IN a golden New Year for the Manning Valley Race Club in Taree, the third of four TAB meetings in January lands today, but desperately-needed recent rain has sent local turf enthusiasts scurrying back through the schedule.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The club never saw a heavy track in 2019! In fact, a Soft 6 rating almost to this very day on January 21 was the only rating even remotely close.
Yet from a spate of firm tracks and oppressive fire ravaged weather, runners will get their toe a long way in today as a very competitive card unfolds on a likely Heavy 8 rating.
Certainly, one of the most watched runners at Taree today will be four-year-old Muswellbrook mare Stars Don't Lie having her first run since late October 2018 in a Maiden Handicap over 1005m.
A striking daughter of former top sprinter Star Witness, and trained by Tim McIntosh, Stars Don't Lie amazingly threatens to pick up where she left off 15 months ago after a nice trial at home.
But as they do nearly every reachable country meeting, Scone stables will have their say, with three-year-old gelding Glendor returning off a six month spell for trainer Stephen Jones, and the oddly-named Yawkyawk on debut for the strong and in-form Brett Cavanough yard.
One of the more intriguing races of the day is the TAB Hcp (1412m) to open the meeting, with five of the seven runners all backing up inside three weeks.
Promising four-year-old Newcastle gelding Time Raid looks hard to beat down in weight after a strong closing effort at Wyong a fortnight back, while Port Macquarie-trained last-start winner Chamisal, and Coffs Harbour six-year-old Triage who was luckless in defeat on this track just seven days ago, both have strong claims.
But of all the runners in the markets having their first crack on a heavy track, five-year-old Wyong gelding Midi should take to it like a duck to water in a strong Class 1 Hcp over 1614m.
Despite only one win from nine starts, Midi has hit the line hard all three runs this prep, but significantly he is sired by former Victoria Derby winner Monaco Consul who also won a Group 1 Champion Stakes at Randwick on a bog Heavy 10.
Race 1 @ 1.40pm TAB HCP (1412m) - Min weight 55kg; weights raised 1kg & apprentices can claim:
Good competitive opener, with a few chances headed by 4YO Newcastle gelding 2. TIME RAID (Jason Deamer/Andrew Gibbons) which wasn't overly suited back on the inside under a big weight at Wyong, but still made up good ground. Drops 3.5kg from that run, and is a soft track winner, so should get through it.
MAIN DANGERS: Port Macquarie 5YO gelding 1. Mister Smartee is getting up in weight, but good in the ground. Finished too strong in a BM 82 two runs back before stuck on okay in same grade this track. Small field should suit his pattern. Coffs Harbour 6YO gelding 7. Triage is on the quick back-up after having no luck in the straight in a BM 66 here a week ago, and while this is tougher, gets a significant weight drop. Include improving 4YO Port Macquarie gelding 3. Chamisal who finished hard to win that same race here seven days ago, and also drops in weight, but first time in heavy ground.
My Betting Attack: Time Raid to win and trifecta 1,2/1,2,3,7/1,2,3,7
Race 2 @ 2.15pm TRACKSIDE PHOTOGRAPHY MAIDEN HCP (1005m) - Min weight 57kg; weights raised 1.5kg & apprentices can claim:
Very tricky dash for the maidens with some first starters, and a few key ones resuming. Any betting move will be significant for 4YO Muswellbrook mare 1. STARS DON'T LIE (Tim McIntosh/Christian Reith) who resumes off a long break, but has trialled okay for a good sprinting stable, and looks ready after being scratched from home track meeting on Sunday.
MAIN DANGERS: Wyong 3YO filly 7. Dreams Out West was well beaten at 100/1 in two tougher runs on the speed before Xmas, but improved sharply to just miss at Port Macquarie before winning a trial so looks to finally have her mind on the job, and should handle the ground. Scone 3YO gelding 3. Glendor resumes off a seven month break, and showed significant improvement in a recent trial, and stable is having a good run. Again look for any market move with debutant 3YO Scone filly 5. Yawkyawk (Wandjina x Spooked by Scaredee Cat) who was out the back in a Rosehill trial before Xmas, but leading trainer/rider combination can't be under-estimated, and she's bred to get through the ground; while include 6YO Scone gelding 9. Fort Jackson who resumes off a fair trial in wider exotics.
My Betting Attack: Stars Don't Lie to win and first four 1,3,7/1,3,5,7,9/1,3,5,7,9/1,3,5,7,9
Race 3 @ 2.50pm FRIDAY 31 JAN RACES AT TAREE C, G & E MAIDEN PLATE (1257m) - Set weights & apprentices can claim:
Testing sprint for the boys at set weights, but 6YO Gosford gelding 4. JAY'N'JAY (Greg McFarlane/Chris O'Brien) can pay back punters fourth-up this prep from a good draw. Loves to park right on the speed, and ran three straight second placings to start the prep before swamped late this track, as a well fancied favourite. Bred to handle the conditions, and the blinkers come off.
