Gunnedah preview, inside mail and tips: Family matters to Inverell trainer Todd Payne
Form analyst Shayne O’Cass has previewed Monday’s card at Gunnedah as well as identifying the best bets for the meeting.
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Inverell trainer Todd Payne arrives at Gunnedah on Monday with suitable assignments on the agenda for both the younger and older siblings of his undisputed stable star Lisztomania.
Dream Ahead’s son Lisztomania went within inches of running down last month’s $1 million Country Championship Final winner Know Thyself in what was another now typically barnstorming effort from Payne’s six-year-old.
On Monday at Gunnedah it will be the turn of his seven-year-old half sister, Kalahari Heart and five-year-old half-sister Desert Cougar to uphold the family honour in their respective races.
Desert Cougar, a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, came from midfield to wind-up a close and closing fourth when she resumed at Tamworth on April 24 in a 1000m Country Maiden.
“She had a few little niggles when we first got her so we gave her a run and then we put her in the paddock and she’s come over everything and I was really happy with her run the other day,’’ Payne said.
“She’s probably just looking for 1200m but another 1000m run will top her off.
“This is just another stepping stone but I am happy with the way she has progressed after Tamworth.
“She’s a nice horse going forward.”
And while Desert Cougar is making her Gunnedah racetrack debut, Kalahari Heart is much more familiar with the venue, located three hours south of her Inverell address.
The daughter of the four-times Group 1 winner Show A Heart has raced at Gunnedah four times for a win and a second.
“She loves Gunnedah’’ Payne said.
“She was sort of unlucky, every time we went somewhere through this prep, it was either washed out or there was a fire or something happened, so she went a long time between runs and there was no racing around so we were forced to go to the unsuitable 1100m last time but back to 1400m and blinkers on, I think she’ll be thereabouts.”
Kalahari Princess’ is a very reliable broodmare for her former trainer, breeder and owner Mark Taylor given she has produced foals at each of her past four seasons at stud.
For the record, she delivered a Nicconi gelding in 2021, a Cosmic Force colt in 2022 and a filly by the Inglis Nursery winner Acrobat in 2023.
Her 2024 foal is a colt by North Pacific and will be offered at Lot 56 at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale on May 25 on the Gold Coast.
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INSIDE MAIL
Justice Please is by Justify out of a Camelot mare which equips her to run 1600 to 2000m at some stage. Third-up here at 1400m off a 1200m then 1300m, both were Provincial maidens. Drawn wide but surely, she stands up in this grade. Stablemate Oakfield Mercury has trialled rather well and has Aaron Bullock to help with the wide alley. Mad Harry is 21 start maiden but has placed eight times.
Bet: Justice Please to win, quinella 2,9.
Interventionist is unplaced in all five previous first-up runs but they haven’t all been bad and this race looks within his reach. That said, he has a wide draw so one would expect he is going to be giving away a fair start. Fleetly, on the other hand, has barrier 1 coupled with the race-fitness being a last start winner. Harder here but capable of taking the next step.
Bet: Interventionist each-way or if scratched Fleetly to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 3, 2nd Leg 12.
Lady Olenna was costly when beaten at $1.45 on debut. That said, the winner that day is above-average. As for Lady Olenna, she won back her fans with an emphatic win in a 900m Maiden at Scone with Aaron Bullock on from a good draw; same story here. Eighty Eight Stars won at Gunnedah last preparation. Has some respectable country form to support him. Market the best guide.
Bet: Lady Olenna to win.
Exceedaqa is a Kris Lees-trained filly whose record reads; eight starts for a win, a second and two thirds. The two glaringly obvious highlights are her debut third at Doomben behind stablemate Miss Busslinger no less and a fourth at Kempsey one day to Sumo Fish which made it to last month’s Country Championships Final. Placed to win here. Tigers Roar has only managed to win once in 17 starts but he has placed six times and has some provincial form. Wasted Days looks to be closing in on his second win.
Bet: Exceedaqa to win, exacta 12 to beat 2.
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BEST BET
Race 3 No. 12: Miss Arisa
Well-bred filly that has looked the part in her trials.
NEXT BEST
Race 1 No. 1: Musumeci
Can build on a meritorious recent debut at Tamworth.
VALUE
Race 4 No. 9 Justice Please
Suited dropping back to country grade and stepping up to 1400m.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 2,9
Race 5: 3,7,13
Race 6: 4,6,9
Race 7: 2,5,12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Grant Buckley will be popular in Monday’s Jockeys Challenge
Originally published as Gunnedah preview, inside mail and tips: Family matters to Inverell trainer Todd Payne
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