Nowra tips: Trainer Paul Murray is looking for Pressilly to bring up the hat-trick in the race named after his legendary father

Trainer Paul Murray will have extra reason to celebrate should in-form mare Pressilly make it a hat-trick of wins and Cani Cancan salute in the Mollymook Cup.

Pressilly is looking to make it three wins in-a-row when she contests the Bede Murray Memorial. Picture: Bradley Photos

Paul Murray aims to win the race named after his legendary father, Bede, before collecting the feature Mollymook Cup with a horse that wears the colours of one of the late master trainer’s champions.

Bede Murray was a frequent visitor to Nowra over a long and illustrious career which included an AJC Derby win in 2001 with the Robert Sangster-bred Universal Prince.

At the same time, he went within inches of winning the 2002 Two-Year-Old Triple Crown with Victory Vein who was beaten a nose in the Golden Slipper before going on to win the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes.

Owned by Tom and Aileen Ford, Victory Vein’s red, white and black silks will be worn in the Mollymook Cup by Cani Cancan whose seventh dam, Somethingroyal, is the mother of the immortal Secretariat.

Pressilly runs down a very brave Your Not The Boss in Race 5 at @moruyaraces 📸 pic.twitter.com/QIGlsH4Bbe

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 4, 2024

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“Tom and Aileen have won the Mollymook Cup before with Devil Dan so it’s a good little hunting ground for them,” Paul Murray said.

“I didn’t think we would have her quite ready for it but when she trialled so good, I said to Tom, I’d like her just to go back to the country and treat it as another trial just to get her back ready for the provincials.

“She is coming back from a break. She cut the back of her knee and it just took forever to heal up.

“She does go alright and is going to get better as she gets older too.”

Ditto that it seems for Pressilly who will represent Murray in the Bede Murray Memorial Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).

A daughter of Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement, Pressilly has won both times this preparation, each one at Moruya over 1200m.

“She’s turned the corner and has been a late bloomer but really it is only her second preparation,” Murray explained.

Another nice debut win at Wagga!

Cani Cancan and @jeanvovermeire nail the favourite Patchouli Dream on the line for Paul Murray. pic.twitter.com/uWPNaJLlRl

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 24, 2023

“She strained a suspensory in her second start and we just gave her plenty of time.

“Then when she came back, she was just very green and was doing things wrong.

“She would over-race and then toss her around and just needed a bit of time.

“She showed us ability but it has just taken a while for the penny to drop.”

Pressilly should have no issues stretching herself an extra 200m on Sunday given her pedigree and pattern.

“She only just won last start over the 1200m and she gives us the impression she will get out to a mile,” Murray said.

“We did try her at 2000m but I don’t think she got it so I think a mile is going to be as far as she gets.

“After the other day, (jockey) Quayde (Krogh) said that we could probably step her up to 1400m now.

“She is relaxing and doing everything right and not over-racing and doing everything back to front.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 6: Pressilly

Has turned the corner this prep; so much so that she is on a hat-trick with favourable conditions.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 12: Chemtrail

Danny Williams-trained gelding on debut off a fantastic trial win at Goulburn 12 days ago.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 9: Broadcast Boogie

Never in the race first-up the other day but she is infinitely better than that.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 12, 13

Race 5: 9, 10, 11

Race 6: 8, 11, 13

Race 7: 1, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Alysha Collett will be popular in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

Alysha Collett looks set for a good day. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL - NOWRA

RACE 1

Pressilly is trained by Paul Murray who would naturally love to win this race given it is named in honour of his legendary father Bede Murray. Paul is represented by Pressilly who was an 11 start maiden prior to this campaign. Now, she is on a hat-trick having won back-to-back races at 1200m and 1400m is even better. Draco’s Fire was scratched from his Newcastle engagement to run here instead (maybe). Big weight, bad draw but has good provincial form. The Gift has only won two from 41 but she has placed 13 times including twice here.

Bet: Pressilly to win

RACE 2

Chemtrial was the $2.20 favourite here on debut, not only because he is from the astute Danny Williams stable but his trial win at home at Goulburn on October 8 was absolutely brilliant. He ran 46.70 seconds for the 800m which is pretty slick. No wonder he’s quick, look at his dam sires; General Nediym, Rory’s Jester, etc. Shalmum has the race experience having raced 10 times. Granted, she is yet to win but she has placed on seven occasions and four of them were seconds. The Main Event could improve with the better draw.

Bet: Chemtrail to win

RACE 3

Doola Teela is Gary Nickson-trained mare who has three wins and three placings from 40 starts but keep in mind, she has raced a lot in much stronger races than this one. In fact, she ran in a Lonhro Plate (fourth), Silver Slipper and Magic Night when she was young. Doesn’t win out of turn but she won recently. Spritely Emily was on a hat-trick leading into her last start eighth of 12 in the Bateman’s Bay Cup. Only beaten three lengths that day and is back to a Benchmark 58.

Bet: Doola Teela each-way

Doola Teela makes it two wins on the bounce 💪

Quality steer from @Costin_Winona for trainer Gary Nickson. pic.twitter.com/6Tee6IV5IO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 27, 2023

RACE 4

Walk Like A Man is the latest hit progeny out of the Illes family mare, Hayaat, following in the footsteps of Hope In Your Heart, Tampering and others. This one is trained by Kerry Parker as well and finds himself down in class after his two runs at Kembla where he finished an honourable fourth in each one. Cashburn faded a bit late last start but she was 1200m to 1500m in 13 days. Back to Nowra, back to 1400m is favourable to her chances. Zeema and O’Explosive have claims.

Bet: Walk Like A Man to win, exacta 12 to beat 13

RACE 5

Broadcast Boogie is a Matthew Smith-trained filly in the Fierce Impact colours having her fourth career start, her second one of the second preparation. Her first two were very good indeed, can’t say the same for her first-up 11th of 13 at Goulburn but if she can jump better, she can run better. Invincible Duchess is very easy to like and impossible to ignore off her trials. Doesn’t hurt that she is by I Am Invincible either. Butterfly Style bears watching at his NSW debut for Mitchell Beer off a Nowra trial win on Aug 20.

Bet: Broadcast Boogie to win, quinella 9, 11, Daily Double 1st Leg (9), 2nd Leg (7)

RACE 6

Nettles is a chance to be saved for a race at Newcastle on Thursday unless there are a few scratchings to help with her wide draw. Went out for a spell well (off two wins) and has come back with a fifth behind the above-average Island Dec. Siovy Dane, likewise, is nominated for Hawkesbury next week. Has provincial form and could even end up at the midweeks. Nice prospect. Cani Cancan was ultra-impressive in a recent trial win. Impressiero makes each-way appeal at $23/$6 given she races well at this track.

Bet: Nettles to win or if scratched Siovy Dane to win or if scratched Cani Cancan to win

RACE 7

Laguna Seca (a speedway in California is by Sebring (a speedway in Florida) and trained at Moruya by Lauren Davies. The five-year-old has only raced eight times but is a winner with four placings. There was a lot to like about his first-up third in a good quality Bm58 at home. Down in weight and has Keagan Latham on. Commandero is ‘231’ in his three starts since arriving at Michael Gatty’s Moruya stables. Has to go 1200m now and has to do it away from home but has the draw to assist, big time. Thoughtful and Woodzy are players.

Bet: Laguna Seca to win, box trifecta 1, 5, 6, 7