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Trainer Matthew Kelley knows it’s a big challenge facing new stable recruit Maracaibo Sun but is banking on the gelding’s class to get him home.
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Canberra trainer Matthew Kelley couldn’t have been happier with the winning performance of Maracaibo Sun at his stable debut but a big rating following out of that race left him perplexed.
Kelley was supremely confident Maracaibo Sun could make a winning start for his new connections and the four-year-old delivered a two-and-a-quarter length win in that Maiden Plate at Canberra.
The son of Maurice was given a Benchmark rating or 63 for the win which sees him having to jump up to a Benchmark 66 Handicap (1600m) this weekend.
“He copped a big benchmark out of that win which has ruled out a Class 1 or a (Benchmark) 58,” said Kelley.
Montana Dawn along the fence pips Maracaibo Sun right on the line to break her maiden at @NewcastleRaces, and it's a double to @JTRacingRwik! pic.twitter.com/dvRWJiWBXO
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 8, 2024
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“We have to go straight to a 66 where he has 59 kilos less one and a half for Coriah’s (Keatings) claim.
“It’s never easy to go from a maiden and win again next start but hopefully his class can get him home.”
A $500,000 Easter Yearling buy, the son of Maurice started out with Ciaron Maher where he placed in five of his eight starts before being sold to Kelley on Inglis Digital for $40,000.
“He had fairly good provincial maiden form when we bought him,” he said.
“He was race fit when we got him but we gave him a freshen up and had him gelded.
“I was very happy with what he was showing me at home and we were very confident going into that race at Canberra. It was a great starting point and he did a good job.”
Kelley’s other two runs this weekend are also graduates of the Inglis Digital auctions.
Starlight Girl had trialled very well but was unplaced in two starts before selling online for $12,000 last January and joining Kelley’s stable.
She hit the ground running with a first-up second at Goulburn followed by three consecutive wins.
“She seems like quite a progressive mare still on the way up,” Kelley said.
“She did a really good job last preparation winning three on the bounce.”
The daughter of Zoustar returned from a spell this campaign with a third at Wagga Riverside and looks a great chance in the Class 3 Handicap (1000m).
Quade Krogh guides Starlight Girl to victory in Race 2 at Goulburn! pic.twitter.com/28m1PMCpHP
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 3, 2024
“She has come up well this preparation with two really nice trials,” he said.
“Unfortunately, she just missed the start at Wagga which on the Riverside course was very hard to make up ground.
“It wasn’t totally her fault there but I thought the run had plenty of merit and she has definitely improved from that fitness wise.
“If she can jump cleanly this weekend, I think she will be in front for a long way.”
Getty was purchased out of the same sale for $42,500 and while he has done well to earn that back with two wins and three placings, he has been a source of frustration for Kelley.
“He has kind of lost his way a little both his last preparation and this one,” he said.
“He is a quirky animal and can do a lot wrong on race day. He’s his own worst enemy,” he said.
“Ability wise, he his riddled with talent. He can run really slick time sin trackwork but he is still very immature mentally and it’s letting him down.
“We see glimpses of his ability like when he ran second at Gundagai and won at the Sapphire Coast a couple of runs back then he reared at the start at Bathurst last time out.
“He has been back to the trials won under a hold. Hopefully he is on his best behaviour this weekend.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 5 No. 5: Bravissima
Resumed for a new stable with an impressive win and can go back-to-back.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 No. 2: Starlight Girl
Missed the start first-up when third. Won second-up last prep then went on to record a hat-trick.
VALUE BET
Race 4 No. 7: Glory
Made ground from last on an unfavourable track last start. Previous runs were good.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 3, 6, 7, 9
Race 5: 2, 5
Race 6: 3, 4, 5, 12
Race 7: 3, 6,
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Coriah Keatings has three rides, all for Matthew Kelley, and all are leading chances.
