Port Macquarie preview: Trainer Robert Agnew positive on progress Show ‘Em Howl is making
Agnew had hoped to get the son of Showtime to this year's Qualifier when lining up in the Championships Preview at Taree in January.
But the local trainer admitted Show 'Em Howl had just come to the end of his preparation by that stage but the time off had done him a world of good.
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'He was just at the end of his preparation when he got to that race at Taree,' Agnew said.
'But he's come back a much more mature horse and the time off has really become the making of him.
'He was really tough to deal with early on but he's just so different this time around and that's started to show in what he's producing on the track.'
The four-year-old gelding hasn't won in three starts this time in but showed he's come back in career-best form by shaping up in Saturday metropolitan company.
'He was a bit unlucky first-up in a good Highway when Anna (Roper) just got a bit held up on him but she got him into the clear at the furlong and he was super through the line.
'I thought he went great again at his next start at Rosehill and then last time out at Taree, he was brave in defeat.
'He tried his guts out to reel in the winner but it can be tough to do that at Taree so hopefully getting back to his home track and jumping from a good barrier, he can bounce back.'
Show 'Em Howl is one of two gallopers Agnew will be looking to qualify for next year's $1m Final at Randwick with Pony Soprano also on that path.
Nothing went right for Pony Soprano first-up in Highway company when he copped a bump at the 800m mark and lost his rider in the process.
Agnew reports he's come through it surprisingly good and has mapped out a plan to get him back to the Mid North Coast's qualifier in 2026.
'He'll trial next Friday at Taree and then will go into a country Class 3 at Port Macquarie on September 1,' Agnew said.
'If he wins at Port then there's a Highway over 1400 metres at Rosehill a few weeks later.
'He'll go for a spell after that and if he were to win both starts, he would arguably be favourite for our heat and will then follow the same program as Show 'Em Howl.
'With Show 'Em Howl, he'll have one more run following this one and then that gives me time to give him a good spell and go into the heat off two trials.'
Show 'Em Howl opened at $2.30 with bookies for today's 1500m contest with Paul Snowden's mare Cluedo narrowly behind as a $2.80 chance.
He's one of two gallopers featuring on Port Macquarie's card for Agnew with Prince Rupert looking to break his maiden status in the fifth race.
'I've been really pleased with the way he's come back this time in and the barrier gods have been kind with him too,' Agnew said.
'The horse of Nathan Doyle's (Dwayne) obviously looks hard to beat given the formlines he carries into the race when trained by Chris Waller.
'But my bloke is going good and being third-up into his campaign, should be right near his best.'
Prince Rupert is rated as an $11 chance to break through for win number one with Dwayne the $2.50 favourite.
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