Latest news with #Benchmark58Handicap
Mercury
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Parkes preview, tips: Nestor gambles on Lockdown in Cup
Jockey Kody Nestor was successful on the Parkes Cup from a wide barrier two years ago and he hopes history can repeat when he partners Lockdown Gamble in this year's edition. In 2023, Nestor partnered the Mack Griffith-trained up and comer Osman to a three length win from barrier 10 – the outside gate. Nestor and Lockdown Gamble have the outside gate in this year's Parkes Cup (1600m) - barrier 14 of 14 – but will jump from barrier 12 under his big weight of 63kg. 'I haven't ridden him in a race before but I have seen plenty of him,' said Nestor. 'Obviously, he has to lump it again and he has drawn wide but he is the proven galloper in the field. 'He's won a Wellington Cup which is a Big Dance Qualifier. The Parkes Cup which is more of a second tier country cup. 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! 'He looks the one to beat on paper, no doubt.' The David Smith-trained gelding heads into the race in terrific form. He resumed this campaign with third to Osman in the Mudgee Cup on February 23 and his next run at Mudgee last Sunday when he won the Benchmark 82 over 1400m with 63kg. 'It was a good, tough win the other day with a big weight,' Nestor said. 'He's got a couple of things against him – his big weight and wide barrier- but he has the class to overcome them. 'His greatest attributes are his last 100m to a furlong along with his toughness and consistency.' Nestor was pleased with the first-up run of Kora Magic at Dubbo two weeks ago and partners the mare again when she contests the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m). The Mark Jones-trained mare led from barrier 11 and was only caught in the last 20m to finish third behind Cumnock and Twilight Rock. 'She was just beaten the other day first-up without a barrier trial. I thought she was really game,' he said. 'She had a good blow coming back in so she is going to improve off that run. 'We have drawn wide again but she has the early pace to offset the gate. I expect her to lead easily and with the circumference of Parkes, it will be a lot easier on her than Dubbo. 'Dubbo is a very open track and you are exposed a long way from home whereas at Parkes, you can skip off the corner and it's not the longest run home. 'She will be thereabouts in the finish again.' Nestor and Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive have enjoyed a couple of winners together in recent months including Just Go Bang in the Gilgandra Cup and combine with two good chances this weekend. Sooboogeliscious has been just behind the placegetters in two runs back from a spell and looks ready to peak in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m). 'It's a nice competitive race and he is one of the chances,' Nestor said. 'It was a nice run last start and he looks ready to peak third-up. 'He should get a lovely run without doing any work from the inside gate. We just have to pick and choose our runs at the right time.' Midnight Affair will appreciate a drop in grade when she returns to country racing in the Class 2 Handicap (1600m). 'She has been competitive in Highways and better class races than what she is going around in this weekend,' he said. 'We just need an ounce of luck from the barrier. 'Egyptologist is the one to beat but he first-up over the mile. 'I'm just hoping the fitness edge we have can make the difference.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 5 No. 10: COUGARS Will take improvement his first-up fifth. Soft track suits. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 1: LOVE SHUCK Was good late in the Wagga Town Plate. This is easier. VALUE BET Race 8 No. 4: SOOBOOGELISCIOUS Just behind the placegetters in both runs back and ready to peak. QUADDIE Race 5: 4, 9, 10 Race 6: 1, 8, 10 Race 7: 1, 5, 7, 9 Race 8: 1, 4, 13 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Kody Nestor has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Kody Nestor looks set for a good day at Parkes. Picture: Bradley Photos INSIDE MAIL – PARKES RACE 1: Telescope Tyres Group Inglis Xtra Bonus Country Boosted Mdn Hcp 1000m SPRING PROSPECT (8) lost the rider pre-race then raced keenly when