O’Brien rides primarily on the provincial and country circuit but made a successful visit to Randwick last Saturday, partnering The Lion to a runaway win in the TAB Highway.

The experienced horseman has four rides at the Quirindi meeting and gives each a competitive chance.

Fading Mist, trained by Sue Grills, should prove hard to beat in the Class 1 Handicap (1200m) for fillies and mares.

The lightly-raced mare won her maiden at Moree when resuming, has continued to improve with each run since and goes to Quirindi off a close third to Jack’s Image at Scone.

“I think Fading Mist is in what looks to be a winnable race,’’ O’Brien said.

“She has the speed to take advantage of her inside barrier and should be in this race for a long way.’’

The Jenelle Butler-trained Katgully Red also brings impressive form to the Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

Katgully Red won his maiden on debut then ran a close third to Coonemara and Tim’s Principal at Scone during the Cup Carnival last month. The gelding was tested at the provincials last start and ran well for sixth to Americana Magic.

“I watched his Wyong run (yesterday) morning and he went well, I liked the way he finished off last start,’’ O’Brien said.

“He’s an improving horse and has decent form for a Quirindi race.’’

O’Brien also expects Comacina, co-topweight for the John Sinclair Cup (1600m), to run an improved race.

“I rode him first-up at Muswellbrook over 1000m and, although he was well beaten, I thought he went OK,’’ O’Brien said.

“He’s had three runs back now so his fitness should be there and he’s out to a distance that suits.’’

O’Brien’s other mount is Little Geoffrey in the Quirindi opener, a Maiden Plate over 1100m.

Little Geoffrey impressed the jockey last start when he closed late for third to Keemon in a 1200m Quirindi maiden.

“I feel he is better suited coming back to 1100m and he has drawn the right barrier,’’ O’Brien said.

RAY THOMAS’S BEST BETS

QUIRINDI

BEST BET: RESTLESS (Race 1, No. 2)

Restless has had a few chances and was a beaten favourite at Cessnock last start but he does look well placed. He’s drawn the rails and should get every chance in the run. Ready to win.

NEXT BEST: FADING MIST (Race 4, No. 5)

Fading Mist drew wide and was three wide facing the breeze before being forced very wide on the turn but still ran on gamely for a close third at Scone over 1000m last start. She was entitled to drop out at Scone but produced a brave effort to go under by about a half-length. Drawn the rails, gets out to 1200m and should be very hard to beat.

QUADDIE: R4: 1, 3, 4, 5; R5: 1, 2, 3, 6; R6: 1, 6, 9; R7: 1, 5, 6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW: Andrew Gibbons rode four winners from as many rides at Newcastle last Saturday and will be trying to repeat the feat at Quirindi. He has four rides on Latin Belle, Alanton’s Philly, Andriana and Keemon.

COROWA

BEST BET: ROAMING TO WIN (Race 4, No. 5)

Roaming To Win indicated she was close to a win with her fast-finishing effort at Albury when second in similar grade last start. She has been improved by her three runs back and won fourth-up last campaign. The 1600m trip is ideal.

NEXT BEST: MOVES LIKE ZIZI (Race 1, No. 12)

This two-year-old filly makes her debut against older horses but indicated her share of ability with an impressive barrier trial win at Albury two weeks ago. She settled just in behind the leaders but, when she was asked for an effort, she accelerated brilliantly between runners. Drawn well and will be very competitive.

Spackman stable keen to keep winning

TRAINER Scott Spackman might be preparing to “reach for the sky” with stable stars O’ So Hazy and Takookacod in the new season but his immediate focus is trying to get the best out of Roaming To Win and Bay Lane at Corowa.

Spackman is confident he has found the right race for Roaming To Win, who lines up in the Class 2 Handicap (1600m), but he is only cautiously optimistic about Bay Lane’s chances in the Maiden Plate (1400m).

Roaming To Win has been improved by three runs back from a spell including successive minor placings at Albury over 1600m

“I thought she was ready to win last start and, even though she was beaten into second place, she went super,’’ Spackman said.

“She won fourth-up last campaign and I think 1600m is about her right trip.

“She is not a real big mare but she tries hard and I’m hoping she can measure up to TAB Highway level.

“I trained her half-sister, Romancing To Win, and she was good enough to win the Wagga Town Plate Prelude and this mare has her share of ability, too.’’

Bay Lane has been unplaced in all seven starts so far but Spackman took some encouragement from the gelding’s last-start effort when he led for a long way before running ninth, less than four lengths from the winner at Wagga Wagga.

“He did run a better race last start although he needs to keep improving,’’ the trainer said.

