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Trainer Clint Lundholm went back to the drawing board after Stockholm’s below par run in the Country Championship Qualifier and feels he is ready to show his best.
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Trainer Clint Lundholm Stockholm faced a stiff challenge in the in the WRA Country Championship Qualifier against Gallant Star but was shocked when the gelding was the first horse under pressure.
Stockholm is usually a fighter but was under hard riding before the home turn in finishing ninth, some 12 lengths from the winner.
Lundholm is hoping a couple of changes and a big drop in grade can see the gelding bounce back to his right form in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
“His preparation was all over the place leading into the Championships. He suffered a few little setbacks which put us on the backfoot,” said Lundholm.
“In saying that, I was still disappointed because he put the white flag up quite early. He normally shows a lot more fight than that.
Stor! 🇸🇪
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 23, 2024
The fav Stockholm wins at Narromine with Nick Heywood in the saddle for @ClintLundholm! pic.twitter.com/R35F7a5MMu
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“We stripped him right back to start with a clean slate and after that trial at Dubbo where he hit the line nicely, I think we’ve got him back on track.”
With the drop in grade, the son of Bull Point has 63kg this weekend but he has proven that he can carry a big weight to victory.
He had 62kg when he won a Benchmark 58 at Narromine at the end of his last campaign.
“He’s drawn well for a front runner who likes to roll along at a good tempo,” he said.
“He is better over a bit further and even if he doesn’t win, if he can be right there at the finish, it will show me he is ready to win next start.”
Lundholm was confident former Queensland filly Tiye could make a winning debut for the stable at Coonamble on Country Championship Qualifier Day.
Despite easing in betting, the daughter of American Pharoah scored a good win from Supreme Style despite being pressured in front.
“It was good to get the job done for her new owners and Super Maiden win got a bit of a return for them,” Lundholm said.
“Now she is stepping from a Maiden to a Class 2 which isn’t going to be easy.
“She also missed a run with her when she drew the outside gate at Wyong a couple of weeks ago so I scratched her but I gave her a trial at Dubbo just to keep her up to the mark.”
Lundholm has been pleasantly surprised by the improvement in fellow three-year-old filly Crook who contests the same race.
Clean Energy makes it two from two in the Listed Bill Carter Stakes at Doomben!@BrisRacingClub@GaiWaterhouse1pic.twitter.com/BIeZrcxNvp
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 25, 2024
The locally-owned and bred daughter of Harry Angel scored her maiden win at Gunnedah and backed it up with a gutsy win at Wellington.
“I honestly thought I would win a maiden with her and that might be it but after her Gunnedah win, her confidence went through the roof,” he said.
“She went from a Sky 2 meeting maiden to a $50,000 Class 1.
“At Wellington, she drew well and rolled to the front and still fought them off. It was a bloody good win.
“They are two nice fillies and it will be interesting to see how they go.”
Lundholm is such a big fan of tough gelding Pyromania that when his owners decided to sell him after he scored a nice win at Warren, Lundholm bought him to race with friends.
He placed in both starts since and looks a good chance in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m).
“He is a warhorse of the bush. He carries massive weights and is just so tough,” he said.
“He was narrowly defeated in both starts since we bought him with big weights.
“He is as honest as the day is long and he will run another big race again.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTION
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 3: Tropic Sands
Back to a dry track and down in grade. Will give this a real shake.
NEXT BEST
Race 4 No. 9: A Bar In Paris
Spelled after her debut sixth in the Max Lees Classic. Trialling very well for her return.
VALUE BET
Race 2 No. 11: Juliet Bravo
Handy second two runs back and placed her only run here. Will be thereabouts again.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 3, 9
Race 5: 1, 2,8
Race 6: 2, 9, 12, 16
Race 7: 1, 3, 5, 7
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.
