Cowra preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, January 19, 2025
The trainer/jockey combination of Gratz Vella and Damon Budler are chasing a unique Cups double with half-brothers when they head to Cowra.
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Trainer Gratz Vella and jockey Damon Budler aim for a clean sweep of two Cups on Cowra’s biggest day on the racing calendar with a couple of stablemates who share the same birthday.
The Canberra connection are represented in the Breakout Meats Cowra Cup (1700m) by Astunner who was foaled on September 19 in 2019.
Vella’s runner in the Cowra Japan Cup (1200m) is the stable stalwart Major Time who was foaled on the same day, four years earlier.
Chestnut Astunner hasn’t won since posting back-to-back victories at Queanbeyan in May of 2024 culminating in the annual Defence Cup but has handed in some honourable, even admirable efforts in his five starts since.
That is, excluding his Federal Open Benchmark 80 on December 27 when a ‘plain’ seventh of the eight runners.
A stunning effort!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 12, 2024
Astunner wins the Club Sapphire South Coast Cup at Queanbeyan! 🆠pic.twitter.com/RhimQGwPGC
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!
“Just for some reason, he was racing well but when Damon asked for a bit of petrol, he wouldn’t go,” Vella said.
“The start before that he was spot-on and I think he is looking for a bit of ground.
“He is fit and he is ready.”
Major Time, meanwhile, has the honour of leading the field out in the Cowra Japan Cup courtesy of his Benchmark rating of 86.
If successful, it would be win number ten for Major Time whose earnings would tip over $300,000 at the same time.
As it stands, the son of the now Turkey-based stallion Epaulette has delivered Vella a more than ten-fold return on his initial $25,000 outlay on the bay at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“If you had a stable full of Major Times, you’d be that happy,” Vella said.
“Every time he goes out, he always gives a hundred and one per cent.
“The weights gets him, he carries top-weight all the time.
“I was going to put an apprentice on to claim but he is a horse that over 1200m, he will jump and just go a bit too hard for them and you’ve got to give him every possible chance.”
Budler and Vella will combine for a third time for the day when Onya Lional steps out in the Lucky 88 Racing Class 3 Handicap (1375m).
Major Time takes out the opener at Canberra on the quick backup. pic.twitter.com/wr2Ubh2KMr
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 25, 2022
Foaled at the historic Newhaven Park Stud at Boorowa, a mere 75km from the Cowra track, Onya Lional has mixed and matched it to various degrees with some notable horses in recent times.
The son of Delago Deluxe was $51 into $31 and ran accordingly when a closing third in a December 6 Federal in the nation’s capital behind Charlemagne who franked the form soon after with a win in the Moruya Cup.
Onya Lional faded to finish with just two behind him at his subsequent, and most recent appearance, but with excuses.
“The pace was very slow and he got himself into the lead and it’s not his caper,” Vella explained.
“He generally sits behind them and stalks them and gives his best at the finish but it didn’t go that way last start but he is happy and fit and I’m quite happy to take him there on Sunday.
“The owner lives in Cowra so I am hoping he can win for him.”
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 1: Hellinda
Costly beaten as an odds-on favourite last start. Can atone.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 10: Letme Entertainyou
Close second to Body Bob at Wagga followed up with a brave win. Reliable.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No. 3: Victory Roll
Better off up in trip second-up off a Moruya Cup return.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 2, 4
Race 6: 1, 5, 6, 7
Race 7: 1, 10
Race 8: 1, 4, 5, 15
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Mathew Cahill has ridden 142 winners at Cowra.
INSIDE MAIL - COWRA
Hellinda was $2.40 into $1.85 fav second-up at Wagga on the Riverside track on Jan 3 and looked to have the race shot to bits until caught and passed inside the final stages. Disappointing to lose but it wasn’t a bad run and perhaps going back up to 1200m (and barrier 2) will see a different outcome. O’Hellyeah can make this a quinella for the stallion Hellbent. This particular filly ran well on debut in the winter. Trialled quite well.