MAIN DANGERS: Big watch 4YO Newcastle gelding 7. Solano (Fastnet Rock x Cierzo by Centaine) who debuts in blinkers for leading provincial stable, and has had two quiet trials. Include 4YO Newcastle gelding 2. Freedom's Fire resuming after two solid trials, and is b red to handle such ground.
My Betting Attack: Jay'n'jay to win
Race 4 @ 3.25pm WINGHAM SERVICES CLUB F & M MAIDEN PLATE (1257m) - Set weights & apprentices can claim:
Now the girls turn over the same trip, and there are plenty of hopes headed by Wyong 3YO 12. TOGUCHI (Kim Waugh/Darryl McLellan) who finished off nicely resuming at Muswellbrook when well backed, and this looks an ideal follow-up race. By a good wet track sire, and scratched from the 'brook on Sunday.
MAIN DANGERS: Resuming Newcastle mare 2. Lochita has looked good in two 1000m trials, and is headed for better races. Debuted on a heavy track at Warwick Farm last July, and stuck on okay from the front. Just needs even luck from a wide barrier to be in the finish. Wyong 3YO 9. Exotic Pearl resumes off a nice closing debut run at Tamworth last July, and has trialled okay. Another one first-up, Port Macquarie mare 5. Night Terror hasn't trialled, but reportedly working well, and has a real liking for rain-affected ground; while Gosford 3YO 7. Classic Gown returns off a nine week break off a smart trial win, but is a query in the ground at her ninth start.
My Betting attack: Toguchi to win and trifecta 2,12/2,5,7,9,12/2,5,7,9,12
Race 5 @ 4pm MID COAST AUTOMOTIVE BM 66 HCP (1614m) - Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Good competitive battle. Newcastle 4YO mare 4. SCENIC SIGHT (Kris Lees/Andrew Gibbons) is ready to peak after three runs back against tougher opposition, and wet track form from last winter was strong.
MAIN DANGERS: Wyong 6YO gelding 2. Foxdown hit the line nicely resuming at home, and has a good wet track record. Normally improves into his second-up run, although low draw in these conditions could be tough for one who likes to settle back in the field.Improving 3YO Gosford gelding 6. Django Unreined has been hard in the market and close-up this grade in two runs back from a spell. Draws to be in the finish again, but is a query first time in this ground. Port Macquarie mare 7. Hard Ruler has been finishing okay in and around this class, but best form is in rain-affected going; while include another Port mare 8. Our Girl Babs whose recent form is only moderate, but she drops in weight, and has a real liking for wet tracks being by Clangalang who won a Group 1 Derby on a Soft 7 rating.
My Betting Attack: Scenic Sight each way and box first four 2,4,6,7,8
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 6 @ 4.40 pm HARRINGTON HOTEL CLASS 1 HCP (1614m) - Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Plenty of chances in this one too. Improving 5YO Wyong gelding 2. MIDI (Les Tilley/Ms Rachael Murray) is knocking on the door after three fast-finishing runs this prep, and sire won a Group 1 over 2000m on a Heavy 10.
MAIN DANGERS: Gosford 4YO gelding 1. New Tycoon was his maiden in smart style at second career run before fighting on tenaciously at Scone after leading over the mile. Untested on wet tracks, but breeding is okay. Similarly, 3YO Coffs Harbour filly 4. Dazzling Charm is progressing nicely in her first prep, and also suited stepping up to this distance, but first time on anything under a good rated surface. Be shocked if the winner came outside these four.
My Betting Attack: Midi to win and box exacta 1,2,4
R7 @ 5.20pm KENNARDS HIRE TAREE BM 58 HCP (1255m) - Min weight 54kg & apprentices can claim:
Open contest to finish, but while 4YO Gosford mare 1. TAKE TO HEART (Adam Duggan/Ashley Morgan) looks to have a tough task resuming from a wide gate and carrying 61kg, but has had two solid trials, with the blinkers going on, and won only previous start in heavy ground. Well over the odds.
Dangers: Improving 5YO Newcastle gelding 3. Titus has been close-up in two of his three runs this prep, but looks under the odds from a wide draw and first time on a heavy rating. Local 4YO stallion and former Victorian 2. New Major did his best work late in first run for new stable, and will find this a little easier, but weighted to his best.
My Betting Attack: Take To Heart each way
Jockeys to follow: Andrew Gibbons
Trainers to follow: Kris Lees, Kim Waugh
My best bets:
R4 12. TOGUCHI** Expect: $3.45 - $3.60; My Early Rating: $2.35
R6 2. MIDI** Expect: $4.50 - $4.75; My Early Rating: $3.05
My best value:
R5 4. SCENIC SIGHT** Expect: $5.50 - $6.00; My Early Rating: $3.95
R5 8. OUR GIRL BABS* Expect: $12.00 - $14.00; My Early Rating: $6.75
R7 1. TAKE TO HEART* Expect: $7.00 - $7.50; My Early Rating: $4.05