Nowra preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, April 20, 2025
Sparklenglitter made a late start to her career but did a good job to score on debut and can make it back-to-back wins for trainer Pat Murphy.
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Trainer Pat Murphy is confident exciting mare Sparklenglitter can get the chocolates for a second time in as many starts when she lines-up in the Easter bunny Class 1 Handicap (1000m).
The Gerry Harvey-bred four-year-old made up for lost time when an instant hit, winning her debut at Orange nine days ago, in fast time and with a measure of authority.
“I was impressed but not surprised at all,” trainer Murphy said.
“I wouldn’t have been satisfied with anything but a win and she did it well and she’s come though it with flying colours.”
Sparklenglitter collected $19,700 after her trip to the Central West, a huge return for her owners who secured the mare online in May last year for the not so princely sum of $3,000.
Sparklenglitter holds on to take out the opener at Orange, kick-starting the day for the @pjfmurphyracing stable! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/P66099VlAa
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 11, 2025
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“They are great people who own her,” said Murphy.
“They love racing and bought her just to have a bit of fun with the vision of going to the races for a day out.
“And when she arrived, I said you’ve bought sensational.
“She’s done nothing but impress. She is one out of the box I feel, without trying too carried away.”
Sparklenglitter’s paltry purchase price tag belies a posh pedigree.
Not only is she a daughter of Black Caviar’s four-time Group 1 winning sibling, All Too Hard, Sparklenglitter’s grandam, It’s Platonic, is herself a four-time stakes-winner on both sides of the Tasman.
Murphy has three runners on the card, kicking off in the Kel Campbell Fuel Haulage Benchmark 58 (2200m) with the lightly-raced five-year-old It Is To Be.
The son of Smart Missile has failed in two previous attempts beyond 2000m but sent out some positive signs when holding his ground admirably in a mile contest at Wagga last Sunday.
“I am not completely convinced but at the same time if there is ever a time to have a crack (at 2200m), I think it is now,” said Murphy.
“Obviously he is rock-hard fit, he’s had a few little different antics and they’ve been weaned out since I put the visors on.
Jeff Penza guides Ana Carolina to victory in Race 3 at Gundagai 👠pic.twitter.com/L9ew6KxACF
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 6, 2025
“If I was to gallop him on a Saturday morning over a staying trip, he’ll do it easy and run time and do it well so this is an opportunity to test him out.”
And while It Is To Be is the son of a renowned sprinter, his female lineage is all about stamina.
His dam, Leica Honey is a daughter of Duelled, a half-brother to VRC Derby winner Nothin’ Leica Dane, and split Benicio and Headturner in his own VRC Derby tilt 20 years ago.
On top of that, It Is To Be’s fourth dam is Tupelo Honey who is best known as the mother of ace kiwi filly Domino who claimed the New Zealand Oaks/AJC Oaks double in the early 1990s.
Murphy’s other weekend warrior is Fruit Of De Vine whose three runs have been underwhelming at best but each one better than the last.
“She is a horse that has just been probably ten days behind every run, now we’re getting to that fitness stage,” Murphy said.
“It’s the old cliche but she works better at home than she does on raceday but she is starting to put it all together now and we’ll work out where we stand after Sunday.”
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 9: Placid Pearl
Contested the VRC Oaks in 2024, won a trial after her passable first-up run.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 7: Alottosay
Placed in all three runs on much harder Maidens too it seems.
VALUE
Race 5 No. 11: Via Varalla
Been consistent to a fault and chased a well above-average 3YO home last time.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 3, 6
Race 5: 5, 8, 11
Race 6: 1, 3, 9, 10
Race 7: 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Private Harry’s rider Ash Morgan can salute in the Jockeys Challenge.
INSIDE MAIL - NOWRA
Devgru was a $150,000 yearling in 2021, marked down to $600 when trainer/owner John Borham bought him online in March 2024. He’s more than paid his way, in that time, in fact he picked up $8000 in one hit when he charged home from last to win at home at Queanbeyan on August 12. Just has to go 2200m this time. Highballer turned in his best run for a while; that said, he has only been with Shaun Cody for the last four of 36 in total. This is an easier 58 by comparison to his April 4, closing fourth in the 1610m at Bega.
