Geelong trainer Heath Conners is optimistic his apprentice, Talia Rodder, will beat a handling charge ahead of her engagement on stable speedster Centexpress at Sandown on Saturday, reports The Age. It says: Rodder, 27, faces an adjourned inquiry on Thursday after stewards charged her with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure the Robbie Laing-trained Serene Tanie had full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in Saturday's Corporate Interiors Handic

Geelong trainer Heath Conners is optimistic his apprentice, Talia Rodder, will beat a handling charge ahead of her engagement on stable speedster Centexpress at Sandown on Saturday, reports The Age.

It says: Rodder, 27, faces an adjourned inquiry on Thursday after stewards charged her with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure the Robbie Laing-trained Serene Tanie had full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in Saturday's Corporate Interiors Handicap at Moonee Valley. Serene Tanie led at a speed the stewards deemed too fast and faded to finish second-last to stablemate Maquina.

''I am hopeful she is going to go there on Thursday and it will get thrown out,'' Conners said.

Victorian Jockeys Association chief Des O'Keeffe and senior jockey Chris Symons will be among those supporting Rodder.

''She is going to have a few people in her corner,'' Conners said.