Bet: Hellinda to win
Ghielmi is a very well-bred year-year-old. His dam Gamba won five races, four in-a-row. His third-dam is the mighty mare and even mightier broodmare Twiglet. This Mitchell Beer gelding is on debut. Looks to have plenty of pace and speed looking at his two trials in Oct/Nov. Sabatina is a locally trained filly who was set aside after a solid fifth of 10 in a good quality Narromine Maiden back on Sept 23.
Bet: Ghielmi to win, Sabatina each-way, quinella 5, 10
Victory Roll was bought online by Pat Murphy for $2,250 in March 2024. He’s had nine starts since and won four of them including a TAB Highway over 1800m. He wasn’t too bad first-up in the Moruya Cup (1425m) and is much better off at 1700m now. Subuki is an easy horse to like for the sole reason that she always has a go. Up to 1700m (tick), small field (tick). Astunner has been racing in some strong Federals in Canberra.
Bet: Victory Roll to win, exacta 3 to beat 2
It's a thriller at Canterbury! 📸
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 7, 2024
Victory Roll gets the nose down right when it counts ðŸ‘@pjfmurphyracingpic.twitter.com/aejfXjxxDe
Friskee Frog is a Neil Osborne-bred, owned and trained five-year-old by Kermadec. Breeding buffs will be interested to learn that his third dam is that most celebrated broodmare, Easy Date. As for Friskee Frog, he has had only 11 starts but has managed to place at six of them, half of them seconds. Getting close to a win. You would like to be as confident of that when it comes to Beograd Boy but he is still winless after 32 starts. Calyx Rose is suited this trip.
Bet: Friskee Frog to win, Calyx Rose to place
Brief Statement hasn’t won in a little while now and her strike-rate of four wins and 16 placings, 11 of them seconds, but rather being costly, it is only fair to look upon her as consistent. Keep in mind that she has been running well in some good quality Benchmark 58’s and was a close runner-up in a 66 last month. Camerlago is absolutely flying this preparation with four placings and that last start win. Drawn out but is a speedy customer.
Bet: Brief Statement to win, quinella 1, 2
Urafiki was scratched from Saturday’s TAB Highway at Rosehill but has also accepted for a race at Dubbo on Monday where she has drawn a lot better than she has here (before any scratchings that is). Long story short, she is the one to beat in both races, both days. That goes double if Your Not The Boss is absent (no jockey booked). These potential withdrawals could well help deliver the race to the eminently consistent Grins.
Bet: Urafiki to win or if scratched Your Not The Boss to win or if scratched Grins each-way
Letme Entertianyou is from the same family as Everest winner Yes Yes Yes and Everest participant In Her Time. This Tim Donnelly-trained mare has a fine record of four wins and four placings from 14 starts, noting that three of those were seconds, one was a close onto Body Bob. Last start (brave) winner, drawn 1 for a jockey who has ridden 142 winners at this venue. Major Time has won nine races which is no mean feat in the benchmark era. Drawn well.
Bet: Letme Entertainyou to win, exacta 10 to beat 1, trifecta 10 / 1, 7, 9
King Taurus was scratched from a race at Moruya on Friday to run here from a very favourable draw (4) with Nick Heywood to ride. Heywood has ridden the Danny Williams-trained gelding at his last two starts, one being a booming four length win over 1300m followed by a fading and distant fourth over 1425m. This is 1200m. Can Do It has been the absolute model of consistency this campaign. Ultra White is often ‘the value’ and sometimes delivers.
Bet: King Taurus to win, Ultra White to place
COWRA
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 1: Hellinda
Costly beaten odds-on favourite last start who can atone today.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 10: Letme Entertainyou
Close second to Body Bob at Wagga followed up with a brave win. Reliable.
VALUE
Race 3 No. 3: Victory Roll
Better off up in trip second-up off a Moruya Cup return.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1,2,4
Race 6: 1,5,6,7
Race 7: 1,10
Race 8: 1,4,5,15
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Mathew Cahill has ridden 142 winners at Cowra
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