Cootamundra races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Former jockey Michael Travers is chasing his first Cootamundra Cup win as a trainer and feels Blessed Award is in the right form to make it happen.

Blessed Award can give former jockey Michael Travers his first Cootamundra Cup win as a trainer on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Wagga horseman Michael Travers was a two-time winner of the Cootamundra Cup as a jockey and returns this year hoping to claim it for the first as a trainer.

Travers saddles up Blessed Award in the 1600m handicap who has found his best form at just the right time.

The son of Shamus Award was held up for a run just before the corner at Gundagai two starts back before taking an inside run on straightening and proving too good for stablemate Magical Slipper over 1400m.

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Michael Travers won the Cootamundra Cup twice as a jockey and is looking to win it as a trainer on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

He then went to the Jerilderie Cup (1400m) on September 16 where he was runner-up behind Ziggi Rocks.

“I’d like to think he is a good chance in the Cup,” Travers said.

“He ran well last week at Jerilderie. He got back and hit the line really well.

“We got that 1400m run under his belt which we really wanted him to have before we stepped him up to the mile this weekend.”

The last time the six-year-old raced over 1600m was at Wagga three starts ago on August 31 when he raced on speed before fading to finish seventh but Travers feels there was a reason for that and the gelding has won over the distance.

“He was a little bit dour the last time he raced over the mile at Wagga,” he said

“Also, he is particular in how he needs to be ridden. He needs to be held up with the speed on.

“Cootamundra is a track where it’s handy to be up there so I expect there will be good pace in this race for him.

“If Mathew (Cahill) can navigate a path through the field, we will be a chance at the end.”

Earlier in the day, Travers saddles up Gold Tracker who is ready to peak third-up in the Class 1 Handicap over 1200m with Danny Beasley to ride.

The four-year-old gelding raced well in a long campaign last season and resumed with a nice second on his home track over 100m on August 31 before a third there 16 days later.

“I think he is the best of all my runners on the day. He is a really nice horse,” said Travers.

Matthew Cahill rides Blessed Award in the Cootamundra Cup. Picture: AAP Image

“We went through the Guineas races in the region with him last season and he raced very well.

“It was a long preparation but he stood up to it very well.

“He had a break and has had a couple of runs back from a spell and he is a horse I think will progress through the grades.

“The plan is to head to a Highway in town with him.

“He’s going to have had too many starts to race in the Country Championships later in the season but Highways are well and truly in his realm.”

Travers feels Mathrin can bounce back to winning form in the Benchmark 66 over 1100m.

The Deep Field mare scored back-to-back wins over 1200m at Wagga in August before finishing sixth over 1000m there last start.

“She probably wasn’t a chance in that race dropping back to 1000m.

“She’s not a bad little horse who is better suited over 1200m or 1300m.

“This is 1100m on Sunday but in saying that, she has drawn barrier 1 which is going to be a massive advantage around Cootamundra.”

In the final event, the Benchmark 58 (1400m), Magical Slipper is shooting for back-to-back wins with Beasley to ride her as well.

“She back against the boys this week and she is weighted up to her best but she has a good gate and good jockey so she looks a great chance again,” he said.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 3: Gold Tracker

The Michael Travers-trained gelding has been good in placing at both runs back from a spell. Drawn well, Danny Beasley to ride.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 3: Craft

The four-year-old raced just worse than midfield and raced in restricted room before finishing second on debut at Wagga. Can go one better this time.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 2: Saiko

Out of the winners’ circle for a long time but he has been running some nice races. Runner-up in much higher grade two starts back then beaten less than a length last time out.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 3 Nos 1, 4

QUADDIE:

Race 5: 2, 4, 9, 11

Race 6: 2, 3, 9, 10

Race 7: 2, 8

Race 8: 2, 3, 7

Danny Beasley could be in for a big day at Cootamundra. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Danny Beasley has a solid book of rides and looks a great chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - COOTAMUNDRA

RACE 1

Miss Hades pushed up on the rails to share the lead in a line of three and held on for third behind short priced favourite Panic in a super maiden on debut at Nowra two weeks ago. Drawn well and the one to beat. Trifecta Ruby tried leading at Griffith two starts back when third over 1200m. Settled midfield and finished strongly to just miss behind The Big Shamrock at Corowa last start. Gets an ideal run from the inside gate. Pure Platinum settled midfield before moving up three-wide from the 500m before being collared by Futuristic to be beaten a half neck on debut at Gundagai three weeks ago.