INSIDE MAIL – MUDGEE
Tropic Sands hasn’t appreciated the heavy tracks at his past two starts when sixth at Wyong and at Newcastle. Debuted for his new stable with a handy effort when sixth to Atelier at Canterbury and followed with a fifth to City Limits at the same track. Back in dry ground and drawn ideally. D’Oro Choice followed a couple of placings at Orange and Dubbo with a good all-the-way win at Wellington. Raced keenly when down the track in the Orange Cup last start. Tainui is having a great first campaign and is chasing a hat-trick.
Bet: Tropic Sands to win
Juliet Bravo raced outside the leader and hit the front about 100m out before being caught late by Sure Intentions at Orange on Mar 23. Returned on Apr 11 when fourth to Jolly Good Fellow. Was third at here only run here on Feb 23. Missy Moss is still a little green and shifted ground under pressure when fifth at Orange first-up then over raced when sixth there last start but still made ground. Blinkers come off and she should settle better. Jasper’s Way is a debutant by Pariah. Closed from last without being pressured when fourth in his Dubbo trial.
Bet: Juliet Bravo each-way
A sure thing!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2025
Sure Intentions goes straight past them at Orange! ðŸ‘@emmaly14pic.twitter.com/mSRDLj2x1n
Sweet Kick settled down last and was the widest on the turn when a two length fourth to Thoughtful Woman on debut at Sale on Sept 11. Resumes for a new stable without an official trial but only has to run to that to be competitive here. Maybe Now was fractious in the barriers and raced three-wide without cover throughout when last behind Pelosa at Hawkesbury last start. Led when a length second to Seastraand at Kembla before that. Zoomorphic didn’t handle the heavy track at Scone last start. Placed runner-up at Wyong and Tamworth before that.
Bet: Sweet Pick to win
A Bar In Paris stated the $3.70 second fav on debut in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle on Nov 16. She raced outside the leader before finishing a three length sixth behind Gobi Desert. She resumes here off two nice trials including a win in his Apr 4 Rosehill heat. Rotho Bro ran a nice race on debut at Goulburn last November when beaten just over a length into third behind Tenner. Resumes here and trials have been good. Gets a nice run from the pole. Micro Mikki was runner-up on debut at Edenhope on Mar 8 before changing stables. Big trial win at Dubbo on Apr 12.
Bet: A Bar In Paris to win
Iowna Benz raced keenly in front and faded in the straight when last behind Tequila Baby when resuming at Hawkesbury. Went back-to-back last preparation and can bounce back. O’So Demanding scored a stylish maiden win over 1400m here last March. Had just one run in the spring when sixth to Restonica at Newcastle. Just beaten by Kintyre in her Apr 7 Warwick Farm trial. Pyromania won well at Warren on Mar 1 and followed with handy placings at Coonamble and Dubbo. Another win isn’t far away.
Bet: Iowna Benz to win
The favourite Ritzsun pulls away and wins the third at Scone for @singletonracing! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/6BLK16Vbii
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 30, 2024
Ritzsun was fourth in a Wyong Highway and a bit over four lengths behind Clear Thinking in a Randwick Highway. Hard to beat but may go to Muswellbrook on Monday. O’So Dreaming is also an acceptor here where she has drawn a little better and carries 55.5kg. Tiye made her NSW debut with a nice win from Supreme Style in a Coonamble Super Maiden on Mar 16. Was making ground from near last when fourth to Clean Energy and Lady Shenandoah in a Listed race at Doomben last May. News Bound was a beaten fav in both recent runs but wasn’t far away.
Bet: Ritzsun to win, if scratched, Tiye each-way
Stockholm started to drop out around the bend when ninth behind Gallant Star in the WRA Championship Qualifier at Coonamble on Mar 16. He normally shows more fight than that. Has since trialled nicely and will appreciate a drop back in grade. Commando Jack followed two third placings at Tamworth and Orange with a fourth at Dubbo after racing wide without cover. Gets a 2kg claim. Mazita broke through for his first win in over a year at Armidale two starts back. Overraced in front when fifth to Laisvas at Coonamble on Mar 16. Look for a better run here.
Bet: Stockholm each-way
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