Nowra preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, November 3, 2024

Trainer Warren Ganderton feels his first starter Sawmill can acquit herself well on debut on her home track.

Trainer Warren Ganderton (right) expects Sawmill to run a respectable race on debut. Picture: Bradley Photos

There could be no more fitting place or time for the Warren Ganderton-trained Sawmill to win than at Nowra this weekend.

The South Coast track’s meeting is just 48 hours prior to the 46th anniversary of local hero Arwon’s win in the Melbourne Cup.

Ganderton is himself a Nowra local from a well-known racing family, one of whom was the inspiration behind Sawmill.

“My uncle, Norm Thomason, was the clerk of the course at Nowra and Kembla for as long as I can ever remember, 20 or 30 years maybe,’’ Ganderton said.

“He passed away in January a couple of years ago. Norm worked in the sawmill down here for 50 years and actually passed away while he was at work.

Jockey Jack Martin will partner Sawmill for trainer Warren Ganderton. Picture: Bradley Photos

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“We bought this filly two weeks after he passed away.

“Her stable name is ‘Norma’ but her race name is Sawmill after Norm.

“She is owned by all his siblings and a lot of nephews so she is a real family horse to us.

“She is a very special horse.’’

Sawmill’s only public appearance so far was in a Nowra 900m barrier trial on October 30 where she clocked in with one behind her and some ten lengths off the winner.

The three-year-old makes her race debut in the Greenwell Point Pizza Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m) with Jack Martin to ride.

“If you have a look at the trial, I think she was the only horse in the trial that never came off the bridle,’’ Ganderton said.

“I wouldn’t judge her off that trial. She is a better horse than that.

“She has got her share of ability, it is just whether it has come a preparation too early.

“I have got to be honest, I think she will need the day out.

“She is just finishing off the end of her educational preparation so I think she will be okay but I think it will be in six months and a set of blinkers at 1400m

“Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it is the world’s strongest race but barrier 8 is probably not ideal.”

Flyway proves too good for them at Gawler 💨 @RacingCmbpic.twitter.com/aardw8trMC

— Racing.com (@Racing) July 17, 2024

“I would just like to ride her neutral. Let her come out and find her feet but there is only one turn there at Nowra.

“Just as long as she has got something to follow, I think she can certainly run respectively.’’

Sawmill was born and raised at Gerry Harvey’s Baramul Stud and is a daughter of All Too Hard out of mare by another iron-horse in Testa Rossa.

“Sawmill’s half-brother has won a couple in town in Adelaide since we bought her,’’ Ganderton said.

“He’s a horse called Flyway that Gerry had and sold over there. He’s won twice at Morphettville I think.

“And the full sister came out probably six or eight months ago and won first-up at the Sunshine Coast so the family is definitely progressing since we bought her.’’

Sawmill is a direct descendant of a globally influential female line.

Her fifth dam is Natashka whose six stakes-wins include the 1966 Alabama Stakes.

She went on to become a highly productive broodmare, leaving four stakes-winners, leading to her being crowned as Kentucky Broodmare of the Year in 1981.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 11: Threefold

May only have to run equivalent to her Moruya second two start ago to win this.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 12: Still Excited

First foal of I Am Excited, same connections. Trials like a horse with talent.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 11: Haberfield

Matthew Smith-trained debutant who has shown enough in the trials to medal.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 10, 11

Race 5: 4, 5

Race 6: 4, 6, 7, 11

Race 7: 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Alysha Collett will be short odds to take out the TAB Jockey Challenge.

Alysha Collett looks set for a big day at Nowra. Picture: Bradley Photos

INSIDE MAIL - NOWRA

RACE 1

Midnight Dynamite ran an honourable fifth on debut in the feature Star Kingdom Stakes on debut at Muswellbrook on May 3. He went to Goulburn 21 days later and led throughout to win a 1000m Maiden there. Trialled really well for this. Barrier 1 seals the deal. Promising Prospect has a win and four placings from 10 starts. He is sure to find this easier than his last start (Anzac Day) on the Kensington track. Goes really well first-up. Picksix is the one that could have the last crack at them. Small field suits, a lot.

Bet: Midnight Dynamite to win, quinella 2, 1

RACE 2

Miss Kim Kar was a $230,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase. The daughter of promising young sire Pierata was emphatic and impressive in equal measure when she won a 1200m Maiden here at Nowra on October 20. Has to step up to a Bm58 this time but the task was made easier given the favourable draw. Cashburn won the 1400m Maiden on the same day here two weeks ago. She is clearly on an upward trajectory. Suspect has accepted for Kembla on Tuesday. He ran third to Harlem Queen there on Sept 14.

Bet: Miss Kim Kar to win, quinella 5, 9

RACE 3

Threefold is a daughter of Yes Yes Yes out of a War Front mare whose own dam was a Group 3 winner in Ireland and runner-up in the French 1000 Guineas. This Danielle Seib-trained three-year-old has raced three times, the best result being a second at Moruya. This is not an overly strong race so a repeat of that performance might be enough to win. The form guide says Sawmill was beaten 10 lengths in her trial but it was in no way a true reflection of how well she went. Trained here; she could be a threat. Isagura has claims so too Danza.

Bet: Threegold to win, Sawmill each-way, exacta 11 to beat 10

RACE 4

Haberfield is by Deep Field out of Sebring Sally who was runner-up in The Roses at Doomben three weeks prior to her fourth in the Queensland Oaks. Haberfield is trained by Matthew Smith and has looked good to varying degrees in her three trials, those last two were in rather deep heats. Haberfield’s issue may be the draw (11) unlike Invincible Duchess (1). Suspect that she may well take advantage and thus be a lot, lot closer than what she was when she ran an honourable fourth here on debut in a race where Stonegate Lane was second.

Bet: Haberfield to win

Parthenope and Raiderlicious clear out from their rivals and the former takes the @goulburnraces opener on debut 🏇@graemewhitesky and @nisbet_kayla report Jockey Amy McLucas is OK after coming off her mount shortly after the start 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QbeSfvYIwA

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 8, 2024

RACE 5

Parthenope is a Danielle Seib housed mare who was rightfully, a $2.10 chance, when she debuted at home at Goulburn on October 8. Granted she only won by a neck but she led and just wasn’t overly sure of how to put a field away but that experience under the belt is priceless. Prince Papa was building up to that last start win at Bathurst where she sized them up at the top of the straight and swept past them. Guess that will be the plan again on Sunday given he’s drawn 10 of 11. Happy Clapper’s close relation Thoughtful is easily good enough to win this.

Bet: Parthenope to win, box trifecta 2,4,5,6

RACE 6

Outcast Girl will be ridden again by Deanne Panya for trainer Marc Conners for whom she has a fantastic strike-rate of wins and places. Outcast Girl pulled out plenty when required in that 1600m Benchmark 58 here on October 20. That was the Arrowfield-bred mares’ first track and distance run. My Blue Jeans was having his 123rd start when he ran third to Outcast Girl that same day. Placed all four at the Nowra Mile. Lauri Parker’s Point Out is so ready for the mile now. Races pretty well here at Nowra too.

Bet: Outcast Girl to win, exacta 6 to beat 11

RACE 7

Still Excited is the first foal of Bell River and David Pfieffer’s very good mare I Am Excited. This daughter of Lonhro hasn’t been let go in her two trials but you could just sense that she would have charged past them both times. Nice prospect. The Jason Coyle-bred Nambi Ghima is a sister to Maz Kanata who just happened to win her first ever race start here at Nowra. Nambi Ghima has been trialling up in keen and encouraging order. The Main Event has the race experience including a half-length second here last start.

Bet: Still Excited to win