Narromine preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday April 27, 2025

Trainer Luke Thomas has found the ideal races – and jockey – to ensure himself of a perfect score when he takes on the 600km round trip to Narromine on Sunday.

Lily Bobtail and jockey Clayton Gallagher, winning at Tamworth in December, team up again at Narromine on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Muswellbrook trainer Luke Thomas has found the ideal races – and jockey – to ensure himself of a perfect score when he takes on the 600km round trip to Narromine on Sunday.

The former rodeo rider has secured the services of Clayton Gallagher to steer his westbound duo He’sthechief and Lily Bobtail in their respective assignments.

He’sthechief is guaranteed his share of admirers in Sunday’s The Australian Lighthorse Maiden Plate (1100m) after a brave run on debut at Scone 13 days ago.

“I thought the horse did a tremendous job,’’ Thomas said,

“He had no luck whatsoever.

“He went forward then he had to prod him back a bit and he over-raced and then that other horse got up inside him and caused him to be three-wide.

“It was a high pressure race, they went hard the whole way.

“It was disappointing because I thought, given his trials, we had a fair opinion of him that he should be able to nearly win his first start – but you get over that.

“If anything it should have improved him, just with the match fitness and picking up some race experience,’’ Thomas said.

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He’sthechief is a son of the speedy mare Exalted Mollie whose four wins came at distances ranging from 900m to 1100m, one each at Yeppoon, Rockhampton, Emerald and on the Springsure Cup day undercard; the same day as Epaulette won the Golden Rose 1500km away in Sydney.

Stablemate Lily Bobtail, meanwhile, is ready, able and deserved of a win on Sunday after a string of honourable performances from Scone to Taree and elsewhere in recent times.

The daughter of Harry Angel boasts form around the likes of some handy types, none more promising than Saturday’s Highway participant, Speedy Henry.

“I’ve been trying to find an excuse to put her in the paddock but can’t find one,’’ Thomas said.

“She’s trained on the farm and doesn’t go to the track much, she spends a lot of time either swimming or in the paddock and is thriving.

“She only had three starts when I bought her off Godolphin and only paid $5000 for her so she’s worked out being a good buy.

“She keeps running a cheque every time she goes around and she’s had some terrible runs in terms of getting caught wide.

“I think next prep, all being well, I think if she improves again, she could measure up to Highway grade.”

Lily Bobtail may have herself once worn the Royal Blue colours of Sheikh Mohammed but she undoubtedly has “cerise” coursing through her veins.

Her first three dam-sires all stood at Woodlands at one time namely Commands, Lonhro and English Derby winner Quest For Fame.

On top of that, her fifth dam is one of Woodlands’ most prized and celebrated “foundation mares” in Shaybisc.

Apart from her still current deeds in the breeding barn, Shaybisc was an outstanding filly/mare.

She won nine races altogether including five stakes-races and has the unusual honour of beating a Melbourne Cup winner (Just A Dash) and Golden Slipper winner (Dark Eclipse) along the way.

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NARROMINE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.4: MISSY MOSS

Sets up well at 1300m after a close and closing second over 1200m last time.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.9: IMASTATEMENT

Already bright prospects went up considerably when she drew barrier one.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.11: LILY BOBTAIL

Been racing well in some strong races at Scone and Taree. Deserves a win.

QUADDIE

RACE 4: 2, 10

RACE 5: 7, 13:

RACE 6: 6, 7, 11, 15

RACE 7: 4, 14

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

CLAYTON GALLAGHER will be popular to win the Narromine Jockeys Challenge for good reason.

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NARROMINE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)

MISSY MOSS (4) turned in her best effort in three runs for Mack Griffith, last start at Mudgee when a close and closing second in a 1200m maiden. That’s not to imply the two before that weren’t anything but sound. Won’t get a better chance to win one. Expect short odds and rightfully so. JASPER’S WAY (2) was safe in the market when he finished seventh in that same race at Mudgee on April 20. That was only his first run so we can perhaps anticipate improvement.