Bet: Miss Hades to win

RACE 2

Craft settled midfield and raced in restricted room in the straight before finishing second behind He’s My Warrior over 1200m at Wagga on debut. He will take plenty of improvement from the run and should appreciate the step up to 1400m. Cellar Champ got the blinkers back on at Corowa last start and he flashed home from last down the outside to just miss catching Griffinstown Girl over this trip. Drawn to get a nice run and will make his presence felt. Dhyani found the 1080 too short first-up then was taken on in front when fourth to Miss Giving over 1400m at Nowra. Beograd Boy ran on to finish second in that race and has place claims again.

Bet: Crafty to win

RACE 3

Deep Fury can land his second career win. He was held up in the straight when a close fourth to Showsumgrit at Newcastle then beaten a short neck at Nowra. Placed third last two over 1400m and 1300m and looks like he is ready to go to 1600m. Our Kinsmen won his maiden three starts back over this trip before a second at Nowra and a fourth at Moruya after pulling in front. The blinkers come off now. Moonrider was just behind the placegetters over 1100m and 900m eight days apart then backed up quickly again over 1435m to break his maiden at Moruya. Oh My Hat was a close fourth to Moonrider last start.

Bet: Deep Fury to win

RACE 4

Gold Tracker ran on strongly from near last to finish second behind Insane Volt over 1000m when resuming at Wagga on Aug 31 before a closing third to Supido Beauty over 1200m. Ready to peak third-up. Asgarda was impressive winning his maiden by five lengths over 1180m after racing wide at Gundagai last campaign. Resumed with a nice length second to Zourata over 1000 at Wagga. Super Sunny Seeya tracked the speed before coming away to score by a length on debut at Narrandera. Battled away for third on a heavy track at Gundagai on Sept 10. Place claims again. Ferrari Girl was spelled after an all-the-way win at Goulburn in July. Will be in the mix.

Bet: Gold Tracker to win

Saiko can break through for an overdue win. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Saiko has only won two from 30 but he has been running some good races of late. Was wide throughout when a close second in a Bm 58 at Moruya on Aug 20, jumped up to a Bm 70 when second to Devine Miss on the Acton track. Back in grade last start when less than a length off Areeba Spirit at Moruya. Loud battled away for a two length third to Galbalan when resuming over 1000m at Corowa. She will appreciate stepping up to 1200m. Add Milk was given a let-up after her good win from Free Market at Corowa in July. Alan didn’t have a lot of luck when a close second at Canberra last start.

Bet: Saiko each-way

RACE 6

Mosgold followed a couple of close placings with a big six length win in a maiden at Goulburn on July 7. She backed up 18 days later to narrowly win a Bm 58 at Bathurst. Resumes from a let-up and can pick up where she left off. Mathrin stormed home to win at Wagga before stepping up to an Open Handicap at the same track and winning again both over 1200m. Wasn’t suited dropping back to 1000m last start but back to 1200m here. One Kind hasn’t been far away since winning at Tuncurry in August. Was third to Peace Officer at Wyong then a length fourth in a Class 3 at Coffs Harbour last start.

Bet: Mosgold to win

RACE 7

Ruban Bleu is a model of consistency and knocking on the door for another win. Came from a long way back for a three-quarter length third to Prince Of Helena in the Narrandera Cup. Was held up in the straight when second in the Forbes Cup before a fourth when dropping back to 1400m at Canberra last start. Back to 1600m and can claim a well earned up win. Upper House was a close fourth in the South Coast Clubs Cup at Moruya. Was less than a length behind Spitfire at Canberra last start. Blessed Award was good winning at Gundagai over 1400m and again when second at Jerilderie last start. Step up to 1600m suits.

Bet: Ruban Bleu to win

RACE 8

Magical Slipper was runner-up to stablemate Blessed Award in a Bm 58 over 1400m at Gundagai on Sept 10 then went to a fillies and mares only Bm 58 over 1300m at Corowa and proved too good for Arachidi. Back up to 1400m and drawn perfectly to go back-to-back. Tornac kicked off last campaign with a win in this grade and over this distance at the Sapphire Coast then was a handy fourth at Goulburn before two below par efforts after a freshen-up. Looks for a better run first-up. Down To Earth was a nice third at Bathurst before a fourth there last start.

Bet: Magical Slipper to win