Latest news with #MackGriffith
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Parkes preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 18, 2025
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. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE wins the Wellington Cup! Consolation from the Country Championships for @DJSRacing6 as Lockdown Gamble survives a protest from Danish Prince to win the @WellingtonRaces Cup and earn Big Dance ðŸ'ƒ eligibility. Sizzle Minizzle ran a close third. @tabcomau â€' Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 14, 2024 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. The Mark Jones trained Kora Magic gives Ronald Simpson an early race to race double! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 5, 2023 '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. INSIDE MAIL – PARKES 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mudgee preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 11, 2025
Local boy Mack Griffith will open the bowling at his home ground on a hat-trick after consecutive wins by the stable's best horse and most promising horse in the lead-up to this meeting. First off, it was Griffith 's Mudgee-bred gelding Compelling Truth who maintained his 50 per cent winning strike-rate when posting an all-the-way win in the Wagga Town Plate on May 1. Fast forward three days and Griffith's hulking four-year-old Pressnell powered away from his rivals to chalk up an emphatic three length victory in a 1000m Dubbo Maiden. Griffith saddles-up five horses across four races at Mudgee beginning with the Waikato Stud-bred gelding Wolf Club who steps out over 2000m for the first time. 'He'll eat up 2000m,'' Griffith said. 'You just have to give him plenty of room and wind-up and he just didn't get that in his last start. 'If he is going to be any sort of stayer, he should be able to put them away. 'A few of those have been around the block a fair bit and haven't measured up really.' Griffith has surely found the right race at the right time for the lightly-raced Missy Moss to pop the cork on her first win in the Yves Premium Cuvee Country Boosted Maiden (1200m). The daughter of Golden Rose winner Duporth has podium finishes at both of her last two starts, each one by narrow margins. 'It's the perfect race for her,'' said Griffith. 'She just didn't really let down on the Heavy 9 the other day (so) back to a firmer surface, I think you'll see a much improved run even though she only got beaten a head and a head last time.' Griffith, meanwhile, has two irons in the fire in the 'feature' Gooree Park Benchmark 82 Handicap (1400m) namely epic blue bloods Stratified and Medinah. Born and raised in Tasmania, Stratified is a grandson of VATC Thousand Guineas winner and 1996 Flight Stakes dead-heater Dashing Eagle. 'We have always thought Stratified would get 1400m, we were just waiting for the right race to come around,'' Griffith explained. Short priced favourite Sanzeno has an easy run home to win Race 1 at Mudgee. â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 7, 2024 'If there's plenty of speed on, he'll just sit off them, but if nothing wants to take it up, he'll just cruise along in front. 'There's no more courageous horse in work.' As for Medinah, his fourth dam is the aptly-named Highclere who to this day, is celebrated as the crown jewel of The Queen's racing stock and broodmare band. 'He's drawn to get every chance,'' the trainer said. 'From barrier one, he should just be stalking them. 'Three starts ago he won at Newcastle and won quite well. The only bad run this time in was at Kembla and I don't think the travelling really suited him so he walks out the back door at his home track where he's won three races.' Griffith's final runner on the card is Sanzeno who is sure to have his share of admirers when he goes around in the Mudgee Florist Class 2 Handicap (1400m). A son of Widden Stud resident stallion Trapeze Artist, Sanzeno has won twice and placed five times in his 11 starts since arriving at Mudgee. 'He's a horse that has promised plenty but he hasn't really sort of put them away, we haven't worked him out yet but he has got plenty of ability and he never gets beat far,'' said Griffith. 