Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Muswellbrook

Lyle Chandler has high hopes for a lightly-raced gelding Mazita to make his win to city racing this campaign. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Mazita (centre) scored his maiden win at Muswellbrook in May and returns for his first-up run on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

As Scone trainer Lyle Chandler prepares Banju for Tuesday’s $3 million Big Dance, he looks to have another young horse in his yard who can hopefully follow a similar path to his stable star.

Mazita showed plenty of promise in his first racing campaign which netted a win and three placings from four starts.

He resumes from a spell in Country Boosted Benchmark 58 at Muswellbrook where he will have a gear change.

“While his record is quite good having never missed a place in his four runs, he was still not doing everything quite right,” said Chandler.

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Trainer Lyle Chandler with his Big Dance hopeful Banju. Picture: Bradley Photos

“He missed the kick a few times and was running the fastest last 600 metres.

“I think that last start at Tamworth was more the trainer’s fault than the horse.

“It was probably one run too many and he was just over the top. The ground was a bit we that day as well.

“He gets the winkers on for the first time and they will really help him focus.

“I think he is quite a progressive horse and will benefit with the winkers now and once he learns his craft, we will try blinkers in the future.”

Chandler’s biggest concern this weekend is the weather with the forecast for rain.

Muswellbrook is already rated a Soft 5 and he doesn’t want it any worse than that.

“He doesn’t like the track too wet,” he said.

“The forecast has been for rain but it has been pretty dry so if we don’t get too much rain, the track shouldn’t be too bad.”

If the four-year-old of Merchant Navy can win first-up, Chandler would like to test him in Highway grade.

“I think a Highway would be an ideal scenario with him but he would have to win quite well this weekend.

“There are some nice options for him coming up in terms of those races.

“I think it time, he can be a city performer, especially when he gets out over a mile but that is probably next preparation.”

Daksha didn’t perform to expectations over 1800m and 1900m at his last two starts so Chandler has dropped him back to 1500m in the Benchmark 66.

Daksha is capable of figuring in the finish on Sunday if he puts his best foot forward. Picture: Bradley Photos

The seven-year-old gelding can be frustrating at times in his application to racing, but Chandler said on his day, he is more than capable winning a race like this.

“He’s the type of horse who has to turn up on the day and if he does, he’s certainly not out of it,” he said.

“Cobi (Vitler) won on him at Dubbo a few runs back and he rode him very well that day. He jumps back on him again with a 3kg claim.

“He is dropping back a bit in grade too which will help him and when he wants to do the work, he really can.

“If he runs up to his best form, I think he’s an each-way chance.”

New stable recruit Crux Rebellion is in the last race, the Maiden Plate over 1280m but will likely be saved for the Muswellbrook meeting on Tuesday.

“I think he will be better suited in that race being a Country Boosted Handicap than the Plate race on Sunday,” he said.

“He’s drawn barrier 1 there so he will likely go that way and I think he is a really nice chance.”

Banju faded to finish last in an Open Handicap at Randwick last start but Chandler said the gelding has come through the run without any problems and he expects to see a much better run in the Big Dance.

“He is a horse who takes a few runs to build into his form,” he said.

“He might just be one run off his peak but I think he will run a pretty nice race.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 4: Mazita

The Lyne Chandler-trained four-year-old raced well in his first campaign including a win here. Returns as a gelding and can go on to bigger things.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 4: Smart And Dapper

Brett Thompson’s gelding was narrowly beaten two starts back before a fourth last start both in higher grade. Back to 1000m and drawn well.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 10: Takara Star

Progressive mare who has won two of her three runs here. Drawn well and should appreciate stepping up in trip.

QUADDIE:

Race 4: 2, 6, 11

Race 5: 2, 4, 5, 8

Race 6: 1, 5, 6, 10

Race 7: 2, 3, 4, 13

Ashley Morgan can give the TAB Jockey Challenge at Muswellbrook a shake. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:

Ashley Morgan has some nice rides in Mazita, Zippy Zoo and Takara Star.

