Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Dubbo on Sunday

Local horseman Clint Lundholm is hoping for a little more luck this weekend when he saddles up five runners on his home track.

Hit The Rim will appreciate a drop in grade when he returns to his home track on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Clint Lundholm is hoping the rub of the green is on his side this weekend after a tough Easter Long Weekend.

While he did saddle up two winners, he had to settle for runner-up six times.

“It was frustrating last weekend. We had 15 runners for two winners and six seconds. Four of those placegetters were photos finishes and we came out second best every time. It was killing me,” Lundholm said with a chuckle.

“Hopefully this weekend is a little bit better.”

Lundholm has been left scratching his head with light-raced three-year-old Plenitude who has placed just once in four starts this campaign, at Coonamble last start when third to Dream Game.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

A local victory for Plenitude, who just kept on coming. pic.twitter.com/QWGCpLzp74

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 9, 2023

He knows the ability is there but the gelding just isn’t showing it on race day.

“He was well supported there and I thought he would get away with a win,” he said.

“He is a better horse than that. I think there is something not quite 100 per cent with him. He still looks a bit immature.

“He finds himself in a nice race and he has a soft draw.

“He could potentially be a (Country) Championships horse next year. He is that progressive type.”

Lundholm is hoping a big drop in class can see Hit The Rim bounce back to winning form.

The gelding ran solid second behind Kappy’s Angel at Wagga two starts back before finishing down the track on the Beaumont last start.

“He has been a great campaigner for the stable. He’s been a hard horse to place because of his Benchmark and what he has done over his career,” Lundholm said.

“His run two starts down south with Nick (Heywood) on board was super.

“On the Beaumont the other day, he wasn’t himself. I don’t know whether it was the trip to Newcastle or the two long trips back-to-back.

“Since then, he has worked well at home and he drops back a hell of a lot in grade to a Class 3 race.

“Obviously, he has got the weight because he is down in class but he still looks a really nice chance.”

The market favourite Kappy's Angel 👼gets the job done in the third from @mtcwagga! pic.twitter.com/BPBX5MyLix

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 5, 2024

Lundholm expects consistent mare Avalicious to run her usual honest race.

She placed in consecutive starts at Walcha and Cowra before a sixth in a Benchmark 66 at Coonamble last time out and drops back to a Benchmark 58 over 1600m.

“She is no champion but she is a good, tough mare,” he said.

“I thought it was a great run at Coonamble last start where she was up in grade in a Benchmark 66 where she was only beaten a couple of lengths.

“She drops back down in grade this weekend which will suit her.”

High Charge has only placed once in seven starts which was at Dubbo last June but a closing effort when sixth at Coonamble first-up last month pleased Lundholm.

“He was super first-up and gets through a wet track okay as well,” he said.

“I elected not to start his again and go a month between runs.

“The way he finished the other day, I thought maybe he is best kept fresh and ride him cold to really attack the line late.”

Lundholm’s other runner for the day is in the opening event with Karaoke King, a horse who is proving frustrating for his trainer with seven close finishes but just one win.

“I’m trying something a little bit different with him this week. I’m don’t know if he is a deadset 2200m horse but he does stick on alright.

“I thought with the three kilo claim of our apprentice, Zoe Hunt, he gets into this Class 1 and Maiden set weights race pretty well with 56kg.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 7: Warialda Warrior

The John Ramsey-trained gelding scored a nice maiden win before tackling the Victoria Derby. Good second first-up and can go one better.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 4: Clever Cookie

Has been good in each of her three starts including a closing third over 1300m at Canberra last start. Looks like she will appreciate the 1600m.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 4: Don’tcha Think

Ran a nice race when runner-up at Tamworth first-up before a close third on the Beaumont. Drawn wide but can run another big race.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 6 Nos 1, 7

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 3, 4, 6

Race 5: 4, 8, 9

Race 6: 1, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 4

Apprentice Mitch Stapleford looks a good chance to take out the TAB Jockey Challenge at Dubbo. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Talented apprentice Mitch Stapleford has a nice book of rides and could be in for a big day.