Spackman has enjoyed a career-best season with his small Wagga team, winning 17 races and nearly $500,000 prizemoney. O’ So Hazy and Takookacod have been the trainer’s premier runners with both winning five races.

O’ So Hazy, a rising five-year-old mare, has earned the bulk of stable prizemoney, amassing just over $200,000 including her win in the Provincial Championships Qualifier at Wagga and her game third to classy duo Victorem and Don’t Give A Damn in the Provincial Championships Final at Randwick.

She was spelled after her fourth to Coolring in the Wagga Wagga Town Plate last month.

Takookacod, also won five times during the season, and was competitive against O’ So Hazy when sixth in the Coolring race last start.

“They both had great seasons, I’m blessed to have them in my stable, and I think we will have to reach for the sky with them from now on,’’ Spackman said.

“I went to see O’ So Hazy (Sunday) and she is enjoying her break. She had a great preparation and I think we will try and chase some black type with her in the spring.

“I’ve got a nice yearling by Cluster who is a half-brother to O’ So Hazy who is showing us a bit of promise. I hope he is an early season two-year-old but he will let me know when he is ready to go to the races.

“Takookacod also did a fantastic job for us and she was very unlucky in town a couple of times. I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do next season.’’

INSIDE MAIL WITH RAY THOMAS

QUIRINDI

RACE 4

Fading Mist was wide without cover and still ran a blinder when a close third at Scone last start. Improving mare drawn to get the perfect run. Bangkok had run second in six of her first nine starts before finally breaking through with a dominant effort at Mudgee. She should take confidence from her last-start effort and could go right on with it now. Pricing Power ran well at Casino first-up and is fitter while Greater Good gets in well with the claim.

BETTING STRATEGY: Fading Mist at $9.50 is a good each way gamble.

RACE 5

In a competitive race, Katgully Red boasts the right form lines. He won his debut then ran third at Scone during the carnival behind unbeaten Coonemara and Tim’s Principal. The runner-up has since won at the provincials to frank the form. Katgully Red did run sixth at Wyong last start but he was working home well after getting a long way back. Keemon did win over this course and distance last start and the speedy Red Axe was too fast for his rivals at Tamworth. Smith, Titus and Pat’s Nipper are not without chances, either.

BETTING STRATEGY: Box trifecta 1, 2, 3, 6

RACE 6

Rockatorio is racing in a rich vein of form including his game effort when chasing home Unbiased in the Gunnedah Cup. He’s well drawn, nicely weighted and a winner on the track — he ticks all the boxes. Another Larga and Annandale Lass are capable of improving and Dayarma adds value to multiples.

BETTING STRATEGY: Rockatorio to win

RACE 7

Magic Beneteau had to do a bit of work when resuming and held on well to run fifth over 1100m here. Fitter now and the shorter trip is no concern. Bold Lady won with authority at Wellington and is an improver. Warwick Avenue is first-up here over an unsuitable trip but will be charging home late. Gone Viral has been thereabouts in stronger races.

BETTING STRATEGY: Magic Beneteau each way

COROWA

RACE 4

Roaming To Win should be very hard to beat. She has steadily improved with each run and was unlucky at Albury when wide throughout and only collared near the line. She should get a better run from the good gate. Captain Magic is an improver, Ruby Skye is fitter and Bromach caught the eye when resuming. Rockintheriver ran down Roaming To Win at Albury but he tends to get a long way back and needs everything to go right in the run.

BETTING STRATEGY: Roaming To Win to win

RACE 5

Fire Stoker is a model of consistency and just missed a hat-trick of wins when Like A Shot sprinted by him at Albury. Fire Stoker has drawn wide but has the early speed to get over and settle on the speed. He will take catching again. It’s A Fireball, a maiden winner at Murray Bridge by over eight lengths, is first-up but he looked sharp in an Albury trial win. Snippet Of Gold is working up to a win and Bold Approach has been improved by recent racing.

BETTING STRATEGY: Box trifecta 1, 2, 6, 7

RACE 6

Like To Think So is a dual acceptor (third emergency race 7) and is a winning chance in either race. Drawn well for the 1000m sprint and looks primed after a good recent trial win. Our Project isn’t a noted first-up performer but he has a class edge over most of these. Grey Strike and Corazon De Oro are place chances.

BETTING STRATEGY: Like To Think So to win

RACE 7

Flying Cyril was three wide most of the way and held on well to finish sixth, less than two lengths behind All Aflutter at Wagga. Fitter for two runs back and the 900m dash suits. Like To Think So is third emergency but can make his presence felt if he starts. Kapover resumes and will find this well short of his best, watch for him finished powerfully in the last 200m. Similarly, the grey All Aflutter will be coming fast late in the race.

BETTING STRATEGY: Flying Cyril each way