Narrandera races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail
Nick Olive couldn’t be happier with Invincible Dash as the gelding looks to erase the memory of last year’s luckless Narrandera Cup run with a win this year. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive is hoping for a reverse of fortunes for Invincible Dash when the gelding lines up for another shot at the Narrandera Cup after a forgettable run in last year’s edition.
After being slow away, the gelding was trapped out three-wide and forced to make a sustained run very wide on the bend before finishing just over three lengths off the winner, Kiptanui.
This year, a nice draw in barrier 5 will hopefully see him gain a favourable run and not only claim the Cup, but book his spot in the $3 million The Big Dance at Randwick on November 7.
“He had no luck at all in the Narrandera Cup last year. He was caught out wide but still didn’t disgrace himself,” said Olive.
“He has drawn better this year and I feel the horse is going super.
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“He won very well first-up and has run two decent races since.
“He has been racing against some handy horses at the provincials and more than holding his own.
“I think he has got to be in the Cup with a good chance.”
After winning at Parkes first-up, the son of I Am Invincible was less than a length from Awesome Wonder when second at Wyong before a length third to Malabar at Hawkesbury on June 29.
The six-year-old opened at $15 for Sunday’s race, a price that surprised Olive.
“I thought it was a very generous price,” he said.
“It’s an open race; just about anything can win it to be honest and he is certainly a very good hope.
“I feel that he is racing even better this year than he was 12 months ago.
“He was in The Little Dance last year but it would be great to get him into The Big Dance this year.”
Stablemate Ready To Humble is also returning to Narrandera for the Cup after leading and finishing runner-up last year.
The son of Rubick has been just behind the placegetters in both runs back from spell but his chances on Sunday have been made a little more difficult having drawn out in barrier 11 although he will come in with the emergencies out.
“He’s hasn’t been bad in his two runs back from a spell,” said Olive.
“He has been running around in town and has been just behind the placegetters.
“The form out of those races has been good.
“I think getting back to an easier grade in the country is going to be a positive for him.”
While the Cup is the main goal for Olive, he is looking forward to the racetrack return of exciting sprinter, Just Go Bang who has been off the scene for 12 months.
“He cut his leg in the paddock quite badly so he has been out for a while,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing him race again. I feel just the last couple of weeks he has really peaked up and I expect him to race very well.”
The son of Sizzling has won two of his three starts including at this same meeting last year.
“Obviously, being off for a year always leaves a question mark in the back of your mind but I feel he is in good order.
“If he turns up, races up to his ability and goes as good as we think he goes, then I think he will be hard to beat.
“If he comes out and keeps progressing like we think he can, he is definitely a Highway class horse.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 8 No. 8: KAPPY’S ANGEL
Led from barrier 14 and just faded late when resuming over 1400m at Wagga in May. Resuming here from barrier 1 and drops to 56kg after Holly Durnan’s claim.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 2: JUST GO BANG
Talented gelding who has won two of his three starts and failed to handle the heavy track in his defeat. First-up for 12 months but trialling well.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 6: NIC’S HERO
Didn’t run to his best last start but it is hard to make ground out wide at Corowa. Placed previous two and will give a bold sight.
BEST EXOTIC
Race 4 Quinella 1, 6
QUADDIE:
Race 5: 1, 2
Race 6: 2, 5, 6, 11
Race 7: 1, 2, 8, 10
Race 8: 2, 12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Apprentice Holly Durnan has some handy rides including Kappy’s Angel in the last.
INSIDE MAIL - NARRANDERA
RACE 1
Classy Joe was narrowly beaten by Victory At Omaha here three weeks ago then survived a protest to hold on to victory at Werribee last Sunday. Steps up from 1633m to 2100m he has two wins and two placings from five starts. Eva’s Deel was dropping back from 2000m to 1600m when third behind Smooth Esprit at Dubbo last tome out. Back up to a trip where she has placed in both starts. Forest Diamond lost a plate when fifth at Echuca last start. Goes into this off a six week break but from an astute stable and drawn nicely. Foodie King didn’t get a lot of room early in the straight behind Smooth Esprit last start.
