Coffs Harbour preview: Noel Mayfield-Smith confident De Forza can rebound from some luckless runs and regain winning form
Noel Mayfield‑Smith believes De Forza should be assessed on his Taree win, not two recent luckless runs, when he steps out on his home track.
Trainer Noel Mayfield-Smith advised to forget the last two runs of De Forza and go on his Taree win before that when assessing his chances when he returns to his home track.
Mayfield-Smith said it was jockey error that had the major bearing on the four-year-old’s results in the Highway at Rosehill and the Class 3 at Taree.
De Forza raced on speed when seventh behind Lunaite at Rosehill then was held up on the fence and never got clear until the race was all over when seventh to Edge Of Midnight at Taree.
“Grady (Spokes) got off and said he should have won easily,” said Mayfield-Smith.
“He is a young kid going places but they (apprentices) make mistakes. He made a couple of little mistakes which ultimately turned out to be bigger mistakes as the race went on.
The favourite De Forza edges out Amaya's Secret on the line to win Race 2 for @mayfield_smith at Grafton! 💰 pic.twitter.com/RqTAuv6a3Q
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 20, 2024
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“In his previous start in Sydney, I thought he might have been better suited if he didn’t chance the leader.
“His last two runs haven’t returned the results we expected but I don’t think there has been anything wrong with the way the horse is racing.”
The son of Calyx drops back in trip for the Benchmark 82 Handicap (1010m) but Mayfield-Smith isn’t concerned.
“He’s quite a quick horse with a good turn of foot. I haven’t had to do anything with him and he has freshened up nicely,” he said.
Mayfield-Smith is also very keen on the chances of promising mare Never Island in the Paradox Agency Cup Benchmark 58 Handicap (1612m).
The six-year-old mare has had two runs back from a long injury-enforced lay-off and is ready to peak as she steps up to her favourite trip over which she has recorded all three of her wins.
She got back and worked home satisfactorily when seventh over 1310m at Lismore first-up on October 19 before a strong closing second behind Montgomery at Grafton on November 21.
“She took plenty of benefit from that first run at Lismore. That was her first start in 18 or 19 months and her Grafton run was extremely good.
“She has come on again since then, her work has indicated that and she is pretty close to her peak now.
Never Island digs deep and prevails!@NOELM_SMITHpic.twitter.com/CrZpu5GMlH
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 22, 2024
“I expect her to go very well. I really think she will be hard to beat.”
Depending on this result, Mayfield-Smith has the option of bringing Never Island to Sydney in a couple of week but he also has a longer term plan.
“If she happens to not win, she will go to Sydney for a Highway over the mile in a couple of weeks. If she does win, then she isn’t eligible for it,” he said.
“In the back of my mind, I’ve also got the Country Championships Qualifier which is going to be run at Coffs Harbour over 1400 metres which would suit her down to the ground.”
While Mayfield-Smith rates De Forza and Never Island his two best chances for the day, also expects Cardsharp to figure prominently in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1312m).
The gelding had no luck when fourth behind Snow Falcon at Lismore first-up and he will appreciate stepping out on his home track.
“Lismore is not his track and he ran into a fair bit of strife there,” he said.
“He was very fat first-up and he got held up coming into the straight and got bumped. “Under the circumstances, I thought his run was okay.
“He’s had a jumpout since that run which he went very well in and his work has been good so I expect him to go pretty well.”
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Scone trainer Rodney Northam is hoping Upwardly Mobile can make the transition from Highway grade to provincial winner with a view to a feature race goals in the autumn.
The four-year-old mare followed a home track win with three solid performances in TAB Highways finishing on the heels of the placegetters, twice at Rosehill when fourth to Nova Centauri over 1400m and fifth to Adolphus over 1500m and fourth behind Southern Dancer over 1500m at Randwick.
Upwardly Mobile appreciated the step up to 1600m when she scored by over a length from Credit Controller in the Midway at Newcastle on The Hunter Day.
“She just needed to get a bit of luck.” said Northam.
“Her runs have been consistent and she finally got a nice barrier at Newcastle last start. “It was well deserved after three good runs before that finishing right behind the placegetters and she won quite nicely in the end.”
It's the favourite's Highway!
— 7HorseRacing 🎠(@7horseracing) November 15, 2025
Upwardly Mobile too good for Reece Jones and @rodnortham 👠pic.twitter.com/bkUQyFhADL
The daughter of Divine Prophet takes on city horses when she contests the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) with Northam’s former apprentice and her regular rider, Reece Jones aboard from barrier 3.
“She’s got a nice barrier again this week. She is just able to race that little bit closer when she draws a good gate,” he said.
“She stays at the mile and I can’t see why she couldn’t race well again.”
All going well, Northam would like to give the mare a shot at the Country Championship Qualifiers next year.
“You need a rating of about 72 to get into the Qualifiers,” he said.
“Hopefully she can win or finish in the placings to help get her (benchmark) points up.”
Northam has scratched stablemate Jacenza from the same race with the gelding to head to the Mudgee Cup on Friday.
Joining Upwardly Mobile on the trip to Gosford is promising gelding Speedy Henry who resumes in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1100m).
The four-year-old has shown good ability in winning three of his four starts with two of those wins coming first-up.
“He’s a nice horse and he goes quite well fresh,” Northam said.
“I thought he trialled quite nicely at Scone the other day.
“If he runs well without winning, there’s a 1200 metre Highway in a three weeks time.
“He has been very green so once he learns how to race properly with a few more starts, I think he should keep on improving.”
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