INSIDE MAIL – NOWRA
Hellinda was taken on in front and gave a kick on straightening but just couldn’t hold out the fast finishing Petawawa at Wagga nine days ago. Worked hard when fourth to Divron when resuming from a long spell the start prior. Cougars has been good in his two second placings on soft ground and had no luck in his other two runs. Lost his rider at the start on debut and raced very wide here when resuming. Winnie Fortune has been good in placing in both starts on soft ground. Rouge Homme can improve on his debut.
Bet: Hellinda to win
Starlight Girl was terrific last campaign with a debut second on a heavy track at Goulburn followed by three consecutive wins. Trialled well before resuming at Wagga Riverside where she missed the start before finishing third. Can bounce back. Zoubeauty went back-to-back with nice wins at Muswellbrook and Taree including one on the soft before jumping up in grade when eighth to Photographics at Randwick on Boxing Day. Debello was spelled after failing in a Rosehill Midway in September. Prior form was good and has won first-up.
Bet: Starlight Girl to win
Starlight Girl shines bright in the second at Queanbeyan winning easily. @MKelleyRacingpic.twitter.com/YaSv8eQTO5
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 19, 2024
Maracaibo Sun had solid provincial maiden form including a second at Canterbury on a heavy track before changing stables. Debuted for Matthew Kelley with an impressive win at Canberra on Dec 27. Takes a big jump in grade but can win again. Mega Fight also had handy provincial form before finally breaking through at Moruya on Dec 22. He followed it up with a win here nine days later. Has placed in all four heavy track starts. Goodnight Barlow resumed with a narrow Maiden win at Canberra before dropping in distance when third in a Class 2 at the same track.
Bet: Maracaibo Sun to win
Glory was beaten seven lengths at Kembla last start but she came from a clear on a track favouring on pace runners when ninth to Rybakina. Previous two runs were handy including a debut second to Lady Memphis on a heavy track at Goulburn when racing on speed. Heron was making ground before being inconvenienced near the 100m when beaten less than two lengths in seventh behind O’Invincible on debut at Hawkesbury. Raced on speed when second to Alliri at Newcastle. Ciao Bella Mia was good coming from well back when fifth to Rybakina last start.
Bet: Glory each-way
Bravissima had handy form in Victoria before joining the Matthew Dale yard and resuming with a stylish two length win from Man Of Reign at Nowra. His dam was a strong wet tracker. Sturn Words made good ground late when eighth to Sir Remlap in a TAB Highway over 1200m at Randwick on Dec 28. Drops in class and is the one to beat. Trezzamina has placed in three of her four runs this campaign. Was a half-length second at Goulburn after coming from a wide gate two starts back before a third to Bravissima.
Bet: Bravissima to win
GETTY leads all the way to win the last at Sapphire Coast under a cracking ride from Coriah Keatings! ðŸ‡ðŸŽ‰
— Matt Kelley Racing (@MKelleyRacing) December 4, 2024
Big win, big cheers for owners!ðŸ†@KeatingsCoriah@irestthefish@altierij_@fivesixtysix@thisisdankelly@marcusA79809840@benaby1981@LSouth95@GraemeWhiteSkypic.twitter.com/u5iEMC1KBd
Getty can mix his form but when he is on, he is very good. Turned his form around with a close second at Gundagai before leading all-the-way to win at the Sapphire Coast. Played up and missed the start at Bathurst last start. Trialled very well since. Stormfield kicked off this campaign with a smart win at Orange before a fourth to Art’s Alive at Kembla on Dec 12. Missile Maiden ended last campaign with a win and three placings and kicked off this preparation with a close second at the Sapphire Coast. Won’t be far away again.
Bet: Getty to win
Sweet Patriot raced well in her first campaign with two placings and two fourths from his five runs. Was a half-length second to Linwood in a Warwick Farm Super Maiden on a Heavy 9. Her two recent trials have been very good. Ghielmi is a first start by Toronado from a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Cosmic Endeavour. Scored a big win in his first trial at Nowra before a third to Our Cosmic Belle in his Kembla heat in September. Can’t Touch This will take improvement from her debut fifth behind Point And Shoot at Nowra on Dec 15. Trialled nicely on soft ground prior to that.
Bet: Sweet Patriot to win
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