Moruya tips: Trainer Danielle Seib has Amarantz set for one final hurrah before she is sold at auction

Luck hasn’t gone the way of Amarantz this campaign but trainer Danielle Seib believes a drop in class and a 3kg claim can see the mare break through.

Amarantz can end her time with trainer Danielle Seib on a winning note at Moruya. Picture: Grant Guy

As trainer Danielle Seib prepares to farewell Amarantz from her Goulburn stable, she has found an ideal race to make it a victorious exit.

Seib revealed Amarantz has been entered for the Inglis Digital Late August Sale as a racing a breeding prospect with bidding closing on Wednesday.

The six-year-old daughter of Animal Kingdom is a 65 rater and lines up in the Benchmark 58 (2000m) where she will carry 59.5kg after the 3kg claim of apprentice Olivia Dalton.

“This race is a nice option back in grade to showcase the best of her,” said Seib.

“She has been racing in good style just without a lot of luck.

“Back in grade in a smaller field, she isn’t going to be that far off them. She will be within pouncing range.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

It's a fantastic ride from @RachelK11 on Victory Roll winning at $15 fixed odds in Race 2 at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/GT7FUC8qp7

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024

“She has been a great horse for her connections. She was an expensive buy as a young horse and she has won over $200,000.

“Hopefully she can win and get a bit of confidence out this and then kick on nicely for new connections.”

Amarantz has just one placing from six starts this preparation but Seib said her performances have been better than they appear in black and white.

That second was behind Ningaloo Star on the Kensington and all bar her last run have been in metropolitan company.

“She is a backmarker so she needs things to pan out for her but it just hasn’t been going her way lately,” she said.

“They ran that 2000m so strongly at Kembla last start and she was a long way off them but she did work home through the line very well.

“In the Highway won by Victory Roll at Randwick two starts ago, she had to do the donkey work that day. She was the only one making a bit of run from the back.

“There has been merit to her runs, she hasn’t been in a situation where she can get a nice cart into the race at the right time. Her form is a lot better than what it reads.”

Dekadance is only a small filly but she packs plenty of fight as seen in her two runs to date.

It's Easement saluting in Race 3 at Moruya for Greg Backhouse. pic.twitter.com/lKjPIwbN1s

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 5, 2024

She debuted with a third on a Heavy 10 at Wagga on July 22 and bounced out of that run with a close second behind Amont at Moruya two weeks later.

“It was a big ask to go to Wagga first-up on a Heavy 10 but it’s a testament to how tough she is to run well and she took improvement from the run,” Seib said.

“I thought there was a lot of merit to her run at Moruya last start.

“When she saw the eventual winner flash down the outside, she regathered and tried to go with it. She was coming at it on the line.”

The daughter of Exceedance contests the Super Maiden Plate (1210m).

“She is putting it all together and with the way she hit the line, she looks suited stepping up in trip,” she said.

“I think she will be difficult to hold out. The gate is the only query.

“She is definitely a horse to follow because she has the right attributes.”

Seib’s final runner for the day is Stand In Line in the Maiden Plate (1660m).

The gelding resumed with a third behind Easement over 1435m at Moruya and will be better suited over the extra distance.

“He raced a bit dour first-up so going straight to the mile second-up suits,” said Seib.

“He does have ability but he has been a slow maturer and is a work in progress.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 1: Amarantz

The Danielle Seib-trained mare has been running better than her form reads. Drops in grade and gets in very well with the claim.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 1: Cream Rises

Will take improvement from his first-up run at Warwick Farm. Won second-up last campaign after an unplaced run in town.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 4: Master Riley

Was a nice third on debut at Kembla before a fourth at Canterbury. Resumes off a good trial win on wet ground here recently.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 5: 1, 5

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 4, 12

Race 5: 1, 2

Race 6: 3, 5, 7, 8

Race 7: 2, 3, 4

Nick Heywood looks a great chance in the Jockey Challenge. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Nick Heywood has a full book of rides and should pick up plenty of points in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – MORUYA

RACE 1

Soho Sushi is racing well with placings at six of her 10 starts including seconds at her last four starts. She has been costly as an odds-on fav at her last two. Blinkers go on which can help her cross the line first. Her stablemate K’gari hasn’t delivered on race day what she shows at home according to her trainer. Better effort last start and must be respected. Serial Offender resumes from a spell with the winkers on. Was narrowly beaten by Enter The Dragon at Canberra first-up in February.

Bet: Soho Sushi to win

RACE 2

Amarantz has been racing better than he form reads. Good effort coming from well back when forth to Victory Roll and County Kilkenny in an on-pace dominated Highway at Randwick. Made ground in a fast run 2000m race won by Fun Sunday at Kembla last start. Drops in grade. Threw raced on that hot speed when tenth to Fun Sunday. Handy fourth to Tip Top Timing on the Acton before that. Another Fortune boxed on for fourth to Ivira over 1660m here last start and looks like he will handle the step up top 2000m.

Bet: Amarantz to win

RACE 3

I’m A Steel won very impressively at Nowra on debut before stepping straight up to a Class 3 Highway at Rosehill. Bounced back with a Sapphire Coast win then was last in the Gr2 Light Fingers. At her peak after two runs back from a spell. Fourth Spargo followed back-to-back second placings at Wyong and Muswellbrook in June and July with a change of stables. Scored a nice win from Russian Assassin here on Aug 5. Zazel went back-to-back at her first two runs this campaign and wasn’t far away at her next two.

Bet: I’m A Steel to win

I'm A Steel shows her metal with a strong win!@JJRacing_ACTpic.twitter.com/4K9RhfCxl6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 4, 2024

RACE 4

Master Riley boxed on well for third to Battlefield on debut at Kembla before a fourth to Seton Hall at Canterbury. Nice trial win here recently. Ghaznavi was an eye-catcher on debut when running on from last for a fourth to Horns at Canterbury and followed it up with a third to Bullets High at Warwick Farm in January. Raced wide when fifth at the Sapphire Coast in February then spell. Dekadance ran well on a heavy track on debut and improved when a close second here last start.

Bet: Master Riley each-way

RACE 5

Cream Rises will take improvement from bis first-up eighth behind Hide Your Heart over 1300m at Canterbury. Was unplaced at Canterbury first-up last campaign before winning over 1400m at Wagga second-up. La Sante placed at his first three runs this campaign including a close second to Spitfire at Albury. Has tackled stronger races at his last three runs including a sixth to Gracilistyla at Canterbury. His stablemate Best Intent had a couple of city runs before a fourth to Unwritten where he raced keenly early. Led all-the-way to win over this track and distance last start.

Bet: Cream Rises to win

RACE 6

Mystic Diva was slow out and was a clear last before running on strongly between horses to finish third behind Ken’ker when resuming at the Sapphire Coast. Jumped awkwardly and came from second last when third to Sleigh’s Belle at Wagga. A clean start will put he right in the finish. Dressel copped a solid bump at the 250m when third to Newyork Missile at Wagga last week. He has handy provincial form and must be respected. Stand In Line was okay first-up and better suited stepping up to the mile.

Bet: Mystic Diva to win

RACE 7

Straight Fire raced well in his first preparation with a strong closing win at Wagga and placings at Nowra and Goulburn before stepping up to the Albury Guineas when tenth to Canny Hell. Handy win at Gundagai first-up and will give this a shake. Fourcade beat all bar the promising Acheson here first-up before a win at the Sapphire Coast. Fire And Gemstone has missed a place twice in seven runs this campaign and was just behind the placegetters both times. Just pipped last time out.

Bet: Straight Fire to win