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

Trainer Brett Cavanough saddles up a strong team at Muswellbrook and can start the day on a winning note with a promising filly making her debut.

Trainer Brett Cavanough has a promising filly in Cresta Run who makes her debut at Muswellbrook. Picture: AAP Image

Kosciuszko-winning trainer Brett Cavanough aims to bookend the card starting off with the coveted Greg Cribb Memorial Red Crown 2YO Handicap (900m).

Cavanough will use the annual feature to take the wrapping off owner/breeder Arthur Bragg’s filly Cresta Run who was hard to miss in her trial at Tamworth a matter of five days ago.

“I just said to her owner, what about we give her a quiet trial and then if the Muswellbrook race falls away due to wet weather and the city boys might not come up, it could end up a small field, we might spin her around and give her a run,” Cavanough said.

“Arthur has put a lot of money into her preparation.

“She was up at Luke Morgan’s for a while being pre-trained and then she came to me and every step I put in front of her she has taken it.

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!

More Than A Star is strongest late over the 1000M!@cavanoughracingpic.twitter.com/rnNkOmMACN

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 25, 2024

“Two-year-olds are pretty special when you get one who just keeps doing things that others don’t.

“She is a real livewire, that’s probably the right word.

“She is a very smart looking filly by Your Song. They love the wet so there are a few reasons why I accepted. I wouldn’t normally push a two-year-old that quick but she has bounced back off that trial really good.”

Fast forward to the last race on Aberdeen Cup Day where Cavanough saddles up chestnut duo More Than A Star and Milingimbi.

More Than A Star was bred by prominent industry figure Greg Perry who is best known as the breeder of Atlantic Jewel, Artorius and Delectation among others.

Though still only a three-year-old, there is no doubt Perry will one day add More Than A Star to his elite broodmare band given her regal bloodlines.

More Than A Star’s fourth dam is the dual Group 1 winner and influential broodmare Lady Jakeo, herself a daughter of Food For Love who split Full On Aces and Rose Of Kingston in the 1981 Golden Slipper.

An easy watch for Conspirator punters as the 3yo gelding strides in to take out the first at Scone!@[e-mail]/hi8v82E3nk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2024

“She has been difficult to work with and to get her to settle and I have had a few gear changes but this time I have just treated her like any other horse and she has actually had an uninterrupted prep which is good for her,” Cavanough explained.

“She is a tank of horse but she was just a big kid I think.

“She wanted to get it right early and wrong late but she is a little bit more professional than she was last time.”

Cavanough’s other best chance on what shapes a busy day (barring any stable absentees) would be the Widden Stud-bred filly, Sirius Flyer, who lines-up for only her second career start in the aptly-named Widden Stud Maiden Handicap (1280m).

The daughter of Zoustar created a very good first impression when clocking in fourth of 14 in a 1300m Maiden on Scone Cup Day.

“I thought it was the right race for her for her next start,” Cavanough said.

“She is a well bred filly, I need to get her out in trip to see the best of her.”

Cavanough’s appraisal is certainly backed-up by Sirius Flyer’s pedigree.

Her grandam is Hula Flight who won the 1996 Metropolitan Handicap beating Nothin’ Leica Dane and Saintly no less.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 2: Oakfield Duke

Comes off a personal best winning on the Kensington track with a big weight and plenty of desire.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 4: Fifty Five Mustang

Lightly-raced Luke Pepper-trained gelding who was very good in a deep Class 2 at Scone on Cup Day.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 13: Star Bling

Left a good impression with that debut win. Harder here of course but has talent.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 4, 7

Race 5: 10, 13

Race 6: 2

Race 7: 1, 4, 5, 7

Keagan Latham looks set for a good day at Muswellbrook. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Keagan Latham heads to Muswellbrook to pilot Oakfield Duke in the feature Aberdeen Cup

INSIDE MAIL — MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 1

Vinniro is a fair bit quicker than his namesake, Vinnie Roe. This son of I Am Invincible is also a great grandson of Shantha’s Choice so the decision to geld him before this new preparation wouldn’t have been taken lightly. Long story short, he ran in two very strong races in Nov/Dec and has trialled super well. Speaking of super trials, there was so much to like about Cresta Run at Tamworth on Wednesday just gone. If pedigrees mean anything, she should be a swimmer. Alliri, the half to Hong Kong Sprint winner Wellington, has a lot of ability.

