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

Despite the rain that has hit the Northern Rivers over the last few months, trainer Stephen Lee has had a drought of winners he is keen to snap.

Trainer Stephen Lee is looking to starts the day on a winning note at Murwillumbah. Picture: Facebook

With the Northern Rivers having been hit with plenty of rain over the last couple of months and meetings being washed out, trainer Stephen Lee is hoping the same fate doesn’t befall Murwillumbah this weekend.

Lee has a big team entered with several leading chances he feels can end a lean run the stable has had over the past two months.

“We’ve lost 11 or 12 meetings over the last couple of months,” Lee said.

“It’s been a very difficult time for the owners, trainers and horses. Hopefully we don’t lose too many more meetings.

“With out consistent racing, it’s hard to get a roll on and we have had a quiet time of late.

“Hopefully things can turn around for us this weekend.”

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!

👏 @kirkmatheson9 is in the zone, riding a winning double as the outsider Into The Zone wins at Grafton! Who was lucky enough to be on?!@DChujopic.twitter.com/xZ6H2USPHZ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2024

Lee believes he can strike early with lightly-raced three-year-old Labarna in the opening race, the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1550m).

The son of Written Tycoon had a tough run first-up at his stable debut at Ipswich when ninth before an unlucky fourth behind Into The Zone at Grafton 17 days ago.

“He was very unlucky at Grafton and he should be hard to beat,” Lee said.

“He just couldn’t get a run through the field and I feel he should have won the race.

“In his run at Ipswich first-up, he was trapped four-wide and the run just told on him.

“He has placed on heavy ground and he will be very hard to hold out if just gets a little bit of luck in running.”

Lee has a high opinion of fellow three-year-old Back On De Quo who resumes in the Maiden Plate for colts and geldings (1100m).

The son of Rubick was a closing third behind Tryanza at Grafton at his second start and followed it with a third to Boulanger over 1200m at Murwillumbah on December 27.

“He is a nice three-year-old,” Lee declared.

“I’ve got him marked down for a few nice races over the Grafton Carnival.

“He trialled at Murwillumbah the other day and tended to hump coming out of the gates.

“Jai Williams have him a bit of dig out of the gates and he went a bit hard early and being on a heavy track, he just sat up on him late.

A Grafton double to @DChujo with Vetoed winning a close one! pic.twitter.com/8KAbBXqG9o

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2024

“It may look that good on paper but I thought he still trialled really well.

“He will strip a bit fitter for the trial and will be a lot better off sitting just off them rather than leading.

“When they go wide, he will get out as far as he can.”

Cosmic Fortune has shown good form on soft ground and Lee is take the opportunity to test her on heavy ground in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1550m).

The filly had been racing better than her form appeared before her narrow second to Vetoed at Grafton on May 16 and she is ready to run up to that again.

“She was good at Grafton last start,” he said.

“Her couple of runs before that may not look good on paper but she didn’t have a lot of luck. She got caught up behind horses in the run.

“She was able to race a little bit closer the other day and when they come to the outside, she went to the inside and got a bit of luck.

“If she gets a bit of good luck again, she will be right in this race.

“She is untested on heavy ground but at this time of the year, you have to try them and see if they can handle it.”

Lee also has second emergency Serenade The Cat engaged and she will be a big chance if she gets a run.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 1: Back On De Quo

The gelding ran a couple of nice third placings in his first campaign including one here. Gets in well with the claim.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 5: Monte Drifter

Was very good in the heavy conditions at Grafton when he closed strongly to score. Will take beating again.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 7: Rolling Rock

Handy effort first-up last campaign in the Magic Millions Maiden before breaking through second-up. Handy recent trial win.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 6: 2, 5

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 3

Race 5: 1, 12, 14

Race 6: 2, 6

Race 7: 2, 5, 6, 7

Apprentice jockey Jace McMurray looks a chance to win the Jockey Challenge. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Apprentice Jace McMurray has a nice book of rides and is a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – MURWILLUMBAH

RACE 1

Labarna was locked up on the fence back in the field when a length fourth behind Into The Zone over 1420m at Grafton last start. Has placed on the heavy and the extra trip suits. Casebolt sat just behind the speed in that same race and battled away to finishing fifth. Settled well back after being buffeted at the start when fourth to Son Of Heroic on a Heavy 10 here on May 24. Pride Of Ashleigh drops back slightly in trip and has place claims.

Bet: Labarna to win

RACE 2

Saxon Brave was rewarded for his consistent form when he broke through over 1700m at Grafton on Mar 7. Returned from a freshen-up with a sixth at Ipswich before stepping up to 2000m when beaten a nose by Viadelamore on the Gold Coast Polytrack on May 18. Shamuka won his maiden impressively at the Sunshine Coast two starts back. Wasn’t disgraced when fourth in a Class 2 last start. Monte Kahuna must be respected on his close second at Grafton last time out.

Bet: Saxon Brave to win

RACE 3

Back On De Quo showed nice ability in his first campaign when placings in two his three runs. Made ground when third to Tryanza at Grafton second-up before a similar performance when third to Boulanger here on Dec 27. Used early and eased down when seventh in his trial here on May 24. Newsbeat was fair when resuming for new stable with a fifth at Toowoomba. Should take improvement from the run. Saxinoue should be better for his debut fourth here.

Bet: Back On De Quo to win

RACE 4

Bright Blonde as good in her first campaign with a fourth to Rose Noir at Doomben on Nov 15 and followed with third there behind Salt Lake Betty. Nice recent trial second at Deagon on May 14. Another Pedrille was a close third at Grafton when resuming last campaign. Ready to go after a nose second in her Gold Coast trial on May 21. Exceed To Ambition is racing well on the Gold Coast Polytrack and is close to her first win.

Bet: Bright Blonde to win

Salt Lake Betty wins by a dominant 4 lengths in Race 2 from @DoombenRacing . pic.twitter.com/VgxP79UD70

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 8, 2023

RACE 5

Serenade The Cat needs a couple of scratchings to get a run. She was disappointing at Grafton last start albeit in a Bm82. Won two of her three previous runs including one over this track and distance on a Heavy 9. Drops back to a Bm58. Cosmic Fortune had been racing without much luck before getting an inside run when beaten a short head by Vetoed at Grafton last start. Drawn well and will make her presence felt. Military Award has claims on his handy third on a Heavy 9 at Ipswich two runs back.

Bet: Serenade The Cat to win or, if scratched, Cosmic Fortune each-way

RACE 6

Monte Drifter relished the heavy conditions when he cam from well back with a run towards the inside to score by over a length and a half from Cool Fizz over 1015m at Grafton on May 16. Can go back-to-back. Mission Ridge is better than her latest run when last of six at Beaudesert. Has claims on her three-quarter length third to One ‘N’ Only after racing outside her at Grafton on Apr 14. Supidoman was runner-up at his only run at this track and distance. Has place claims. Watchguard has talent. Just has to put it together on raceday.

Bet: Monte Drifter to win

RACE 7

Rolling Rock worked home from well back to finish sixth behind Vanquished in the Magic Millions Maiden before breaking through at Ipswich two weeks later. Won her Gold Coast barrier trial on May 21 in preparation for her return. Guru Class ran some handy races last campaign and resumed with an all-the-way win from Russian Inn to break his maiden over 1115m at Grafton on May 16. She is a good chance again. Hidden Melody has found her best form. Won her maiden by five and a half lengths at Toowoomba before a two length win at Grafton.

Bet: Rolling Rock each-way