She’s one of the more popular trainers anywhere along the NSW seaboard, and Joanne Hardy is planning a three-prong spring value splash at Tuesday’s Grafton meeting.

Less than two weeks after her seven-year-old stable star Real Time Warrior upset a strong Benchmark 68 field at Gosford, the Coffs Harbour-based Hardy is pinning her faith on three runners at the Clarence River Jockey Club meeting.

She saddles up progressive Sebring four-year-old Gaslighter for just his third start in a maiden Hcp (1710m), and only his second run for her since the gelding was transferred from the David Van Dyke stable in Queensland.

After working home late at this track three weeks ago, Gaslighter has been stepped up in trip, and he will be hard to hold out jumping from the inside barrier in the opening race on the card.

The Hardy stable then produces improving five-year-old Kentucky Grey, who is set to peak third-up with a sharp drop in weight, in a moderate maiden Hcp over 1106m.

Her best chance, though, looms in the final race - class 1 Hcp (1106m) - with returning Hinchinbrook four-year-old Endangered Species, who hasn’t started since an ultra consistent and somewhat luckless campaign through summer and early autumn.

Still with only that one maiden win under his belt in early February, Endangered Species was either in the placings or just behind in his next five runs, generally in stronger company than this.

In fact, he’s been one of the more reliable performers in her stable throughout a challenging 2021 since transferring from the Hawkes yard in Sydney.