Confident of registering maiden Group One success

TOMORROW night’s $100,000 TAB Regional Championships – Hunter Final in Newcastle has assembled the most evenly graded of the four deciders being conducted throughout the state this week.

On paper, it appears there are several realistic winning chances, and despite drawing poorly on the backline, TAB Fixed Odds have Far Out Bro as a $3 favourite.

Veteran Maitland trainer Geoff Dorn will be represented by two runners in the feature and is excited by the prospect of leaving the International Paceway with his first Group One winner.

Dorn’s pacers Sergei and Oleg have struck a purple patch of form at the right time and both were impressive in winning their  heats on May 6, giving him the confidence they can play a strong role in the finish.

“I have been mucking around with a horse or two for more than 40 years but am yet to win a Group One,” Dorn explained.

“My father always had a handy horse in his care but none good enough to win a feature race.

“I have driven in a handful of Group races, and I would love to think I could snare my first here at Newcastle.”

Earlier in the week, Dorn had to make the tough decision of choosing which of his geldings he would drive in the Final, eventually settling on Sergei.

Dorn then quickly secured leading Hunter Valley reinsman Peter Hedges to partner Oleg.

“Sergei won a heat of this series last year and finished a creditable fifth in the Final, while Oleg only started racing six months ago, but keeps stepping up to the task when we ask him to do so,” Dorn said.

“Peter knows Oleg well. He has driven him in each of his five starts, winning three of them and I have no doubt he will give him a suitable trip despite drawing wide in gate eight.”

Wagga will host the TAB Regional Championships Riverina Final tomorrow afternoon and Narrandera trainer David Kennedy appears to hold the key to the race with four runners.

Stable driver Jack Painting has opted to partner odds-on favourite Rocknroll Runa, which was dominant in scoring by 14 metres in his heat on May 3, his 10th win from 18 starts.

• MICHAEL DUMESNY