BET: MISSY MISS to win, exacta 4 to beat 2.

RACE 2: CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)

HE’STHECHIEF (8) had trialled rather well prior to his April 14 debut at Scone hence why he opened up at $3.30, although he drifted out to SP at $5.50. Raced handy but was passed late, clocking in a length and tail off the winner in fifth spot. Drawn well again and gets a top jockey again. MICRO MIKKI (4) passed a lot of horses at Edenhope on March 8 at his last run for Ciaron Maher. Won a trial at Dubbo by five-and-a-half for Brett Robb. BEST DEFENCE (1) and BLUTINS (2) have claims.

BET: HE’STHECHIEF to win, quinella 4,8.

RACE 3: F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)

IMASTATEMENT (9) resumed at Dubbo on April 7 in a 1000m maiden (and not a bad one either), leading until the very last stride when pipped by a race-fit and progressive horse named Dusty Vermerr who goes around in race 6. Anyway, as for Imastatement, barrier one and Clayton Gallagher are two huge advantages. Former Queenslander ANTILLES (1) has some reasonable runs on her CV Trialled well and should/could be getting home hardest of all here. She’s a granddaughter of Danni Martine by the way.

BET: IMASTATEMENT to win, trifecta 9 (standout) to beat 1,10,12 (boxed).

RACE 4: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)

HIDEYO (10) is a former Kris Lees-trained galloper, still owned by Australian Bloodstock, but with Todd Howlett now. In fact, her last five runs have been under Howlett’s management, the most recent of which was a length third in a 14-horse mile race at Dubbo. Mile is her best trip, this is just a beautiful race for her. Ditto that last bit vis-a-vis GREEN PINEAPPLE (2) who is absolutely ripe for 1600m third-up off a closing third over 1400m at Orange.

BET: HIDEYO to win, exacta 10 to beat 2, quinella 2,10, box trifecta 2,4,6,10.

RACE 5: DIGGERS CUP (1300m)

POWER BEAU (7) has four wins, three seconds and two thirds in his 16 starts. To be fair, we should say all those wins and placings are from 13 starts with Wayne Brown. He ran a huge race in the Country Champs Heat three runs ago and as for last start, he was a half-length off winning a Newcastle Benchmark 68. PLENITUDE (13) has some standouts runs on his CV He ran a really good race in a Highway back on Five Diamonds day. Fast forward to the present and he was fourth to Gallant Star on the WRA Qualifier.

BET: POWER BEAU to win, quinella 7,13, Daily Double 1st Leg 7, 2nd Leg 4.

RACE 6: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1100m)

LILY BOBTAIL (11) was once part of the Godolphin string. She had four runs for James Cummings including a pair of thirds at Gosford and Wyong respectively. In her time with Luke Thomas, her CV reads as one win, two seconds and two thirds and that’s from 10 starts so it’s all pretty rosy. Her last three starts have been close to career best, she deadset deserves one. Interesting that Lily Bobtail’s last win came at the expense of Nevermista who resumed with an entirely emphatic win at Tamworth. DUSTY VERMEER (6) is a similarly progressive horse drawn well.

BET: LILY BOBTAIL to win, exacta 11 (standout) to beat 6,15 (boxed).

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 50 HANDICAP (1300m)

PODCAST (4) raced four times for Chris Waller from November to January. Three of them were pretty underwhelming but he did manage a 15500m maiden win at the Sunshine Coast two days after Christmas. His first and only run so far for Dar Lunn, was an outstanding third at Dubbo when ninth of 12 at the 400m. That was 1200m, this is 1300m – tick. EILRAHC (14), or Charlie backwards, has only won once in 15 starts but he has placed six times and five of them are seconds. This is bang on his trip and he ran a noteworthy fifth in rather a strong Class 1 at Orange last start.

BET: PODCAST to win, quinella 4,14.