Bet: Devgru to win
Sparklenglitter was another bargain; she was $35,000 as a yearling in 2022, bought for $2,000 by her current owner online in May 2024. Trainer Pat Murphy took her out to Orange for what turned out to be a winning debut in the 1000m Maiden. Has a fair bit of competition this time she can’t have done any more than she did. Drawn well too. Zoutempus is another lightly-raced type and last start winner. He is a very fast horse, but two dimensional it seems, who is (likewise) ideally suited at the 1000m. Miss Mikki Isle is too consistent to ignore.
Bet: Sparklenglitter to win, quinella 3, 7
An easy win for the hot fav Rose Aye at Nowra! 🔥@nowraracing | @AshMorgan6pic.twitter.com/ykUI31miTN
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 9, 2025
Alottosay is a locally trained filly by Press Statement who has finished on the podium at all three starts this far, two of them were seconds, including one here at this same trip, albeit she was six and a half lengths off the winner. To her credit, she was pretty strong through the line last start; she always is to be fair. Gets her big chance. Cammi has done more good than bad in her 11 starts with four placings. She just couldn’t be placed any more favourably; barrier 4 and Winona Costin leaves her with no excuses.
Bet: Alottosay to win, exacta 7 to beat 2
Can Expect Greater has won twice in her 14 starts; one at Kembla, the other was a quite emphatic win in Canberra as recently as two starts ago. Trialled since her March ‘last’ at Newcastle. Almost needless to say ‘expect better’ from her this time around. Here Comes Hogan has been awfully costly in his 10 starts. That said, he has won a race together with three seconds and a third. His first-up record is rock solid and as for the trials, they really don’t do him justice when read at first glance. Snappy Jim races very well at Nowra.
Bet: Can Expect Greater to win
Via Varallo has a good draw and just 53kg after the claim. The son of Written Tycoon has a second and two thirds from 12 starts, best runs have been at 1500m and the mile but all that means (hopefully) is that he will be strong at 1400m. Magenta Shores is looking for 1400m now and more again after that given that she’s by The Autumn Sun for starters and the way she has finished off on her only two runs. Both 1300m at Hawkesbury, Mille De Lune can figure.
Bet: Via Varallo each-way, quinella 5, 8 Daily Double 1st Leg 11, 2nd Leg 9
Aranese edges out his stablemate in a photo finish to win for the @amanda_racing stable! 📸 pic.twitter.com/MMCX92zc9J
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 28, 2025
Joyrider, an $800,000 Magic Millions Yearling in 2021, is a son of Snitzel out of a stakes-winning Savabeel mare. He has managed to place five times in 11 starts, including a second at Canterbury. He is very, very quick and he’s clearly in great shape evidenced by back to back easy trial wins at the Farm. Speaking of trials, Aerostern Bro’s don’t really tell the story about him as a horse or his prospects today. The Way Ahead almost ‘must’ go in on the debut.
Bet: Joyrider to win, Aerostern Bro each-way
Placid Pearl won a Scone Class 1 and Maiden Plate over 2200m on Oct 25 and 13 days later was in the VRC Oaks finishing 10th of 14 behind Treasurethe Moment. Resumed with a decent fourth over 1400m at Goulburn on Feb 28. Won a 1050m trial on April 14. Quality filly who will be well beyond racing. Mega Flight has been knocking around in some strong races. Third-up today and looks to be on the right trajectory. Peruno is in an astute yard and what’s more, is a last start winner.
Bet: Placid Pearl to win, exacta 9 to beat 5
Tamworth, Albury tips: Mount Bona ready to explode
The Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Mount Bona was a stylish winner at Scone before heading to Newcastle when fourth and can bounce back at Tamworth. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL.
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Trainer Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are keen to target the $3 million Big Dance with Green Shadows again and are chasing an early place in the race through the Tamworth Cup.