Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Wellington on Sunday
Trainer Damien Lane has enjoyed good success in the Wellington Boot and can add to his record with two good chances this year.
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Coonamble born and bred trainer Damien Lane aims to extend his peerless record in the coveted Wellington Boot with a flying filly named after his beloved hometown.
Named Canamble, Lane’s filly was one of only two foals sired by her Todman Stakes winning father, Aylmerton, in 2021 and one of only 19 foals in total.
Her rarity is matched only by her ability as evidenced by her emphatic debut win in the Boot Prelude at Coonamble on WRA Country Championship Qualifier Day on March 17.
“It was always the plan to go to Coonamble and then to Wellington,” Lane said.
“She had a few days at the Farm after Coonamble and had a little bit of time on the water-walker and then she’s had a couple of little bits of work.
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“She had a really nice gallop on Tuesday morning on the course proper and it was definitely her best piece of work since I have had her.
“She is still a bit lean but I will say the month between runs has been really good for her. She has put on good condition in the time between runs.
“I think the horse of Matty Dale’s (Satin Stiletto) and the horse of Stephen O’Halloran’s (Nymphadora) both look like they’ve got quite good form so Canamble will have to improve on what she did on debut but I think she has and I think she is going better than when she went to Coonamble,” Lane said.
Canamble has considerable residual value with a highly commercial pedigree.
Her third dam, Porto Roca, won the Coolmore Classic and is the dam of 2012 Dubai World Cup winner, Monterosso.
Canamble’s fifth dam, the Tommy Smith-trained Annette, is part of Australian racing folklore, having won at odds of 500/1 at a midweek meeting at Canterbury in 1982.
Lane’s record in the Wellington Boot is not quite what T.J Smith was to the Slipper or Bart Cummings in the Melbourne Cup but he doesn’t have the strike power of a Tulloch Lodge or Leilani Lodge at his disposal at his Central Coast digs.
Oakfield Redgum puts a gap on them!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 27, 2023
Adam Hyeronimus picks up a treble aboard the Damien Lane trained mare. pic.twitter.com/9jMTM5Wx4n
“We’ve had four runners for a first, second and a third,” Lane said. “Sonnet Star won, Girls Kick On ran second and Sparkingly ran third last year.”
Lane has a second iron in this year’s event, namely Sneaky Sofia, who is in no way a support act for her more fancied stablemate in her trainer’s assessment.
“There is not a lot between my two,” he said.
“I would lean to Canamble at the 1100m but in saying that, if they go ridiculously quick in the Boot and she (Sneaky Sophia) gets a nice cart in behind them, then she will be the one hitting the line.”
Lane is represented in all three Wellington features with Safado and Impact Star lining-up in the Town Plate while last start Taree winner Oakfield Redgum vies for Big Dance eligibility in the Cup.
“It is a tougher race at Wellington but she gets in on the limit from a good draw on a track that will suit her up on speed,” Lane said.
“Anna (Roper) rides her, she is in great form, she could win on a broomstick at the moment.
SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 1 No.9: Feimazou
Attacked the line with purpose at her two starts at the first preparation. Hard to hold out in the line-up.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.5: Canamble
Won the Wellington Boot Prelude like a good horse. Drawn well and won’t have to have improve a whole lot either.
BEST VALUE
Race 5 No.15: Safado
Ran third in this race last year and he’s going no worse this time round, that’s for sure.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 2, 15, 16
Race 6: 3, 4, 12
Race 7: 5, 6, 8, 12
Race 8: 9, 12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Braith Nock has enough horsepower underneath him to give the TAB Jockeys Challenge a red-hot go.
INSIDE MAIL - WELLINGTON
RACE 1
Feimazou is a well-bred daughter of Shirl Pegasus who stakes-placed on multiple occasions but with a career highlight of her fourth to More Joyous in the Coolmore Classic. As for Feimazou, she was tipped out after consecutive closing thirds in October last year at her first preparation. No trial but sure to be ready. Powerstone is a 26-start maiden but has placed nine times. Runner-up at her last three - she’s getting close. Little Ditty is fast and has 4kg off.
Bet: Feimazou to win
RACE 2
Threetimesalady won her first start at Pakenham for Peter Moody. Her last six start have been for John Bannister and all of them have contained merit to varying degrees. She hasn’t always drawn well since she swapped stables but you’d imagine six of 11 is just about ideal for her on the weekend. Turnaway won a high quality 58 at Tamworth. Beaten narrowly the next time when out to a mile. Third-up at 1700m now, keeping in mind he has won at 1900m.
Bet: Threetimesalady to win
RACE 3
Jamacri is a Bjorn Baker-trained filly who was set aside after he distant third at Nowra on October 15. She had trialled exceedingly well prior to that as she has again in the lead-in to the race. Market watch advised. Hammoon Summer has placed at five of her seven starts and gives the impression that she wants 1400m now. Won’t run an inch more thanks to barrier 1. Oakfield Peewee has provincial form. Territory Day is a player.
Bet: Jamacri to win, Hammoon Summer each-way, quinella 10, 12
RACE 4
Water Lad was heroic, bordering on unbelievable in defeat on debut at Muswellbrook then went to Mudgee, drew better, race handier, and won like a horse that would win again. Granted, it is a big step from a Maiden to a Class 1 but he does seem to be above average. Ardonaugh is another last start winner who is clearly on an upward trajectory herself. Nice draw for Ash Morgan here. Goonoo and Serifice have obvious claims to a medal.
Bet: Water Lad to win
RACE 5
Safado is a son of Lonhro lining up for the 50th time. The nine-year-old Wyong resident is racing better than his recent results read, not that they all bad by any means. He is simply one of those horses who gets back in his races so is wholly reliable on outside factors. Note; he ran third in this race in 2023. Stablemate Impact Lane was checked at the start first-up so needs to be forgiven. Has good form in these feature country sprints. Go well.
Bet: Safado each-way, exacta 15 to beat 16, quinella 15, 16
Have a look at debutant Dasho Lennie go 💨 @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/ZGjQcFOtwk
— Racing.com (@Racing) February 21, 2024
RACE 6
Dasho Lennie has a tidy C.V of 10 starts for three wins and four placings here in Australia and in England before that. Granted, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding is probably at his absolute best at 2400m but he is he was a mile winner at Sandown prior to his closing third to Wymark at Rosehill over 1900m on March 16. Danish Prince is a brave horse. Maybe 1700m might test him out but he has a good draw, great jockey, and this is an on-pace venue.
Bet: Dasho Lennie to win
RACE 7
Canamble won the Wellington Boot Prelude at Coonamble with a fair degree of authority. She has trialled like the proverbial ‘good horse’ a few weeks prior and brought it to race day. She could well come into barrier 5 here in but either way, she is still going to be just off the speed and let lose late (hopefully). Nymphadora was third in the Inglis Nursery in December. She was strong late, as is her custom, when second to More Territories last start. She and Fingers Hunter could be the swoopers here.
Bet: Canamble to win, box trifecta 5, 6, 8, 12
RACE 8
Jet Empress is an appropriately-named horse. She is a flying machine. The Michael Mulholland-trained bay led throughout to win at Muswellbrook on March 15 clocking 50.43 seconds for the 900m. Needless to say, she is going to be hard to catch around here. Star of Kings is close enough to being the ‘market watch of the day’ given his profile and talent and that he is first-up since racing against Derry Grove and Once Again My Girl. Brief Statement is honest as the day as long.
Bet: Jet Empress to win, exacta 12 to beat 9
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