MARCUS Cooper is confident a number of his stable's athletes can feature among the sash winners at tomorrow's Ararat Gift meeting.
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The 100-metre Women's Gift is one race the coach would love to see go into the local group's ever-growing trophy cabinet and there is a good chance that could be the case with four Ararat runners competing Sarah Blizzard, Tiffany Boatman, Jacquie Scott and Ruby Klemm.
Cooper said Blizzard is perhaps the slight favourite of the four to challenge for winning honours, given her strong performance on the Victorian Athletic League circuit last season and a solid start to the 2014/15 year.
"On her early form I would say yes (she is the most likely), but she has missed a fair bit of running through studying for exams and going away," he said.
"She hasn't come back as good as she was when she left, but that is understandable because it has been a really busy time for her with finishing year 12. Now she has been accepted to university in Canberra, but I have mentioned to her that I want one more sash out of her before she does leave.
"I'd love her to win Ararat, it would be great. If she doesn't win here, then Maryborough (on New Year's Day) is the last chance.
"I know she will turn up and run her heart out, she always does."
Tomorrow's meeting will be Tiffany Boatman's first of the season, however Cooper said she has the talent to hold her own against quality runners, as was evident through her win in the 400-metre Black Opal final at Bendigo in March.
Boatman has been freshened in the lead up to tomorrow's event after several weeks of tough training to try and make up for her delayed start to the season.
Jacquie Scott will be looking to go one better in this event after finishing runner-up in the 2013/14 final to Melbourne's Sonya Pollar.
Cooper said he had full confidence in the 17-year-old.
"She is going to be the dark horse, don't worry about Jac!" he said.
"She just sits there in the shadows, but she will come out and win one very soon."
After claiming her first sash in almost two years, Ruby Klemm is also full of confidence heading into her hometown gift.
Cooper said Klemm is a big chance to add to her 2014/15 Northcote 300-metre Women's title.
"Ruby is training the house down at the moment, she is on a big high," he said.
"She'll give the gift a good shake, I'm sure she will run well and I have already put it to her that she should win the 300 (Women's/Masters) at Ararat.
"Why not? She is in great form."
Local nominations for Ararat Gift
Men
Marcus Cooper: 120m Open Gift
Fraser Heard: 120m U/20, 400m Open, 70m Open
Kieren Blizzard: 120m U/20, 70m Open
Paddy Turner: 120m U/20, 70m Open
Ben Boatman: 120m U/20, 400m Sportzbiz Restricted Series
Riley Taylor: 120m U/20, 400m Sportzbiz Restricted Series, 70m Open
Cooper Heard: 120m U/20
Angus Burns: 120m U/20, 70m Open
Dun Rilloraza: 120m U/20, 70m Open
Ladies
Sarah Blizzard: 100m Womens, 300m Womens/Masters, 400m Open
Ruby Klemm: 100m Womens, 300m W/M
Jacqui Scott: 100m Womens, 120m U/20, 300m W/M
Tiffany Boatman: 100m Womens, 300m W/M
Zoe Nicholson: 300m Womens/Masters, 400m Sportzbiz Restricted Series