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

Training Gary Colvin is looking forward seeing promising filly Divron make her make debut on Gundagai Cup Day.

Trainer Gary Colvin has exciting prospect Divron making her debut at Gundagai. Picture: Grant Guy

Country Championship Final winning trainer Gary Colvin has chosen a maiden on the Gundagai Cup undercard to take the rapping off his exciting debutant Divron.

Colvin’s filly went up at $3.70 when TAB markets opened on this weekend’s Toohey’s Extra Dry 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m) but was crunched into $2.25 when betting started to warm up.

Most of that support no doubt coming from avid trial watchers who would have been reaching for their Black Books after Divron’s eye-catching and effortless win in her Wagga Heat on March 28.

“She was a bit slow away in a jumpout so I said to Holly (Durnan) to just put her among them in the trial and she just kept wanting more rein and more rein,” Colvin said.

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!

Danny Beasley and Persian Dancer give Gary Colvin his second winner for the day! pic.twitter.com/tJaVNVMzRg

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 6, 2023

“We knew she had above-average ability but it was good to see her win like that but you’ve got to get to the races and win the races and now she’s got the opportunity to do it.

“She is a pretty straightforward sort of a horse. She just does what she has to do and she’s a very happy horse.

“She has got a good draw on Sunday so she should get around the track alright.”

Colvin is naturally eager to see a few absentees from the Gundagai Cup where he hopes to saddle up the in-form Persian Dancer, currently the third emergency.

“It would be a shame if she didn’t get a run because we had this race on the agenda,” Colvin said.

“It doesn’t look an overly strong race and I thought we would have no worries getting a run. I think she is right in it.

“She is a really gutsy little mare and she is going well.

“She got back in the Albury Mile last start and really hammered home and took a lot of ground off Cliff House and Baledon.”

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

Cliff House is the $1.65 TAB Fixed Odds favourite to win the Gundagai Cup.

Cliff House will be ridden by Danny Beasley in the feature but not before he and Colvin combine in the Margaret Keenan Memorial Handicap (1180m) with Kappy’s Angel.

“She’ll be pretty hard to beat,” Colvin said.

“I think I’ve picked out a nice race for her on Sunday.

“She is really working well. Danny rode her the other day and he is very happy with her so I hope she takes her work to the races.”

Colvin’s busy Gundagai Cup Day kicks off in the second race on the program where he is represented by first-up pairing Cellar Champ and Astern Torch.

“Cellar Champ likes the wet tracks and we are going to have a pretty wet track,” the trainer said.

“He’s been a head-case, but he is a nice big horse and one day he is going to put it together. He shouldn’t be a maiden.

“Astern Torch wants a mile but this will start off what should be a good preparation for him.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 8: Divron

First starter from the Gary Colvin yard left lasting impression winning recent Wagga trial.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 2: Wal’s Angels

Beaten a nose first-up then won his next two in fine style. Clearly an in-form horse.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 3: Cliff’s House

Won six from 13 and placed four times as well; more often than not is better races against better company than this.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 7, 8, 11

Race 6: 5, 9

Race 7: 2

Race 8: 3, 8, 15, 19

Jockey Danny Beasley can take out the feature event, the Gundagai Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Top hoop Danny Beasley rides into town and will partner Gundagai Cup fancy Cliff House for trainer Tim Donnelly.

INSIDE MAIL - GUNDAGAI

RACE 1

Zabellsareringing is costly and consistent in equal doses. The son of Zariz has finished on the podium at 11 of his 14 starts but only one of them was a win. That said, he has found himself in some pretty decent races along the way, this one seemingly not as strong as some of them. Royal Pharoah is another one who has loads more placings than wins, or win, to be more precise given he’s 1 from 15. Drawn wide but other than that, he looks a real player.

Bet: Zabellsareringing to win, exacta 6 to beat 4

RACE 2

Conjoin is a Jones and Joseph-trained son of Unite And Conquer (hence the name) who sent out some encouraging signs on debut when runner-up by a half-length in an Albury 1000m Maiden on March 21. Should be all the better for the experience you would think. One pedigree note; his third dam is Special. Foxwell has placed at three of his five starts and ran really well at Scone first-up. Box Of Crackers was third in the Conjoin race last start.

Bet: Conjoin to win

RACE 3

Divron adds so much interest to Gundagai Cup Day for the simple reason that she really looked the part winning her trial at Wagga. Now, of course, it was only a trial and she’s only had one of them and this is a race now, but she is in good hands and has ‘a winning draw’ if she is good enough. Scissor Me Timbers has the race experience advantage and better still, he was placed both times including that last one (Dec 3) at Hawkesbury. Market watch advised.

Bet: Divron to win

RACE 4

Superstruck is a Super One trained by Gary Colvin, same as his Country Championship winner, Another One. This particular filly turned in a fine first campaign consisting of four starts for a win and two placings. Like her from that draw. Her main danger seems to be Shelley’s Ace who has barrier 10 minus any scratchings of course. That might not matter at all on the day; who knows. One thing is for sure and that is Shelley’s Ace is a mudlark.

Bet: Superstruck to win, quinella 3, 4

Apprentice Holly Durnan will ride Superstruck for trainer Gary Colvin. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Prophet’s Magic is a Jones and Joseph-trained three-year-old whose C.V currently stands at five starts for two thirds, one of them was at Moruya in a Super Maiden behind Wal’s Angel (see Race 7 today). Very fit being fourth run into the prep on Sunday in a suitable race. What should we do with Drunken Sailor? Too easy, sorry. He is hard to assess being on debut but very easy to like off that Warwick Farm trial. In good hands. Lindermann’s sibling Cranberries is down in class.

Bet: Prophet’s Magic to win, Drunken Sailor each-way

RACE 6

Toes In The Water is a Nick Olive-trained daughter of Maurice who is putting together a tidy little resume. Born and bred at Arrowfield, this close relation to Ortenisa has raced four times for two wins and a second. Those wins coming with a combined margin of five lengths. Market watch essential. Super Sprocket has the race fitness advantage here which could make the ultimate difference given the likely (wet) track. On top of that, she has finished in the top three and 10 of her 15 starts.

Bet: Toes In The Water to win or if scratched Super Sprocket to win

RACE 7

Wal’s Angel has an interesting pedigree given his third dam is Chlorophyll who is one of five Max Lees-trained winners of the Coolmore Classic. As for Wal’s Angels, he is another lightly-raced and promising horse in the Nick Olive yard. He was beaten a nose at Albury first-up then won his next two. Great draw here and Nick Heywood is on again as usual. Suspect has gone ‘271’ in his three starts since he swapped Rosehill (Waller) for Kembla (Beer).

Bet: Wal’s Angel to win

RACE 8

Cliff House is a son of Starcraft who won the AJC Derby 20 years ago. Trained at Wagga by Tim Donnelly, Cliff House has shown, and maintained, talent from day one to such an extent that he has 13 starts for six wins and four placings on the resume. He is very likely ‘the best horse in the race’ but with maybe the worst barrier in the race. Still, it’s Beasley on his back. Kingston Charm won a Highway two starts ago. Will have admirers for good reason. The two emergencies Persian Dancer and Cyborg could figure if they get a run.

Bet: Cliff House to win, Persian Dancer each-way