fifth on debut at Mudgee in December. Has been very good in both trials this time back. Was kept under a hold to beat Egyptologist in his May 4 Dubbo heat. AMORUSO (6) is a debutant by Santos. Led by a big margin and kept on the bridle to win her Apr 1 Tamworth trial by nearly four lengths. CERONS (1) was just behind the placegetters in two recent Queensland runs. Was second in the Maribyrnong Trial on debut. Bet: Spring Prospect to win RACE 2: Mcpherson's Parts & Service / Aeh Group Super Mdn Showcase Hcp 1400m BILLABONG ROSE (8) resumes without a trial. Was momentarily held up on straightening when second to Bondi Prophet at Muswellbrook first-up last campaign. TURNING CIRCLE (13) was a handy third to Oakfield Saturn first-up then raced wide when down the order at Kembla. She didn't handle the Heavy 10 when fourth as favourite at Wyong last start. SWEET KICK (12) was a two length fourth at Sale on debut on Sept 11. Changed stables and well beaten first-up before an improved run when fourth at Dubbo on May 4. Bet: Billabong Rose to win RACE 3: D'aquino's Grand Hotel / Standen Building Showcase Hcp (C2) 1600m MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (2) drops back in grade after running in TAB Highways at her past two starts, the latest a fourth to Canadian Ruler at Hawkesbury's stand-alone meeting. Had a win and two close seconds at her previous three runs in the country. EGYPTOLOGIST (1) was good last preparation when a first-up second at Dubbo before back-to-back wins at Mudgee and Dubbo. Given a shake up when second to Spring Prospect in his May 4 Dubbo trial. NAVAL OFFICER (4) made ground when fourth to Zoomorphic at Dubbo before winning at Wellington. Bet: Midnight Affair each-way RACE 4: Mca Engineering / Tanswell Transport Showcase (Bm58) 1000m KORA MAGIC (8) led from a wide gate and just run down late when third to Cumnock when resuming at Dubbo. Went in without a trial and will be better for the run. SHERIDAN STREET (6) led all-the-way for a debut win at Gundagai on Apr 6. Began awkwardly and over-raced when always well back at Wagga last start. Can bounce back. THE MOOCH (11) was a close second to All Astern at Queanbeyan last start. Gets a nice run from the draw. Bet: Kora Magic each-way RACE 5: McMahon Building / Zac Kelly Golf Showcase Plate (C2) 1200m COUGARS (10) sat outside the leaders before racing away to a big maiden win at the Sapphire Coast to end last campaign. Copped a decent bumped at the start before working forward to be outside the leader and just faded late when resuming with a fifth to Miss Emma at Wagga on May 2. MICRO MIKKI (4) made his NSW debut with a nose win at Narromine before a good win from Joy Of The World at Wellington both over 1100m. LADY ISHIKAWA (9) resumes for a new stable. Scored back-to-back wins at Newcastle last campaign. Bet: Cougars to win RACE 6: Coachman Hotel Punters Club Satellite Hcp 1200m LOVE SHUCK (1) hasn't had a lot of luck this campaign. Held up on the bend when second to Fangela at Canberra first-up. Again held up until passing the 200 when third to I Am Lethal in the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga and knuckled on jumping when sixth to Compelling Truth in the Wagga Town Plate. KEIKOKU (10) was help up until near the 70m when seventh to So You Pence at Wagga last start. Should have finished much closer. STARROS (8) tackled a Randwick Highway last start. Nice Hawkesbury win and made ground at Canterbury when seventh to Yiska. Bet: Love Shuck to win RACE 7: Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup 1600m LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) is backing up from a solid first-up win under 63kg over Stratified at Mudgee last weekend. Has the same big weight again but is the class runner of the field. Did win the Wellington Cup last year. LOOSE LOVE (7) won over 1400m here to start his current campaign. Ran on nicely to finish a nose third behind Dark Vador at Wagga last start. ROUGE MOULIN (9) raced in the Highway at Scone yesterday. SIZZLE MINIZZLE (5) is back from a Queensland campaign. Just behind the placegetters at Eagle Farm his last two. Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win RACE 8: Parkes Courier Service / Parkes Farm Centre Country Boosted (Bm58) 1300m SOOBOOGELISCIOUS (4) sat outside the leader and battled away for fifth at Queanbeyan when resuming before a half-length fourth to Capital Heart at the Sapphire Coast. Ready to peak third-up and gets an ideal run from the inside gate. RAYMOND'S REWARD (1) is shooting for a hat-trick after a handy win at Armidale followed by an al-the-way win at Gunnedah. MISS CAPRICORN (13) was badly crowded on jumping and settled a long way back when seventh to Zoomorphic at Dubbo last start. Nice win there the start before. Bet: Sooboogeliscious each-way