Bet: Vinniro to win or if scratched Cresta Run to win

RACE 2

On The Quiet is trained here by Jan Bowen who also had the mother, Don’t Tell Linda who was quite handy. On The Quiet is a son of Adelaide so he might run a whole lot further than the 900m of his first mission but he’s been pretty sharp in two of his three trials. Without is owned by George Altomonte whose association with the family goes all the way back to this filly’s fourth dam, his own 1989 Black Opal winner, Marks Gain. Makes obvious appeal here. Ain’tnostaint wasn’t beaten far at Hawkesbury on debut in December last year.

Bet: On The Quiet to win

RACE 3

Homeland is trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich and will be ridden by Aaron Bullock. Bullock has a 40 per cent win strike-rate for that training partnership and almost 70 per cent when placings are added. As for Homeland, add on another 100m and he just about wins on debut at Scone on Cup Day. Sirius Flyer did a good job on debut when fourth of 14 to a handy Messara/Gavranich galloper called Conspirator at Scone also on Cup Day. Dreambender was second in that same race. Placed four from five now.

Bet: Homeland to win. exacta 3 to beat 7

RACE 4

Fifty Five Mustang is a lightly-raced son of Star Witness whose record reads rather well with a win and two placings from his five starts. Most important of all is that the Luke Pepper-trained gelding has raced here twice for a (huge) win and a second. Ran a top race (with a nice ride) in a Scone Class 2 on Cup Day. Todd Howlett local Christa is loaded with talent. That much is reflected in her C.V of two wins and a fantastic fourth from only three runs. Trialled up a treat when fourth in the Somerton Sniper, Opal Ridge, Bijara heat the other day. All three of those horses won when produced on race day - wow.

Bet: Fifty Five Mustang to win quinella 3, 4

Despite drifting late with @tabcomau Fifty Five Mustang lets down powerfully over the concluding stages to take the first at @thebrookracing 👊 pic.twitter.com/HS4RRAkwAC

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 3, 2024

RACE 5

Star Bling is a Vinery-bred filly by Star Turn who was heavily backed on debut ($2.70) off two smashing trials when she stepped out at Tamworth on May 10. To win from barrier 11 of 11 there is one thing but to win like she did stamps her as a well above-average filly. Forth Spargo, the mare bred and owned by Takeover Target’s breeder Tony Hartnell (and son Nic) was a wee-bit disappointing first-up at Scone on Cup Day given she had trialled so incredibly well beforehand. Certainly worth another look. Royal Bombardier and Pocket Picker have claims.

Bet: Star Bling to win, exacta 13 to beat 10, Daily Double 1st Leg (13), 2nd Leg (1)

RACE 6

Oakfield Duke was outstanding when a fast finishing runner-up at Newcastle behind Bakerloo on May 4. He came to town for a 1250m Benchmark 72 on the Kensington track and won with 58.5kg on his back and after being held up at a vital stage in the straight. Keagan Latham rode him in both of them. Muswellbrook winner and loves the wet. Star Impact has shown that she can handle it heavy. Bound to improve second-up on Sunday and gets Bullock. Kordia is a big watch here having his first run for Kris Lees.

Bet: Oakfield Duke to win

RACE 7

Zakor could lay claim to being the best horse in this race. You only have to look at his benchmark rating of 71 (equalled only by Patrika Gold). The Justin Bowen-trained local has raced here at home three times for a win and a third, two of his three wins are at this trip. Just comes down to if he can carry the big weight first-up on a heavy track. More Than A Star trialled like a bomb here the other day behind Cripps Tonite. She’s won two from three first-up and Cavanough was pretty bullish about her chances when we spoke to him on Friday.

Bet: Zakor to win or if scratched, More Than A Star to win