Mudgee preview: Trainer Scott Singleton is hoping for smooth sailing with Kimberley Moon in debut - take two

It was a less than ideal introduction to racing by Kimberley Moon at Scone recently but that can quickly be forgotten with a debut win at Mudgee.

Trainer Scott Singleton is banking on Kimberley Moon being on her best behaviour at Mudgee. Picture: Bradley Photos

Hawkesbury Guineas winning trainer Scott Singleton is hoping for a lot less drama and a much better outcome when the stable’s racy chestnut Kimberley Moon makes her debut at Mudgee.

Singleton’s mare had plenty of admirers when scheduled to step out for the first time in an 1100m Maiden at home at Scone on August 19, only to return to her nearby box without participating.

“She went out onto the track, reared in the air dropping Christian Reith then ran through a couple of rails and got scratched,” Singleton explained.

“She is not a rogue or anything, it is just one of those things.”

Kimberley Moon was ordered back to the trials and came through her 1000m Tamworth Heat with her reputation restored courtesy of her circa three length win.

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Talented apprentice Mitch Stapleford rides Kimberley Moon at Mudgee. Picture: Bradley Photos

The daughter of Stratum Star will jump from barrier 2 in the Mudgee Soldiers Club Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1100m) where Mitch Stapleford lightens her 57kg impost by two.

“(Barrier 2) sounds good for her I think,” Singleton said.

“She has been a little bit sticky out of the gates but she musters quickly so I don’t think she will be too far away from that barrier.”

Kimberley Moon will be joined in race two on the card by her intriguing stablemate Moovova whose paltry price-tag belies her regal heritage.

Born and raised at Rangal Park Stud in Victoria, the now four-year-old mare was sold at Inglis’ Great Southern Weanling Sale in 2021 for $1,000.

That’s despite the fact that she traces back on a direct line to one of racing’s immortals.

Moovova’s fifth dam is the Italian-bred mare Ada Hunter whose mating with Widden Stud’s Galaxy winner Bletchingly in the spring of 1975 produced Kingston Town.

“She is by Boom Time who won the Caulfield Cup and I think she will get out to a mile. I am not sure how much further than that she will go but she will definitely be looking for a little bit of ground,” Singleton said.

“I was pretty happy with that last trial. We didn’t ask a lot of her but she was warming into it good late.

Vincenzo holds on to win the fifth at Scone for @singletonracing! 👏 pic.twitter.com/ht0sVyvAnz

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 30, 2024

“It is a little bit hard to know what is going to happen with horses on raceday but I thought she trialled just as good as the horse that won the trial there at Tamworth (Point Loma) who is less than half her price on Sunday.

“I think she is talented enough that she will run a bit of a race. I would say she would get back a little bit and be warming up late.”

Moovova races in the familiar colours of Shaky Bloodstock who look to have a busy and potentially lucrative spring ahead, primarily via the well-credentialled Vincenzo.

“He won here at Scone the other day,” Singleton said.

“He may go to the Bathurst Cup and then later down the track in the next couple of months we will look to get him into the Country Classic if possible if he is still going well.

“It just suits him with his rating now.

“He probably has to go in those Country Cups or go to town and I just think it is a bit easier in those Country Cups.

“The distance is right, 1800m is about his sweet spot I reckon.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 5: Tim’s Principal

Won seven and placed 26 times in 78 starts, lots of them in tougher company and better races than this.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 2: Kimberley Moon

Has trialled like the type who could win on debut. Barrier 2 seals the deal.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 4: Rapid Impact

Has only won two from 32 but he was a close-up second at his only track and distance run.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 4, 6

Race 5: 5

Race 6: 1, 4, 10

Race 7: 2, 6, 7, 8, 16

Clayton Gallagher looks set for a good day at Mudgee. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Clayton Gallagher could tally up enough points to claim the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

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INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE

RACE 1

Egyptologist had three runs for John O’Shea, two of them thirds either side of a Canterbury sixth of seven but not beaten at all far. The son of American Pharoah made his Brett Thompson stable debut at Dubbo on August 21, finishing very strongly to run second. That was 1200m, this 1400m, bearing in mind he will run 2000m when asked. It’s Showtime has clocked in third at all of his last three and in quite respectable maidens at that. Getting closer. Sashabella was the eye-catcher in that 1300m Forbes Super Maiden.