News.com.au
03-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Dubbo preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday May 4, 2025
It took plenty of time and effort from trainer Scott Singleton and his team to get Zoomorphic to show his best but it was worthwhile when he blitzed his rivals to finally break his maiden. The son of Zoustar and Group 1-winning mare Spright took until start 10 to land that maiden win at Mudgee two weeks ago but he certainly did it in style. After racing outside the leader, Zoomorphic went into another gear after straightening and raced away to score by just over five lengths. 'When we got him, it took a lot of time and work to get him to want to win and put horses away,' said Singleton. 'He's a very intelligent horse and would only do what he wanted to do. 'He lives out at the farm in a yard now and is much happier.' Singleton is quite confident the four-year-old can win again when he lines up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) with Mitchell Bell to again partner the gelding. 'I think he will be hard enough to beat on the way he won the other day and the way he seems to have come though the run,' he said. 'He is owned by a couple of big studs here at Scone – Cressfield and Robrick Lodge – and if he wins this weekend, we will run him in the Highway at Scone over the carnival. 'If he gets beat but still runs well, I will run him on the Friday meeting at the carnival in a Class 1.' Singleton is also keen on the chances of Deemee in the opening race on the card, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (2200m) with Mitchell Bell on her as well. Like Zoomorphic, Deemee has only been with Singleton since the start of this preparation. After two runs in unsuitably short races, the four-year-old New Zealand-bred daughter of Preferment really appreciated getting out to a staying trip when she broke her maiden in a Class 1 set weights race over the 2200m at Dubbo on April 7. She then backed it up with a nose second behind Wittelsbach on her home track of Scone. 'She is bred for the journey and once she got to it, she has found form,' Singleton said. 'She had a bleed in her last run at Newcastle last campaign so she went to the paddock and had quite a while off before she came to me. 'It's a slow maturing breed so naturally she has taken time and it takes a couple of runs to get them up to a suitable trip. 'She hasn't gone backwards in any way, shape or form since her last run at Scone and I expect her to be hard to beat.' The third of Singleton's runners for the day is Wanavan in the Maiden Plate (1000m) with Bell onboard him as well. The son of Wandjina resumed from a 10 month break with a long had second to Enniroc at Muswellbrook before a failed on a wet track second-up run at Scone. He raced wide without cover when a 2½-length fifth at Dubbo on April 7 before a length third to Rail Trail at Scone after racing wide at Scone a week later. 'I was happy with his last run at home. Reece (Jones) got caught four-deep on him and he was working a little bit around the corner but he stuck to his task OK,' he said. 'This race is no stronger and I'd say he has to be in the mix somewhere as long as the track isn't too wet which I don't think it will be.' â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO TIPS BEST BET Was good in both Victorian starts. Drawn the pole and hard to beat. NEXT BEST Race 1 No.5: DEEMEE Nice win at her first go at this trip before a close second last start. Can bounce back. VALUE BET Race 7 No.2: CANAMBLE Both wins have come first-up including one this track and trip. Good chance again. QUADDIE RACE 5: 1, 6, 7 RACE 6: 1, 2, 6 RACE 7: 2, 4, 8, 10 RACE 8: 2, 3, 4, 10 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW MITCHELL BELL looks