Dubbo races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Cameron Crockett says Pyramid Of Fire is much better than his record of two wins from 17 starts and can show it at Dubbo on Sunday.

Pyramid Of Fire wins at Tamworth back in December last year. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Cameron Crockett admits Pyramid Of Fire is up there with the best he’s got in work but is hoping he can put it all together on raceday.

The five-year-old son of Sizzling has only struck two wins in 17 starts but Crockett is adamant there’s a few wins in store if Pyramid Of Fire can work it all out.

The Scone-based conditioner is hoping he can go on with it in Sunday’s Benchmark 58 (1300m) at Dubbo after a strong win seven days ago at Mudgee.

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“He’s been very frustrating because as a galloper, he’s as good as anything I’ve got in the stable,” Crockett said.

“On his day he can work with anything I’ve got in the stable but when he gets under pressure or has a tough run he can wave the white flag.

“Even though he’s a five-year-old I can’t move him on because maybe one day if he drops all that nonsense that he’s got in his head, he’s got a good motor and is a decent horse.

“So it wouldn’t surprise me if one day it all comes out of him and he strings a few wins together.

“But what’s worried me in the past is he’s been beaten by horses I know aren’t better than him and that’s a red flag but what he shows at home and what you see when he trials when there’s no pressure, you have to have some confidence that if he does turn up he can win a few races.”

Trainer Cameron Crockett has two runners for Dubbo Cup day. Picture: AAP

Pyramid Of Fire has the same jockey and barrier he had last Sunday at Mudgee and TAB rate him as a $4.20 chance to make it back-to-back wins for the first time.

Former Victorian Skyforger is the $3.90 favourite.

While on paper it looks like a suitable barrier, Crockett is hoping Pyramid Of Fire can get a bit of room and backs Serg Lisnny to get it right again.

“I didn’t think he likes to be inside horses and at Mudgee the other day when they straightened up I could see Serg (Lisny) had a lap full of horse,” Crockett said.

“I was a bit worried if they gave him a needle eye opening he wouldn’t take it but it was lucky enough they fanned off the fence and opened a gap big enough to drive a truck through.

“He had a little think about it when he got through but Serg was strong enough to lift him home.”

Pyramid Of Fire is one of two from the Crockett stable heading to Dubbo’s Cup meeting with Oneofthesenights set to have her third start in the opening race.

Crockett admits a tricky barrier has put a slight dent in his confidence ab out the three-year-olds winning prospects but thinks dropping back to 1000m is a green tick.

“She’s a horse that just needs a bit to go her way and unfortunately with the barriers she just hasn’t been able to get it,” Crockett said.

“But getting back to 1000m is perfect for her.

“She led over it first-up and looked like she needed further but then second-up with that bit of education behind her you could see she was a little sharp and needed to drop back in trip.

“She was just a little weak late but I think she’ll be better for it.

“If she had a softer draw I would have been a bit more confident but we’ll see what happens.”

Despite Crockett’s concerns about the barrier, Oneofthesenights is the $3.30 favourite ahead of the Rod Northam-trained Giving Delight.

JETT HATTON’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.1: JOSHUA

Ran into the smart Agita at Kembla last time out when 1200m up to a mile. A repeat effort wins this.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No.4: PYRAMID OF FIRE

Could blow them away if he puts it all together. On the back up after a strong win at Mudgee seven days ago.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No.12: SMOOTH ESPRIT

Looking to defend home turf in the $100,000 Cup. Won the Prelude with a bit in hand and steps up to his pet trip of 1600m.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Reece Jones heads to Dubbo with six rides, four of which I’ve put on top.

QUADDIE

Leg 1: 4,6,7

Leg 2: 1,4

Leg 3: 2,4,5,7,12

Leg 4: 5,6,7,8

Reece Jones is the jockey to follow on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Oneofthesenights has drawn a tricky barrier in 12 but has the ability to be chalking off the maiden win here. Showed good improvement at her second start when third to All Too Sneaky who has since run well in a Class 2. Drop back to 1000m suits. The Rod Northam-trained Giving Delight was tardy out of the barrier on debut when running fifth at Scone. Should get here with a bit of improvement and enjoy the extra 100m. Be Alive has switched stables and finds a suitable race.

Bet: Oneofthesenights to win.

RACE 2

Raiding is starting to build a strong record at Dubbo having won two of four along with a runner up finish. Tough win last start when wide throughout after jumping from barrier 11, draws better in six today. 2kg claimer Braith Nock sticks too. Titled Tycoon gets a nice drop in grade but in doing so, rises 4kg. He’s yet to win at a mile but hasn’t ever run poorly at the trip. Life Well Lived has been a regular in Highways this year and gets here following his fourth in the Dubbo Cup Prelude. That was just under a month ago but he’s trialled since, winning it well.

Bet: Raiding to win at Dubbo again.

RACE 3

Joshua ran into a handy one at Kembla last start, that being David Payne’s Agita. He was 1200m up to a mile that day and only run down late in the piece. Seems to have a bright future and should be rock hard fit back to 1400m. Tayla The Sailor was strong late first-up at Quirindi after doing a bit of work cornering for home. Lightly raced and has improvement second-up. Poppy’s Girl will take good improvement from her first-up run at Narromine. The daughter of Pierro is winless in 18 starts but can generally find a way to finish in the money.

Bet: Joshua looks hard to beat. Win bet.

RACE 4

The Dubbo Cup is the feature but Talbragar is the headline horse on Sunday. He was last seen finishing second in the Country Championships Final and connections will no doubt be aiming towards another appearance in The Kosciuszko. Came from off the speed in his latest trial and judging by that, he’s in for a big prep. Fangela drops from Saturday company behind Smashing Eagle and Garza Blanca. Was five lengths off the winner there but the run had merit.

Bet: Talbragar looks a stand out. Win.

RACE 5

Zounille has a tricky barrier but has Group 2-winning jockey Reece Jones on board. She looked the winner first-up at Narromine, but just found one better late. Second-up last campaign she went close in a tougher race than this. All Too Sneaky maps to get the dream run from barrier five. One for one at Dubbo having won at start two in good fashion. Simply Xtravagant one for the exotics. The former Victorian was good at her first start with Brett Robb.

Bet: Boxed trifecta with 4,6,7.

RACE 6

Pyramid Of Fire could blow his rivals away if he puts it all together. He’s a horse that needs a bit to go his way, he got that seven days ago at Mudgee when a strong winner. Same barrier, same jockey here. Owhata Crumpet ran super at a big price at Narromine after missing the start and zooming home late. Skyforger is two from three since switching to Clint Lundholm’s stable. Poised to run well again.

Bet: Pyramid Of Fire to win.

RACE 7

Local galloper Smooth Esprit can fend off the city horses in the Cup. Had a bit up his sleeve when winning the Prelude last month, gets in with just 54kg and Reece Jones to ride. Most importantly, he’s got home track advantage and the mile is his pet trip. Amor Victorious is looking for a hat-trick. James McDonald gave him a good rap following his Kensington win last start. Queenmaker has a great set up with 54kg and Zac Lloyd in the saddle. In the mix.

Bet: Smooth Esprit each-way.

RACE 8

Barrier 15 for Press Forward but if he can get a bit of luck, the double figures on offer is overs. Good effort last start in a Showcase Class 2 and the winner (I Like Big Putts) has since placed in a Highway. Osctacised was three wide without cover in Derry Grove’s Highway. Drawn wide again here but has the right formlines. Retrieval has the best jockey and best barrier with Aaron Bullock to pilot from the inside gate.

Bet: Press Forward each-way.