'Home track, 1400m, we hoping the freshness on his side might be the way to go with him.' SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 4 No. 16: MISSY MOSS Beaten by narrow margins at her last two in stronger races than this one. NEXT BEST Race 1 No. 6: VIKTOR Cleverly-named son of Frankel who needs to be winning this. VALUE BET Race 2 No. 4: LUCKY OZZIE Charged home when it was all over on debut in the Romantic Dream. QUADDIE Race 4: 16 Race 5: 1, 3, 6 Race 6: 4, 7 Race 7: 3, 4 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Grant Buckley could tally up enough points to win the Jockeys Challenge. INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE VIKTOR (6) is a cleverly-named son of Frankel and a pricey one too having sold for $560,000 at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale in 2022. The now three-year-old gelded has placed three times in his seven starts. All runs are at either city or provincial grade. Is going to be short odds and for good reason. No certainty but has no excuses either. HIDDEN MOGUL (7) is the most likely to get closest to, or even beat, Victor given her own form and the lack of depth among the remainders. Bet: Viktor to win, quinella 6, 7 LUCKY OZZIE (4) has so many famous two-year-olds in his pedigree. For starters, he is by Cosmic Force out of Canny Lad mare and just to continue the Golden Slipper theme, his third dam is by Marscay while his fifth dam, Promising, is the mother of Luskin Star no less. As for Lucky Ozzie, he finished like a train at the end of the Romantic Dream on debut. TOM VEGAS (1) won the Gold Nugget at Bathurst on debut like an even-money shot when he was in fact $51. He is the only 'winner' in the race. Bet: Lucky Ozzie to win, exacta 4 to beat 1 RACE 3: Kristie's Boutique (Bm58) 2000m HIDEYO (8) is a horse bred for, and looking for 2000m. First on breeding, she is a paternal granddaughter of Deep Impact and maternal granddaughter of the Wakeful/VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse. This Todd Howlett-trained mare has three 1600m runs leading into this; the last one was better than it reads on paper. IMAGE OF THE SUN (1) has also accepted for Quirindi on Tuesday. WOLF CLUB (5) is trained locally and was huge when winning a 1600m Maiden from barrier 14 of 14 and beating Hideyo. MISSY MOSS (16) is another of the Mack Griffith string racing at home. This daughter of Duporth has raced four times for the recent Wagga Town Plate winning trainer, all of them have been good, notably those two last start close placings. Stars seem to have aligned here for the win. MATILDA OF TUSCANY (8) raced on the speed throughout when turning in an honourable debut third on the Heavy 8 at Narromine on April 29. Drew 9 of 10 that day, handed 14 for this - ouch. CARRICK (4) was a distant runner-up at his Robb stable debut but the winner goes well. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) has the honour and distinction of being the highest rated horse racing at Mudgee thanks to some star performances in Cups and Country Championship Qualifiers among other things. He has won from 1100m to 1700m so 1400m, fresh, seems a very logical and suitable distance for the comeback. SMART SHOT (3) is so reliable; that much is evident from his record of four wins and nine placings from 20 starts. Won the Tamworth Cup Prelude two runs back and beaten three and a half in the strong H&NW Qualifier before that. Bet: Lockdown Gamble each-way, quinella 1, 3, box trifecta 1, 3, 4, 6, DD 1st Leg (1), 2nd Leg (3) RACE 6: The Oasis Mudgee Country Boosted Hcp (C3) 1100m MISS REBEL (4) has plenty to offer on the racetrack but she will be a valuable broodmare when the time comes given her pedigree. That pedigree is noteworthy due to the presence of Toy Show as her fourth dam. As for Miss Rebel herself, she has two wins and four seconds from her nine career starts. Her current personal best is her nose second to Cambar in a Rosehill Highway on November 30 last year. Was good in a Randwick Highway first-up. Mudgee resident CHAMPERS GIRL (7) boasts a compelling first-up record. RACE 7: Mudgee Florist Hcp (C2) 1400m SANZENO (3) can crown what looks to be a potential day out for Mack Griffith. This son of Trapeze Artist has hardly put a foot out of step in the time since he relocated from the Grahame Begg stable in Victoria. The horse is effective from 1200m to 1700m, back from that longer trip to 1400m but if anything, that's a positive as is the draw (3) and the jockey (Ash Morgan). PODCAST (4), a $330,000 yearling and one-time Chris Waller trained filly was the Black Booker, big time, at her Dar Lunn stable debut at Dubbo and sure enough won 17 days later at Narromine. Clearly in good shape ahead of this. Bet: Sanzeno to win, quinella 3, 4, box trifecta 3, 4, 6, 12 MUDGEE BEST BET Race 4 No. 16: Missy Moss Beaten by narrow margins at her last two in stronger races than this one. NEXT BEST Race 1 No. 6: Viktor Cleverly-named son of Frankel who needs to be winning this. VALUE Race 2 No. 4: Lucky Ozzie Charged home when it was all over on debut in the Romantic Dream. QUADDIE Race 4: 16 Race 5: 1,3,6 Race 6: 4,7 Race 7: 3,4
