Dogs star rushed into NSW camp to cover To'o
Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz will cover Brian To'o in NSW camp as the Panthers gun races the clock to overcome a hamstring niggle in time for Origin II.
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The Australian
an hour ago
- The Australian
Goulburn, Muswellbrook best bets, inside mail for Friday, June 13, 2025
Form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and analysis of the Quaddie legs at Goulburn and Muswellbrook on Friday. The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ GOULBURN BEST BET Race 1 No. 3: LET'S GO BRANDON Easy winner of a high quality Maiden here last start. Go well. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 7: YVETTE Resumes. Placed at Canterbury at only two at the first prep. VALUE Race 2 No. 8: EVERLASTING STARS Won here first-up, fourth in town after that, good last time too. QUADDIE Race 5: 2, 5, 6 Race 6: 2 Race 7: 3, 4, 9 Race 8: 4, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Four kilo claimer DALE COLE could be in for a big day. Apprentice Dale Cole has a nice rides at Goulburn. Picture: Bradley Photos MUSWELLBROOK BEST BET Race 6 No. 9: BELLINI SPRITZ Done nothing wrong on all three starts. Loaded with promise. NEXT BEST Race 8 No. 10: TANGLEWOOD JIMMY Could run over the top of these late. Has talent. VALUE Race 1 No. 7: GHAZNAVI Winless after 15 starts. deserves one more chance here. INSIDE MAIL - GOULBURN RACE 5: KIRK'S BRIDGE FARM BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1500m DOWNTOWN'S ABBEY (5) has raced here at home three times for a win and a second. That win came at her last start back on April 28 and it was also over this trip. Got a tres bien by Pierre Boudvillain from gate 1 that day. Hopefully barrier 10 of 10 isn't overly detrimental here. In-form MIDNIGHT LUNA (2) may well be saved for this weekend's Highway. The best form of the Pat Murphy-trained local GOOFINATOR (6) is good enough to get onto the podium somewhere. Bet: Downtown's Abbey to win RACE 6: HOMEBASE REAL ESTATE MAIDEN PLATE 1500m LIMBURG (2) was sold for $1 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2022. Fast forward to May 2024 and the son of Justify (and half to Loving Gaby) was snapped up for $11,000. Two runs for Joe Pride at the provincials point to an imminent win. RUDBECKIA (4) faced a Heavy 9 at Bathurst first-up (must forgive). Two runs at the first preparation include a third to Let's Fly at Kembla albeit eight and a half behind her. Bet: Limburg to win, Daily Double 1st leg 2, 2nd Leg 4 RACE 7: JEWELL BUILDERS BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1300m SPIRITS BURN DEEP (4) is bred, owned and trained by one of the industry's great all-rounders in Neil Osborne. This daughter of Deep Field has a win at the same track and distance. She was second to Chemtrail here on May 8 before a below par Highway run on May 24. Kudos to the Green Brothers Racing for their $6,000 yearling buy KILLER KERR (3) who has won $106,000 with more to come. Only needs to repeat her May 30 effort here and she probably wins. Bet: Spirits Burn Deep each-way, quinella 2, 4 RACE 8: RADIO GOULBURN COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200m THOUGHTFUL (4) is a sparingly-raced five-year-old with just five starts on his resume; one win, one second, one third and one fourth to Highway Strip here too. He seems to be a naturally talented horse and so he should be given he's a close relative of Happy Clapper, Thankgodyou'rehere and others. Fluctuations might tell a story here. You wouldn't find too many outright deeper races than pretty much every single one that WINNIE FORTUNE (8) has contested and run especially well in. Bet: Thoughtful to win, box trifecta 1, 4, 6, 9 INSIDE MAIL - MUSWELLBROOK RACE 5: COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1280m ZELESTIAL (5) was a barber-shop tip when she made her long coming Australian debut on a very wet Taree track on May 20. Masterful training performance by Lyle Chandler, masterful ride by Donovan Dillon too. Pros; beat a subsequent winner and is handy. Cons; second-up off a long break. It's easy to see that Solitario is a young three-year-old on the way up. Races in the colours of his grandam, Ortensia too. Bullock, box two. DASH BY (6) could sprint well fresh. Bet: Zelestial to win, quinella 2, 5 RACE 6: BENGALLA CUP SUN 27 JULY BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1450m BELLINI SPRITZ (9) is a stablemate of the aforementioned Solitario and what was said about him, we could cut and paste for this Arrowfield-owned and bred daughter of Dundeel out of a Snitzel mare. Only win was at the same trip last prep. Good first-up, Bullock, gate five. FULL COMMITMENT (12) has finished with a medal at six of her 10 runs. Note that her only win thus far came second-up as she is here. One day YOU HAVE TO GO (14) is going to run over the top of a field. Bet: Belle Spritz to win, exacta 9 / 12, You Have To Go to place, DD 1st Leg 9, 2nd Leg 19 RACE 7: MAGIC MILLIONS BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP 1500m REBEL'S EDGE (5) commemorated his 53rd start with a Wingham Cup win on June 5. That was his fourth run back with Cassandra Stummer and all have been good after a short stint in Queensland. ARTFUL PERSUASION (6) has raced 12 times, eight at Kembla as it happens, most of them good. One of his 'away runs' was in the Four Pillars where he finished 10th of the 20 runners. KNIFE'S EDGE (1) won the Parkes Cup last start. Bet: Rebel's Edge each-way RACE 8: ROBSON CIVIL BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP 1280m TANGLEWOOD JIMMY (10), a third generation descendant of bonny 1990s' mare Western Chorus, has raced nine times for two wins and two placings. One of those placings was here at Muswellbrook. The wins were over 1450m and a mile but he is one of those horses who could just launch himself late over the top here. A POUND OF SALT (1) was rewarded with a very well-earned and overdue Highway win last start. That's three wins inside his last six starts now. Bet: Tanglewood Jimmy to win, quinella 1, 10, box First 4 Nos. 1, 2, 4, 9, 10 GOULBURN BEST BET Race 1 No. 3: Let's Go Brandon Easy winner of a high quality Maiden here last start. Go well. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 7: Yvette Resumes. Placed at Canterbury at only two at the first prep. VALUE Race 2 No. 8: Everlasting Stars Won here first-up, fourth in town after that, good last time too. QUADDIE Race 5: 2,5,6 Race 6: 2 Race 7: 3,4,9 Race 8: 4,6,9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Four kilo claimer Dale Cole could be in for a big day. MUSWELLBROOK BEST BET Race 6 No. 9: Bellini Spritz Done nothing wrong on all three starts. Loaded with promise. NEXT BEST Race 8 No. 10: Tanglewood Jimmy Could run over the top of these late. Has talent. VALUE Race 1 No. 7: Ghaznavi Winless after 15 starts. deserves one more chance here.

ABC News
4 hours ago
- ABC News
Liam Martin: If Munster's in front of me there'll be no holding back
Round 15 of the NRL might be underway but there's plenty of focus on Origin and the news that Mitch Moses has had to pull out. One man who is probably limbering up to run out next Wednesday in Perth is Liam Martin. The Panthers back rower reckons that despite his old adversary Cam Munster being named as Queensland Captain it won't change their dynamic too much - it'll be business as usual! Michael Carayannis has all the latest NRL news - and speculation in MC's Hammertime. And there's some tipping guidance in Christopher's


The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Luai answers Blues' SOS call for State of Origin II
History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes."