of the field on the turn and despite being held up at a crucial stage, Instead charged late to be beaten under half a length, with only the top two qualifying for the final.
But trainer David J Smith has wasted no time in resetting the five-year-old for a Benchmark 74 Handicap over the mile at Tamworth.
After a disappointing campaign through autumn and early winter last year, Instead was given 19 weeks off, which duly turned things around.
She swept home from midfield to win first-up at Bathurst in mid-November before beaten narrowly in a BM 58 when unsuited at Narromine.
But getting on to a bigger track at Dubbo brought reward as she charged home to claim a Class 2 over the mile before stepping up in trip to easily win a Class 3 at Gilgandra again coming from well off the speed.
The stable then gave her a seven-week freshen before that fast-finishing effort in the Qualifier at Mudgee.
Ultimately bred to get 2000m and beyond, Instead will take her record to an impressive five wins and five placings from just 16 starts if she salutes at Tamworth.
She opened on the second line of betting about $3.80 behind early $2.90 favorite Pensativa, which reloads off a fourth-up placing against similar opposition here 17 days ago.
All going to plan, Smith would likely target either the Country Championship Qualifier at Coonamble on March 15 or Scone on March 20 to qualify Instead for Randwick.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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