INSIDE MAIL – DUBBO

RACE 1

Karaoke King has been on the heels of the placegetters at his last three starts including a fifth at Tamworth over 2100m under 59kg. Was fourth over 1600m at Coonamble last start when held up after straightening. Up to 2200m and gets in well with the 3kg claim. Deific was shuffled back on the bend and had to come to the outside before running on for third in record time behind Giddy Gan’s Joy over 2135m at Grafton last start. Placed two of four on the heavy. Selvam is backing up from a twelfth at Taree on Tuesday over 1400m. Was a winner at Newcastle two starts back.

Bet: Karaoke King to win

RACE 2

Clever Cookie ran a couple of handy races when fourth to Occhiata on debut at Canberra on Jan 27 and fourth to Flying Impala at the same track on Feb 9 after jumping awkwardly. Settled near last and got the outside on straightening before running on nicely for third to Phoroneus there last start. Donna Emilia has finished a close second at her last two starts. Led and fought hard to the line behind Charge By The Hour who raced behind her and got an inside run on the Beaumont last start. Mad Harry battled away for third behind Mosgiel Daisy on a heavy track at Taree last start.

Bet: Clever Cookie to win

RACE 3

Rock ‘N’ Reign is a first starter by Fastnet Rock from former smart racemare Crimson Reign. Led off the rails and drifted wider off the bend when fourth to Zale in his Warwick Farm trial on a heavy track Jan 16. Went to front before finishing third to Cool And Calm in his Hawkesbury heat on Feb 1. Has since joined the Cameron Crockett stable. High Charge was trapped three and four-wide wide towards the rear of the field and worked to the line well when less than three lengths from So You Suggest when resuming here on Mar 8. Kept fresh and will run well. Vinlago came from well back for a length and a half third to I’m Madeline at Gunnedah last start

Bet: Rock ‘N’ Reign to win

RACE 4

Shine Your Light failed at her only try on heavy ground but it was in the Group 2 Percy Sykes at Randwick 12 months ago. Returned in January with a handy second and was third in a Highway at Randwick. Was held up from the 400m to the 200m when a half-length second Hellcibell at Scone last start. Who Ever Thought resumed for a new stable with a third behind Sacred Delago over 900m at Scone on Feb 27. Was a handy fourth on debut at Canberra on a soft track before winning his maiden at Moruya in October. Onyspeed was good winning her maiden on debut at Bathurst before being caught wide throughout at Muswellbrook. Can bounce back.

Bet: Shine Your Light to win

2YO Shine Your Light gets a good maiden win!@djgibbons22 in the saddle for Cassandra Stummer. pic.twitter.com/CTpWVlO4Rm

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 20, 2023

RACE 5

Plenitude was good wining the Silver Goblet here last June before a spell. Hasn’t been at his best this campaign but was a handy fourth behind Palazzo Prince here on Feb 5 and boxed on when third to Dream Game at Coonamble last start. Magic Shot closed off last campaign with an all-the-way win over 1450m at Quirindi. Was slow out and travelled keenly when resuming with a fourth to Indian Thunder over 1100m at Armidale on Mar 18. Extra trip suits. Feirme Prince played up in the barriers and missed the start when a two and a half-length eighth to Hellcibell at Scone first-up. Will be better for the run and handles wet ground.

Bet: Planitude each-way

RACE 6

Warialda Warrior broke his maiden in good fashion in a Class 1 over 2200m at Scone before finishing eighth in the Group 1 Victoria Derby. Resumed with a fast-finishing head second to Shen Gui over 1400m at Scone. Will be better for the run and the 1600m suits. Threetimesalady followed three handy runs with a nose win from Outback Archie when stepping up to 1600m. Went back to near last and made groping when fourth to Pee Dee on the Beaumont last start. Chaotic Beauty went back-to-back in Bm58 races at Goulburn and Cowra. Up in grade when last to Bo Katan at Goulburn last start and will appreciate coming back to her right grade.

Bet: Warialda Warrior to win

RACE 7

Don’tcha Think was well backed when a good winner at Taree before tackling a TAB Highway at Rosehill to end his last campaign. Returned with a good half-length second to Hombre at Tamworth before a close third to Gidgee Guy on the Beaumont. Ready to peak third-up and has placed on heavy ground. Ramones was a handy third to Invahir at Quirindi when resuming for a new stable before going don by a nose to Last Frontier at Tamworth. Battled away when fifth to Hellcibell after leading at Scone last start. Drawn well and will be prominent again. Hit The Rim is better than his last start when down the track on the Beaumont. Good effort when second at Wagga before that.

Bet: Don’tcha Think each-way