FOR better or worse, Austy Coffey is expecting his quietest carnival in several years.
With five horses nominated and no great chances, Coffey said he would be happy just for them all to get a run.
“It will be my quietest carnival in quite some time,” he said.
“I can’t remember how many years it’s been since I’ve missed out on getting a winner.”
Coffey’s horses Seagard, Silent Voice, Sesotho and No Fret have been nominated for races tomorrow, while Tel Onnah is nominated on Sunday.
“Whether they get runs or not though, we’ll just have to wait and see. There are 400 nominations,” Coffey said.
Silent Voice won over the same distance at Swan Hill two starts ago while Seagard, Sesotho and Tel Onnah would be having their first runs up after a spell.
Coffey said No Fret was perhaps his best hope for a winner.
“She is in great form, so I’m hoping she’ll be around the mark on the day,” he said.
Other than the party atmosphere of the carnival itself, however, Coffey might be provided with a reason to party on Sunday night thanks to son Harry.
Harry was riding at Mooney Valley on Wednesday before a rest day at home yesterday.
He’ll be aboard Tel Onnah and No Fret for his dad this weekend.
“He was riding at Mooney Valley [on Wednesday] and Geelong [on Tuesday],” Coffey said.
Coffey said his son was due for a day off before the start of the carnival at which he’d have a number of rides each day.