Bet: Classy Joe to win
RACE 2
Malabar Queen is a two-year-old taking on older horses which she also did on debut when a length third behind Spirited King after leading one off the fence at Wagga on May 27. Drawn better here and the blinkers go on. Whitehart came from near last but ran about in the straight and wasn’t fully tested when fourth behind Ina Blast here three weeks ago. Got home strongly at Wagga two starts earlier. Luna’s Image is on debut. Sat midfield and kept under a hold to the line in his Corowa trial. Watch betting. Blount County raced three-wide when a gutsy third to Your Not The Boss here last start. Handy runner-up to Miss Helmut here the starts prior.
Bet: Malabar Queen to win
RACE 3
Chicane sat second before taking the lead on the bend and boxed on for a length second behind Your Not The Boss here on June 25. Restrained to midfield and doing his best work late when a two length third to Start Of A Journey at Corowa on July 3. Kirameki is still a maiden after 20 starts but placed at four of his last five runs. Beaten less than a length when second at Dubbo and when third at Tamworth his last two starts. Apollo Mission has claims on his nose second to Red Hill here on June 17. Pretty Eyed was held up in straight when less than two lengths away at Moruya last start.
Bet: Chicane to win
RACE 4
Add Milk sat last and was held up turning for home before flashing late when a length third to Choice Harvest at Corowa on July 3. Big winner at Swan Hill two starts earlier. Gateaux was held up near the 500m on her way to a length and a quarter third at Swan Hill on June 10. Broke through with a neck win from Our Tigersun on the Ballarat synthetic on June 24. Duped By Spin tracked speed and eased across heels off the bend before easing away to win by over a length at Wodonga on May 27. Outside leader when fading for fifth at Bendigo last start. Howling Victory raced outside the leader when ninth to Choice Harvest. Drawn well and can improve.
Bet: Add Milk to win
RACE 5
Just Go Bang is back from a year off. Stormed home for an impressive win om debut at Sapphire Coast in June last year. Failed to handle the Heavy 9 at Moruya before bouncing back with a narrow win at this same meeting last year. Trialling well and can make a winning return. Black Tahitian was a half-length second to Imps at Corowa at for start for the Mitch Beer stable. Will be prominent again. Okami Miss has been just behind the placegetters in both runs since a close second when resuming at Albury on May 22. Vaaroom will be fitter for his first-up seventh on the Canberra Acton track on June 23.
Bet: Just Go Bang to win
RACE 6
Nic’s Hero was a little disappointing last start when got well back and found it hard to make ground out wide when near last behind Choice Harvest at Corowa on July 3. Ran on well for third to at his two previous runs. Can bounce back. Smart Poppy was inconvenienced near the bend when a three-quarter length second to Mighty Feat here on June 25. Will be closing strongly again. Your Not The Boss stalked the speed and got home over the top to beat Chicane here three weeks ago. Choice Harvest was good winning from Adki and Add Milk at Corowa.
Bet: Nic’s Hero each-way
RACE 7
In an open Narrandera Cup, Invincible Dash looks a great chance. Good effort to win first-up at Parked and has followed up with solid placings at Wyong and Hawkesbury. Gets a nice ruin from the draw. Bullet Wing was a nice winner at Wagga second-up for the Ben Brisbourne stable before a third to Sirens Star at Warwick Farm on June 28. Drawn well and goes close. Prince Of Helena was held up in the straight when a head third behind Turf Decision in a metro race at Murray Bridge last time out. Handy third to Not Usual Glorious at Swan Hill before that. Ruban Bleu followed a Kembla win with a third in the Country Cup at Scone. Just behind placegetters in two starts since.
Bet: Invincible Dash each-way
RACE 8
Kappy’s Angel led from gate 14 and just ran out of condition the last 100m when resuming with an eighth to In De Summertime over 1400m at Wagga on May 5. Back from another let-up, drawn the inside and will take catching over 1000m. Seventh Seal has placed his last three including a third to Chairman’s Choice at Corowa last start after racing three-wide. King Of The Bounty mist be respected on his first-up win. Chairman’s Choice appreciated a freshen up and drop back in distance to win at Corowa last start.
Bet: Kappy’s Girl to win
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