De Joker leads the pack for Bathurst duo’s raid on Dubbo

Two Bathurst stables are set to launch a calculated raid on the feature Dubbo meeting on Monday, headed by a pair of emerging sprinters on track for bigger targets.

The yards of Angus Stewart and Gayna Williams combine for a potentially successful trip for a bumper nine-race meeting.

And heading that charge is promising three-year-old De Joker, who is eyeing off consecutive wins at only his fourth start when he tackles a Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1100m.

A son of underrated sprint sire Anders, De Joker has seemingly found his right home with Stewart in Bathurst after switching firstly from the Pat Murphy stable at Goulburn and then Paul Snowden at Port Macquarie.

But no one was laughing first-up off a long break at Dubbo five weeks ago when De Joker dropped out alarmingly after leading in very heavy going.

Back at home, though, he rebounded 11 days later, surging clear on another wet track to claim his maiden by nearly seven lengths, despite drifting in betting. Now on a firmer surface, and with a new claiming apprentice aboard, De Joker’s first big test comes.

The Stewart stable will also be eyeing off a double, with talented Gail Jeanette a leading chance in the feature BM 74 Handicap over 1000m.

A heavy-track winner at Dubbo two starts back, Gail Jeanette then found a fillies and mares BM 78 at Rosehill too tough. But the big drop in class and a firmer surface can see her take that winning strike rate to 33 per cent from 12 starts.

Meanwhile, the Williams stable will pin its faith on ex-Victorian three-year-old Panelli breaking through for the new base after being run down by a whisker at Dubbo a fortnight ago. The son of Too Darn Hot has reportedly done well since, and looms as the horse to beat in a Maiden Hcp over 1300m.

Supplied by Racing NSW