Dubbo preview, tips and inside mail for Sunday, August 10, 2025
It wasn't long ago when Kote was considered one of the more promising youngsters in Sydney racing, winning the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes during his second preparation.
Second behind Kote that day was Thron Bone (now Invincible Sage).
That galloper would go on to win the Group 1 Chairman's Sprint in Hong Kong before matching motors with superstar sprinter Ka Ring Rising.
And while Kote's career hasn't gone in that direction, the six-year-old has proven to be a handy money-spinner throughout 32 starts and Wilkes is confident he can win a few races at his new surroundings.
'He's a horse that will keep improving this preparation,' Wilkes said.
'Obviously he's got a lot of ability and it's nice to have horses like that come into the stable and I'm still learning about him.
'I thought he did well a few weeks back at Grafton and his first-up record would suggest that he always needs the run.
'He was up thereabouts on the speed in a race where they went mad up front and as a result, he just felt the pinch late.
'His work has been good since and he handled the float trip up to Grafton well so getting out to Dubbo won't bother him.
'He's a horse that has been everywhere throughout his career and he's pretty laid back so the long trip doesn't bother him at all.'
Kote takes out the Grainshaker Brian Crowley Stakes in style 🙌 @jasoncollette @ACummingsracing pic.twitter.com/XfXsSxywV6
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 22, 2022
Jockey Ben Looker was aboard Kote at Grafton but Wilkes' daughter, Shae, will take the ride for today's 1100m open handicap.
'It's Shae's first race ride on him but she knows him pretty well having ridden him a bit since he came down from Queensland,' Wilkes said.
'He's got barrier two so I'd expect him to be up there on the speed and with a bit of fitness benefit from his run the other day, I'm hoping he's got a bit more left in the tank late in the piece.'
Dubbo's surface was rated in the soft range on Saturday afternoon and with Kote's record on good tracks reading zero wins from 15 starts, Wilkes is hoping it stays that way.
On rain affected going, Kote has won four times including his most recent win in last year's Thunder Thousand in Newcastle.
'He certainly enjoys a track with a bit of cut in the ground so hopefully it stays in that soft range,' Wilkes said.
'Having said that, he did go close a few back at the Gold Coast on a firm surface in a good race so he's not completely out of it if the track is quick.'
Kote has been handed the 62kg topweight for the $27,000 contest where he'll face 10 rivals, including the likes of Mabel, Plentitude and Rothgate.
Mabel and Plentitude both come into the race with Sydney metropolitan form so Wilkes is hoping Kote can step up to the task.
'He will have to find a bit with the weight on his back because the race he's in has turned out to be pretty strong,' Wilkes said.
'Some of those horses come into the race in good form so it's no easy task.'
Wilkes is coming off a season highlighted by Sumo Fish winning the MNCRA Country Championships Qualifier at Port Macquarie and he's starting to look toward that race for next year to figure out which horses to target.
'Obviously (Sumo Fish) isn't eligible for the race anymore so we're just starting to figure out which horses we set for the race,' Wilkes said.
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DUBBO TIPS
BEST BET
Race 1 No.5: XERXES
Showed good improvement second-up at Tamworth when narrowly denied. Can break through here.
NEXT BEST
Narrowly beaten in a Highway last time out with 59kg on his back and he now drops all the way down to 55kg.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No.5: PRESSNELL
Put a line through his last start run. Gets Bullock on now and a better gate.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
AARON BULLOCK has a super book of rides and I think he'll ride at least two winners. Probably more.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 4, 9, 7
Race 6: 1, 3, 11
Race 7: 5, 6, 9
Race 8: 2, 6, 9, 11
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DUBBO INSIDE MAIL
XERXES (5) looks to be the one third-up into the campaign off a narrow last start defeat. Showed plenty of fight to just go down in a dogfight but he'll have extra fitness here and he's drawn well in a race where his rivals aren't. BLUE KINGDOM (1) was rolled at $1.30 on debut at Taree. Will improve at his second start and think the race he comes out of is strong. Aaron Bullock on. Not much went right for SMART BUY (10) first-up at Scone. She was trapped deep right at the rear and made it hard to get into the race following that. The problem is she's drawn way off the track here in barrier 17 but Group 1-winning rider Reece Jones is aboard.