Bet: Egyptologist to win, quinella 2, 3

RACE 2

Kimberley Moon was fancied far and wide prior to her aborted debut at Scone on August 19 when she ditched the jockey on the way to the barriers and was scratched. She was an easy trial winner since. She looks a really racy type and barrier 2 is a major advantage to her. With that said, she seems to have a handy one drawn inside of her in box one. That being Where’stheprofit who was a narrow but super impressive Scone trial winner. Point loma trialled well at Tamworth.

Bet: Kimberley Moon to win, exacta 2 to beat 1

RACE 3

Rapid Impact has only managed to win two of his 32 starts with six placings as well. One of those placings was his fairly narrow second over this same course and distance to a horse called Majoran who goes better than a lot of these Rapid Impact rivals here. No excuses. Bill Peyto is another one that doesn’t win out of turn, his last was at Wean in quite a good quality Picnic Trophy. One thing about him, he runs more good races than bad. Mazita should be prominent from that draw.

Bet: Rapid Impact to win.

A blanket finish in the Muswellbrook opener and it goes the way of Rapid Impact! @[e-mail]/TMwNiqSXHc

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 17, 2024

RACE 4

Feirme Prince was building up that last start win at Dubbo and the punters didn’t miss, he was the heavily backed $2.50 fav come jump time. It was a pretty good win too in a pretty good field of Class 2 horses. Can win again from the decent draw. Awaygoesthebunny is a lightly-raced five-year-old son of Sidestep who has his first run for Brett Cavanough in the very strong Intervarsity TAB Highway on August 17. Extra 100m is ideal. Who Ever Thought was just ahead of him in that Highway so must go in.

Bet: Feirme Prince to win

RACE 5

Tim’s Principal is almost guaranteed to bust the $400,000 mark in earnings. Sure, he is an 11-year-old and it will have taken him almost 80 starts to get there but you could make a case that so many of his 26 placings could have topped up his seven wins. Whatever the case, his best is good enough to win this one. The Hungarian was an honourable fifth here behind Touch Of Navy in the Dubbo Gold Cup Prelude. On his way to a third-up peak perhaps? Aimpoint is as naturally talented as most of these.

Bet: Tim’s Principal to win, exacta 5 to beat 1

RACE 6

Rock Hard Love is nominated for a race on the Kensington track on Wednesday which says a bit about his talent and how he is going. Just a quick note on his pedigree; he is bred on a Pierro/Danehill cross and is in fact the 11th foal of the bonny mare, Aqua D’Amore. Sanzeno is a huge chance to win this race if he were to mirror any of his first runs for Mack Griffith after he came up from Grahame Begg. Bit Of A Step trialled like a bomb at Scone the other day. The barrier? Not good but maybe not terrible either.

Bet: Rock Hard Love to win or if scratched Sanzeno to win

RACE 7

Burraneer Buoy was, not surprisingly, scratched from the Highway at Randwick on Saturday given he was an emergency and also drew barrier 20. Granted the Todd Howlett-trained gelding hasn’t fared all that much better here but unlike the Highway, this might be a case of him being the best horse in the race but with the honourable exception of Sammiballerina. Scorpius has only won four of 47 but he has 11 placings, eight of them are seconds. As for lately, he has been drawing wide and going back but finding the line with purpose.

Bet: Burraneer Buoy to win, quinella 2, 8, box trifecta 2, 7, 8, 16

MUDGEE

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 5: Tim’s Principal

Won 7 and placed 26 times in 78 starts, lots of them in tougher company and better races than this.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 2: Kimberley Moon

Has trialled like the type who could win on debut. Barrier 2 seals the deal.

VALUE

Race 3 No. 4: Rapid Impact

Has only won 2 from 32 but he was a close-up second at his only track/distance run.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3,4,6

Race 5: 5

Race 6: 1,4,10

Race 7: 2,6,7,8,16

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Clayton Gallagher could tally up enough points to claim the TAB Jockeys Challenge