Muswellbrook races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

James Dobie-trained gelding Darkley has a number of challenges to overcome if he is to remain undefeated at Muswellbrook but he looks to be a serious talent. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Darkley will need to step up to another level if he is to make it back-to-back wins at Muswellbrook on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Untapped gelding Darkley will have to jump more hurdles than Red Rum to remain unbeaten at Muswellbrook on Sunday but trainer James Dobie is hoping his talent will see him through.

A hulking son of Golden Rose winner Exosphere, Darkley left a huge impression when winning at Gunnedah on debut 19-days ago with Aaron Bullock in the saddle.

Darkley was sent out as race favourite off the back of two outstanding trials in deep heats at home at Muswellbrook and Scone respectively.

“(The win) was probably expected but you’ve still got to go there reserved. When they are first starters, you don’t know what is going to happen the first time they go to the races but it was pleasing,” Dobie said.

Darkley’s win wasn’t without its share of drama with some anxious moments at the beginning of the 1000m maiden.

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“When they went a hundred metres, I thought we’re gone here, but Aaron chased him along and once he caught up to the field, he seemed to go straight through them and then he sat-up on him for the last 150 metres so it was pretty impressive,” said Dobie.

“Aaron obviously knew what was underneath him and was comfortable enough to do that the horse pulled away and won it by three.”

Bullock, Dobie and Darkley’s next mission is Sunday’s Pirtek Benchmark 58 Handicap (1280m) in what shapes as a real test of character and talent for gelding given an array of ‘negatives’.

“He is up in class, up in distance, and goes up a kilo and a half since his last start and barrier 15 so he is going to have a little bit against him but I guess we will see what sort of horse we have got come Sunday afternoon,” Dobie told The Sunday Telegraph.

Aaron Bullock will again partner Darkley at Muswellbrook on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“And it’s only his second start too. We still don’t really even have an idea of how the horse likes to be ridden or his racing pattern or anything so we have to work him out and he’s working everything out.”

Dobie is understandably reluctant to look past Sunday, content to let the horse take the next step without any undue expectation to weigh him down.

“If he has got the ability that everyone thinks he might have and he does something on Sunday, then you would be silly not to start making higher plans but you’ve got to still be reserved because it is his second start and he has got a lot against him,” Dobie said.

“We have just got to let it unfold and we will know where are heading come 5.30 Sunday afternoon.”

Darkley has the looks and pedigree to progress to a higher level.

Big and brown like his famous father, Darkley’s fourth dam is the celebrated broodmare Eau D’Etoile, whose offspring included Bint Marscay, Filante and Kenny’s Best Pal.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 5: DARKLEY

Has a lot of things against him but gives every indication that he is a horse with a future beyond country racing.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 2: STING JET

Former Victorian who turned in a whirlwind performance at his first start for Brett Cavanough.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 11: TORNADO LIGHT

Had no luck first-up at Scone and has performed honourably in harder races than this.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,2,3,8

Race 5: 2,3

Race 6: 3,5,6,11

Race 7: 5

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock’s quest to be crowned Australia’s leading rider by wins in 2022/23 continues at Tamworth on Sunday.

INSIDE MAIL - MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 1

Sting Jet is a son of So You Think who has his first seven starts in Victoria, he won at Wodonga and was placed at Geelong and Sandown-Lakeside. The three-year-old had his first run for Brett Cavanough at Scone on June 30 and it was a big performance; last at the turn but beaten under two lengths. That was 900m, this is 1000m. Classic Dreamer made up heaps of ground on debut to run second to Extra Smart at Scone then won at Newcastle. Failed after that, spelled, back again today in the perfect race. Jet Empress is indeed a jet. Quick as.

Bet: Sting Jet to win

RACE 2

French Comet has done some good things in his four starts since he arrived at Tamworth via Adelaide and Melbourne. The Zach Hatch-trained gelding has drawn four here for Mitchell Bell which grants him every chance and basically no excuses. That said, Snow Star is a major obstacle. Jeremy Sylvester has had her for the last five of her dozen career starts and she has placed at her most recent three, the two coming into Sunday are seconds. Social Outcast has Bullock on and a favourable draw third-up.

Bet: French Comet to win, quinella 1, 5

Mitchell Bell partners French Comet on Sunday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

RACE 3

Align The Planets is a blue-blood with a pedigree worth mentioning. He is a son of Pierro while his third dam is Twiglet. This John O’Shea-trained gelding has placed at four of his 10 starts, always in better company and races than this one. Not that it is a slam dunk for the horse but you would like to think he’s in the thick of it. Bullbarrow, is a worthy rival. This Matthew Smith-trained bay has placed at three out of four and was fourth last start in quite a respectable Class 1 line-up at Scone. Military Men and Oakfield Macka are both in the mix.

Bet: Align The Planets to win, exacta 1 to beat 2

RACE 4

Stenson Wallman adds a huge degree of interest to this race and the whole meeting in fact. A quick note on his family, he is by Invader, his third dam is Dancer’s Joy who won the Magic Millions 2YO race in 1990. Trained by Kristen Buchanan, he is impossible to tip against off his last trial. Reine of Nine is a son of Rubick; this one part-owned and co-trained by Gerald Ryan who knows the breed better than anyone. This filly seems to be on an upward trajectory. Silent Treatment finds a very suitable race to make her debut.

Bet: Stenson Wallman to win

RACE 5

Ceasefire is going to have his fair share of admirers and for very good and obvious reasons. You could argue that he is the best horse in the race; he rates 82 and the only one better than him, Eiger (83), is ‘09’ compared to Ceasefire who is ‘23’ coming into Sunday’s Bengalla Cup at a track and distance where his record reads as three starts for a win and two seconds. Bullock on, seals the deal. Two Up finished second at his only prior try at the track and trip. The ‘best’ Damaged would have a big say in the outcome.

Bet: Ceasefire to win

Ceasefire can breakthrough in the Bengalla Cup on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 6

Tornado Light has drawn barrier one at Taree on Tuesday compared to 10 here so maybe she is held back a couple of days. Whatever the case, let it be known and remembered that she was very unlucky at Scone and the 11th of 14 is meaningless. Nathan Doyle and Koby Jennings have a winning strike-rate of about 25 per cent which is fantastic. They combine again on Sunday with Edge Of Reward aiming to go back-to-back after an easy all the way at Taree with Jennings doing the honours. Big watch on La Vesuvius.

Bet: Tornado Light to win or, if scratched, Edge Of Reward to win

RACE 7

Darkley was a moral at Gunnedah. He really was. Nothing in that maiden had his talent and that was only judging off the trials. Long story short, he was chasing for the first half of the 1000m maiden but once he got to the 400m, he had them covered and was eased down for the last 150m. Now for the bad news; up in weight, up in class, wide draw. The good news - Bullock (again) and sheer talent. Save a few coins for Forbidden Palace. He only runs at the home track and he’s going to win one day at big odds.

Bet: Darkley to win, Forbidden Palace each-way, exacta 5 to beat 15, quinella 5, 15