MOREE Race Club tomorrow stages its eight-race Tradies’ TAB meeting, and Inverell trainer Ridge Wilson will bring a team of six runners across from the Sapphire City – all with tradesmanlike qualities, he says.

And no horse better suits that description than Lesgo Don, owned locally by Les Quinn and his family.

Lesgo Don will have his final start this campaign on his favourite track when reunited with jockey Ella Drew in the 1400m Patrons’ BM-58 Handicap.

“I don’t think any of my horses appreciate the Moree track as much as Lesgo Don,” Wilson said.

“He’s drawn a  touch sticky (10), but it’s good to have Ella back on board – we’ve had a bit of success together.

Inverell trainer Ridge Wilson and jockey Ella Drew talk tactics before winning with Lesgo Don at Moree last year. They reunite at the Moree Race Club’s Tradies’ day on Friday.

“Ella won a  Mungindi Cup for me with Jakat as well as quite a few other races – we’ve got a pretty good record.”

Drew was on board at this meeting last year, when Lesgo Don strolled home an easy winner in class 1 company.

Such was the strength of the race, subsequent Moree Cup winner Tavros and this year’s Mungindi Cup winner, Better Tomorrow, finished seventh and fourth respectively.

“Lesgo Don will roll forward – he runs his best races up on the pace – and Moree is his favourite track,” Wilson said.

However, Lesgo Don may not have everything his own way tomorrow, with stablemates Electric Evie and Warialda Cup winner Puzzle Designer also engaged.

Electric Evie will be ridden by senior jockey Kody Nestor, with 2kg-claiming apprentice Cassey Williams on topweight Puzzle Designer.

“Puzzle Designer can’t carry a lot of weight, so Cassey takes the ride,” Wilson said.

“He’s a Warialda Cup winner from earlier in the year, and always tries hard. He’ll be thereabouts.

“Electric Evie is a gross-doing horse and usually takes a run or two to come to hand, but she’s gleaming with dapples at the moment,” he said.

Electric Evie usually charges to the front, but last start came from third-last for third behind stablemate Purple Esprit at Armidale, beaten just over a length.

“Last start, she closed off probably one of the better runs of the race,” Wilson said.

“She was a long way off them early, but that was the plan because we’ve had some trouble with her in the past over-racing fiercely.

“We’ve gone for the experienced rider in Kody, and we’re just hopeful she can do everything right, and relax and settle. If she does, she’ll go all right, especially off her last run.

“Electric Evie’s record would be a lot better if she wasn’t her own worst enemy,” Wilson said.

Ella Drew brings Lesgo Don back to scale after winning at Moree last year. Drew reunites with Lesgo Don in the 1400m Patrons’ BM-58 Handicap at Moree on Friday.

Promising mare Purple Esprit chases her third win from as many starts this campaign when Wilson legs up Cassey Williams in the 1200m Tradies BM-66 Handicap.

“Since returning this time in, Purple Esprit has done everything right,” Wilson said.

“She’s just a beautiful horse, and so easy to do anything with – definitely one of the stable favourites, that’s for sure.

“She’s a horse on the way up and we’ve taken our time with her. Cassey gets along really well with the horse – she rode Purple Esprit at her first two wins, albeit in easier company without getting ahead of ourselves,” he said.

Purple Esprit is owned by  former trainer Stafford Wain and his wife Judith.

Wain won a Moree Cup as a trainer with San Sabarto, and returns to the track as an owner tomorrow.

“Stafford has always liked horses by Bel Esprit, and he purchased Purple Esprit as a yearling,” Wilson said.

“The horse is doing everything right, and I expect her to go well.”

Wilson also starts Smiling Amos in the 1300m Gwydir Gallop Class 1 Handicap and Speed of Swallows in the 1200m Caretaker’s Maiden Handicap.

Smiling Amos, formerly trained in Victoria by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, resumed from a three-year lay-off to finish second behind Solar Arc at Inverell two weeks ago.

Clayton Gallagher is booked to ride.

“Smiling Amos is a relatively newcomer to my stable,” Wilson said.

“He’s pleased us since we’ve had him here at Inverell and trialled up nicely behind a pretty good horse in Fukubana.

“His first-up run was really good, and I think he’ll appreciate getting out over a little longer.

“He’s drawn a good gate, which will definitely aid his chances and Clayton’s an ex-Moree boy who knows the track,” Wilson said.

Three-year-old filly Speed of Swallows also resumed for a second at Inverell two weeks ago after a one-start campaign earlier this year.

“Her first preparation was more educational,” Wilson said.

“We tipped her out and she returned with a good first-up run at Inverell. This race will definitely be harder, but she’s drawn a very good alley (2) with a good rider on board in Ben Looker,” he said.