BET: XERXES to win.
CROWN LEGEND (6) beat all but Zelestial last time out at Scone over a mile. Sticks at the distance and was six weeks between runs on that occasion so you'd think he gets here in improved order. Big gear change with Bullock on first time. STOCKHOLM (1) hasn't enjoyed the wet conditions at his last few runs and also did it tough a Wellington most recently. Drawn well here and has a good record at the trip. GRANDINI (3) comes out of Highway company, although she didn't beat one home. Turned in a strong performance at the start prior and doing something similar would make her a winning hope here.
BET: CROWN LEGEND to win.
RACE 3: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)
SUPREME STYLE (9) has started her career on a good note with two seconds from two starts. Resumes here after last running in April and strikes a race where there's quite a bit of speed. She can capitalise and break the maiden status. WARBRECCEAN (5) is close to a win with two straight placings since moving to the Terry Wicks stable. Awful barrier though and that's hurt his chances. STAR OF INDIGO (12) has looked good at the trials ahead of her debut. Perfect barrier for her in gate five and Anna Roper knows her well.
BET: SUPREME STYLE to win.
RACE 4: HANDICAP (1400m)
Hard to go past KRANICH (9) after he was only narrowly beaten in Highway company last start. Treated well here with only 55kg on his back and certain he'll be right in the finish again. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (2) found it hard to get into the race last start in the Forbes Cup. Will appreciate the drop in grade and Aaron Bullock in the saddle is a big tick. AMICUS CURIAE (1) has run just about everywhere and his last two were up at Mackay.
BET: KRANICH to win.
RACE 5: CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400m)
ROYAL ARMADA (7) is formerly trained by Joe Pride and won first-up for the new stable. Should get his chance to do so again after drawing perfectly on the inside with Winona Costin in the saddle. HIGHLAND EIGHTGEE (4) is riding a two race win streak into this and both victories have been by big margins. Who is to say he can't do it again? It's certainly a suitable race for him. HAZE (2) will take good improvement from his first-up run but he will just need a touch of luck from a wide barrier. Bonnie And Bruce is another riding a win streak. He's won on back-to-back occasions and also hasn't missed a place at his last five runs. Barrier is a big negative though.
BET: ROYAL ARMADA to win.
RACE 6: HANDICAP (1100m)
MABEL (3) has the runs on the board and while she hasn't won in a while, this is a good drop in grade for a mare of her quality and I'd expect her to break through for a victory. PLENITUDE (11) has been racing well in Highway company and will enjoy the drop in grade. Barrier three with Jake Pracey-Holmes on looks suitable with the only negative being a slight drop in trip. KOTE (1) comes out of a strong race at Grafton at his first run for the Wayne Wilkes stable. It's been a while since he won a race but getting to country level should see him break through and win one shortly. RUNNING BEAR (4) is very interesting. She hasn't raced in 90 weeks with her last start being a fourth to Lekvarte at Newcastle on Hunter day.
BET: MABEL to win.
Not much went the way of PRESSNELL (5) last start at Bathurst when trapped three wide without cover for the trip. As a result he had nothing left to offer in the straight. Gets a jockey upgrade with Aaron Bullock back on and he's got a good record on him. UPWARDLY MOBILE (6) has a strong first-up record and gets here off one trial. Should get her chance from a good barrier. QUICK ONYX (9) did it tough first-up. If he gets luck here and if he's come through the run well, he can bounce back.
NOVA CENTAURI (11) didn't handle the heavy going last time out at Muswellbrook and was soft in betting. Can bounce back here on a drying track and from a good barrier. DENMAN DEPUTY (9) is another that failed in very wet conditions last time out at Wellington. WONDER STEP (4) has won two from three this time in and did it in good style last time out. Gets a good drop in weight off that run but just might have to burn the candle early to lead from a double digit barrier.
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