a good chance the TAB Jockey Challenge. â– â– â– â– â– DUBBO INSIDE MAIL DEEMEE (5) appreciated getting up to a staying trip when she closed nicely to beat Casino Diva over 2200m here on Apr 7. Almost made it two in-a-row when a nose second to Wittelsbach over the same trip at Scone. Can bounce back. D'ORO CHOICE (1) made a mid-race move to go to the front near the 600m when a big winner at Wellington. Was down the order in the Orange Cup then was wide when sixth at Mudgee over 2000m. Runner-up in both runs this track and distance. RUFUS WAINRIGHT (3) has place claims. BET: DEEMEE to win. PRESSNELL (3) raced keenly on debut and wasn't disgraced when runner-up to Quick Sharp at Scone then raced wide without cover when fifth at Warren. Resumes here off an impressive five-length trial win at Mudgee. WANAVAN (5) raced wide without cover when fifth at Dubbo on Apr 7 and backed up at Scone a week later and again did it tough out wide when a length third to Rail Trail. A win isn't far away. I DON'T THINK SO (8) is first-up for over two years. Nice trial here on Apr 12. BET: PRESSNELL to win. COLONEL LIGHT (1) was three-wide and pushed wider on the bend when sixth to Davikar on debut ta Muswellbrook on Mar 14. Then back and wide from the outside gate when second to Spenzalot at Scone a month later. PIERONIMO (3) raced inside Colonel Light and tracked him around the bend to finish third when resuming in that Scone race. Will be better for the run but has a wide gate to overcome. JEFFO (5) has placed in two of his three runs here and was fourth on the other. BET: COLONEL LIGHT to win. Former Victorian gelding PROPER TWELVE (7) was carried wide at the 1000m when beaten under two lengths into fifth behind Barbie'sdreamworld on debut at Terang. Raced outside the leader and tried hard when a half-length second to Harrumph Harrumph at Geelong on Mar 15. LORD VETTORI (4) boxed on well when runner-up to Imperial State when resuming from a lengthy spell at Gosford. Disappointed when second last at Wyong second-up. Worth another chance. WENDOUREE (9) has place claims on his first-up second at Coonabarabran. Made up ground from last at Armidale last start. BET: PROPER TWELVE to win. ZOOMORPHIC (7) ran a couple of close seconds to start his campaign then failed to handle the heavy track at Scone. Was dominant on breaking his maiden by five lengths at Mudgee on Apr 20. With that confidence-boosting win, he can go on with it. RICH STREET (6) is in terrific form with two wins and three placings from her last five starts. Came wide on the bend and was game in running down Extravagant Choice at Orange last start. MAZITA (1) has a big weight and wide gate but is more than capable. BET: ZOOMORPHIC to win. CROP DUSTER (2) will take improvement from his first-up seventh behind Extravagant Lad in the Cup Day Sprint over 1000m at Orange on Apr 11. Will appreciate the sting out of the track and the step up to 1200m where he has scored three of his six wins. LIFE'S A PARTY (6) closed strongly to win the Bill Aspros Cup from Outback Angel at Bathurst first-up. Is a second-up winner and drawn to get a nice run. THE DRAMATIST (1) got well back from a wide gate and closed well between horses when sixth to Annie's Rose at Muswellbrook second-up. BET: CROP DUSTER each-way. CANAMBLE (2) has won two of her seven and both wins have come first-up. Beat Brutal Love on the Wellington Boot Prelude on debut in March last year. Kicked off last preparation with an all-the-way win from the Mooch over this track and distance. Resumes off a nice trial second behind stablemate Bare To Witness on the Beaumont. CUMNOCK (4) battled away for fifth to Cumboogle when resuming at Orange and will take improvement. Had solid form last campaign including a fourth to Clear Thinking in a Randwick Highway. D'ARPANO (10) and KORA MAGIC (8) have claims. BET: CANAMBLE to win. PRESS FORWARD (4) was rewarded for his solid form with a good win over this track and distance last start. Went back to last before coming down the middle of the track to beat D'Arpano. Will gain confidence from the win and can go back-to-back. THIS ONE TIME (10) took benefit from his first-up fourth at Scone with a handy win from Maxandus at Tamworth. Good chance again. BARE TO WITNESS (2) and ROCK 'N' REIGN (3) have claims.