INSIDE MAIL - MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 1

Mazita debuted over this track and distance in April when a close second and broke his maiden two starts later also here with a half neck win from Big Time Charlie back in May. Handy efforts to place in his other two starts. He resumes as a gelding and with the winkers on. Vis I Do resumed in a Class 3 over 1200m at Tamworth with a fast closing long head second to Pyramid Of Fire. Back to a Bm58 and will be storming home again. Briefly raced consistently last campaign without winning and resumed with an unlucky long neck third to Custo over 900m at Scone when held up until nearing the 100m.

Bet: Mazita to win

RACE 2

Casual Mood has been good in her debut preparation finishing no worse than fourth in her five runs. Coming off a third to Zarizatiz at Wellington last week and steps up to 1500m with Aaron Bullock to ride. Last Step raced a little greenly but worked home from midfield to finish third behind Eighty Eighty Stars over 1400m at Tamworth on Oct 13. Making improvement with each run and drawn nicely. Boys Cry was fourth in that same race at Tamworth and followed up with a third to Worth Avenue at this track and distance on Oct 23. Another drawn to get a good run. Ginger Mick is better than his sixth at Taree last start. Winkers go on.

Bet: Casual Mood to win

RACE 3

Smart And Dapper went down narrowly behind Bare To Witness in a Class 2 at Coonamble over 1100m before a fourth to Dirty Merchant in the same grade at Coonabarabran two weeks ago. Drops back to a Bm58 here, drawn to get the ideal run and looks hard to beat. Amazing Nicci drops in grade on her recent runs this campaign which has netted two third placings. Was beaten a neck by Master Joe in a Bm66 at Goulburn before a length third to Zelago in a Bm 66 at Cootamundra. Midnight Dream should have finished much close to Iron hat at Dubbo two starts back after struck interference near the 200m and losing his momentum.

Bet: Smart And Dapper to win

Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are chasing back-to-back wins with Worth Avenue. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 4

Dundeel filly Flying Deel debuted with a closing third to A lot A Lip over 1150m on the Beaumont before a similar run when third to Genzano over 1300m at Scone. Steps up to 1750m. Former Victorian gelding Man Of Heart has had two runs over short trips and steps up to a much more suitable 1750m. His only win so far was over 1850m. A Silvery Warrior was fifth at Kembla to Asthelflaed who ran well in the Wakeful at Flemington on Satuirday before a third to Vegas Outlaw when dropping back in trip.

Bet: Flying Deel to win

RACE 5

Zippy Zoo scored her maiden win over 1000m at Canberra back in May when holding out the flying Gently Rolled before a close second in a Class 1 at Scone. Ran to lead after straightening before being caught on the line by Cascadian in her Warwick Farm trial on Oct 23. Harbour Gold followed her good trial form with a debuted an all-the-way win from Regatta and Apparently over 1000m here on Oct 2. Followed up two weeks later with a length and a half third to Heika in a Class 1 over 1200m at Scone. Back to the 1000m and gets a 2kg claim from Braith Nock. Dressed to Kill debuted for his new stable with a tough win from Exsensible at Tamworth on Oct 13 after racing three-wide on the speed. Will give another bold sight.

Bet: Zippy Zoo to win

RACE 6

Takara Star was scratched from Newcastle on Saturday to run here. A progressive mare who closed off last campaign with back-to-back wins over 1280m here at Muswellbrook. Resumed from a spell with a fourth to The Denzel here and ready to step up to the 1500m second-up. Heika debuted with a win over 1450m here back in April before returning with a second over 1750m then stepping up to a 2000m Gr3 at Doomben. Resumed with a nice 1200m win at Scone on Oct 16 and ready to step up in trip again. Touch Of Navy is racing well and was just pipped at Scone last start.

Bet: Takara Star each-way

RACE 7

Regatta was held for a run in the straight before getting a late run on the fence and finishing second to Harbour Gold here on Oct 2. Slow away before pushing up to sit midfield when third to Last Frontier at Scone two weeks later. Another Val will be better for his first-up run at Newcastle for new stable. Has shown he can turn it around. Sweet Proposal is another who will be improved by her first-up run at Hawkesbury. Ran a couple of handy runs in her first campaign. Oakfield Hawk was ridden along early into the straight before coming away to win his Beaumont trial on Oct 24.

Bet: Regatta to win