Moruya, Tamworth previews: Eight Carat descendant ready to shine

Following a solid last start, a Pat Murphy-trained mare from the family of Octagonal can break through for her first win at Moruya.

Trainer Pat Murphy addles up a couple of good chances at Moruya on Friday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Pat Murphy aims to help add another winner to the extraordinary tally of successful descendants of the broodmare gem Eight Carat when Trezzamina steps out in the opener at Moruya.

Unplaced in her five starts, Eight Carat was far more successful in the breeding barn, leaving five Group 1 winners including brothers Octagonal and Mouawad and credited with three Broodmare of the Year crowns in her adopted country of New Zealand.

Trezzamina, a daughter of Champion Sire Written Tycoon out of Mendooran Maiden winner Orchestral Lass, was sold at Karaka in New Zealand in 2022 for $475,000 to original trainer Trent Busuttin.

Tough Judge runs on strongly to deny Trezzamina in the Wagga opener! pic.twitter.com/vejeEn6d4a

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 17, 2024

The now three-year-old Trezzamina left Victoria after three starts there highlighted by a third at Colac in a 1000m on Valentine’s Day in 2024.

Her three runs under Murphy’s management have all contained merit but none more so than her June 17 second at Wagga over 1400m which stands at her current P.B.

Murphy’s mare led and was run down late that day but the trainer has no fear about tackling the 1425m Mitre 10 Moruya Country Boosted Maiden Plate with Jeff Penza in the saddle.

“I guess she just peaked a bit (at Wagga) but I think it was just the circumstances of the track conditions on the day just being wet and it her first go at (1400m),” Murphy said.

“She was on the worse part of the track, nothing made ground the whole day where she was. It was definitely not the place to be.

“Jeff rode her two starts back when she ran third at the same track over a shorter distance and he came back and said he thinks she would run a mile so he’ll be confident and I am going there confident as well.”

The second of Murphy’s Moruya bound trio is another epic blueblood by the name of Buff Mobile.

His sire Sooboog was knocked down for $1.5 million at the Easter Yearling Sale while his dam Murjana made $300,000 on the Gold Coast.

Despite that - as well as his third dam being the influential broodmare Dancing Show - Buff Mobile was a steal at $6,000 when he was offered at the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale in 2021.

Buff Mobile gets a lovely win at his second career start!@Mitchwbell26 with a strong ride for Pat Murphy. pic.twitter.com/G8wurnNHo1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 9, 2023

Buff Mobile makes his third visit to Moruya to contest the Cameron’s Hardware Benchmark 58 Handicap over 1650m.

The gelding’s last trip to the venue saw him split the handy duo Adolphus and Lozen over the same trip as this assignment.

“He is rock hard fit and he is going well,” Murphy reported.

“I think he finds the right race at the mile there on Friday.

“He just lacks that little bit of ability, but he definitely tries hard and when things go his way, he runs really good races.

“He is knocking on the door.”

Ditto that, former Guy Walter apprentice jockey Murphy said about former Reserve Bank Governor Bernie Fraser’s Fairness Is Best who is liable to peak third-up in the Batemans Bay Windows Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap (1425m).

“He’s had, I guess you could say, an interrupted preparation with wet tracks and things like that hence why there is a big gap between runs but he doesn’t know it at home, he is ready to go,” Murphy said.

“Jeff (Penza) has won on him and knows him and he’s drawn soft again so he should just get the run of the race.

“Forgive the whole prep and I think we’ll see the proper horse out there on Friday.

“He has definitely got that ability above that 58 grade for sure.”

BOWEN EXPECTS A BOLD SHOWING FROM ZAKOR AT TAMWORTH

Muswellbrook-housed gelding Zakor will feel right at home when he makes the familiar two hour trip from his Hunter Valley address to Tamworth for the absorbing Benchmark 82 contest.

The Justin Bowen-trained son of Golden Rose winner and now Turkey-based stallion Epaulette, has raced at Tamworth five times for two wins and a third.

His sixth visit there comes three weeks after his honourable return to racing at Dubbo when a distant fifth to the booming winner, Compelling Truth.

“It was a bit of a shame we ended up striking a Heavy track first-up after a bit of lay-off but I was still really happy with him and he came through it better for the run so he is really ready to fire now,” Bowen said.

“They struck a really good one in the winner, he’s gone on and done good things and Zakor wasn’t far from the rest of them.

Zakor holds on to get the win in a thrilling finish. Massive run from Anethole to thread the needle for second. pic.twitter.com/MXmCVHxaIj

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2021

“He’s always been thereabouts against some pretty strong opposition and I think he will certainly get his chance on Friday.”

Zakor will have company on the float from In Spades and Read ‘Em And Weep who are not only stablemates to each other but siblings as well.

The pair were consecutive foals out of Danehill Dancer mare Spirit Of Soul who was ridden in her two Victorian wins by Damien Oliver and Craig Newitt no less.

Dissident mare In Spades can cement a fourth career win if successful in the Concrete Industry Supplies Handicap (1000m) with barrier one and Ella Drew’s three kilogram claim on her side.

“I am really happy with her,” Bowen said.

“Her trial was enormous and she’s come back just as well as ever after a long lay-off. The time has done her the world of good.

“I think she will definitely fire first-up. “

As for Reads ‘Em And Weep, Bowen reckons the Churchill mare might finally be able to convert one of her five minors into a major in the McDonald’s Tamworth Showcase Maiden Handicap (1200m).

“I think it will be Friday,” Bowen declared.

“I have thought it a few times now but we just sort of came to the conclusion there last start that maybe the 1400m was just taking away that turn of foot we have seen her have.

“I just freshened her and brought her back to the 1200m and I think we’ll see that turn of foot come back on Friday and she should be quite devastating.”

Originally published as Moruya, Tamworth previews: Eight Carat descendant ready to shine