Latest News

It not often you want to hear more backchat but that’s just what apprentice Coriah Keatings is hoping for on Friday as the winter racing schedule winds its way to Goulburn.

Keatings continues her association with last start winner Miss Backchat who aims up for back-to-back victories at the tablelands track.

The filly has been nurtured to a progressive ‘two-win-one-placing’ report card from her four starts by Group 1-winning trainer Gary Portelli.

Keatings had the best seat in the house last start as the filly shortened up the opposition in win number two.

A positive ride from a wide draw matched by the young hoop’s reflections on the effort.

“She began very clean from a wide gate and cruised into a lovely spot early with doing little to no work, she showed great fight first-up on a testing track,” Keatings offered.

Miss Backchat ($4.40 on TAB) tackles the Swiftwood Tiles and Bathrooms Class 2 Handicap over 1100m at Goulburn and Keatings says further improvement is a reasonable expectation.

“She really ticks all the boxes, has a great attitude towards racing and is still achieving everything on raw ability.

“Each start she seems to be improving and putting her best foot forward. If she can repeat her efforts from last start, she will find herself in a lovely spot again.”

The Keatings-Portelli combination is also in play with Straandstorm ($14) in Race 3, the Happy Retirement John Cramp Maiden Plate also over 1100m.

The I Am Invincible filly matched a respectable two-start summer debut campaign with a sharp recent trial on her home track.

“I thought her trial was impressive, they ran a nice time on a heavy Warwick Farm track, which should top her fitness off nicely for this first up assignment,” Keatings noted.

The filly held her own in metropolitan and provincial maidens last time in and heads to Goulburn as a jump off point for campaign number two.

“Her previous runs in higher grade have been consistent and I’m sure she will appreciate the drop in grade on Friday, looks a really nice starting point for her preparation,” Keatings said.

Keatings rounds out Friday’s assignment list with the ride on Rocas Grandes ($81 for Anthony Warren), the gelding third up in Race 6, the Home Base Real Estate Maiden Handicap over 1500m.

Keatings has been clocking up the kilometres of late with reward coming in the form of five winners and another nine minor placings in the past month.

“I’m Incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have been receiving from trainers and owners from country through to metropolitan level.

“It’s been extremely busy of late and knocking up plenty of hours in the car, but I am willing to continue to work hard to make an impact and build stronger connections in the provincial and metropolitan areas.”

Keatings will hope she can parlay some Friday form into Saturday at Rosehill Gardens where she also has three engagements including the ultra-consistent Moritz Girl who resumes ($51) for the Nick Olive stable.

Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 5 for Friday’s eight-race card with the opener set to go at 11.55am and the quaddie closer at 4.10pm.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Goulburn here