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

Taree trainer Tony Ball is looking to strike gold in his home town Cup with progressive stayer Strobing. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Strobing is looking to book his place in next year's Big Dance with a win in the Taree Good Cup on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Local trainer Tony Ball is so happy with Strobing he isn’t worried about taking on the city stables in the $100,000 Taree Gold Cup (2000m) with his progressive stayer and stake his claim for the 2024 Big Dance.

The five-year-old has improved with each run this preparation as he has stepped up in distance and is primed for the 2000m.

“There are a few city horses in there that were also entered for Newcastle on Saturday,” said Ball

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Trainer Tony Ball could be in for a good day at his home track with several leading chances. Picture: Bradley Photos

“Aside from them, it’s not an overly strong race.

“I think Strobing is a genuine each-way chance and if there are a few more scratchings, it only increases his chances.”

At his third run in this preparation, Strobing scored a tough win in the Krambach Cup over 1600m before a fourth behind Sound And Vision over 1900m at Kempsey.

“It was a good run at Kempsey. When Mollie (Fitzgerald) took off to put him in the race, the horse on her inside went with her and put them four-wide,” he said.

“He carried 58kg there so he will appreciate the drop in weight.

“The rain we have had in the last few days is ideal for him, he has drawn a good gate and with Mollie’s claim, he drops down to 53kg so we will roll forward and see how it pans out.”

In the final event, the Benchmark 66 Showcase Handicap (1250m), Ball saddles up Xtra Approval and Bantarki who are both on a quick back-up which he believes will suit both horses.

Xtra Approval finished seventh behind Calmer Karma at Gosford on Tuesday where he was beaten just a length and a half.

“He doesn’t like it when the track is rock hard and it was a Good 4 at Gosford,” he said.

“That was the best run he has ever put in on a track like that and that was in a Provincial (Benchmark) 64.

“He comes back to a Country (Benchmark) 66 and he can cope with the back-up. When I won the highway with him at Rosehill, that was on a seven day back-up.

“The rain only just increases his chances and he comes down to 59.5kg after Mollie’s 3kg claim.”

The Dramatist dives and gets up from Rajnish in the Highway. pic.twitter.com/GhZUSpatS3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 11, 2023

Bantarki comes out of last weekend’s TAB Highway at Rosehill where he was a length and three-quarters behind The Dramatist in seventh place.

He won two of his previous three starts this campaign at Taree.

“His run in the Highway at Rosehill last week was super. Jay (Ford) came back was full of praise for him.

“He suggested to apply the blinkers to him because the horse does have a habit of switching off during the run.

“I’ve put Courtney Bellamy on him so with her claim, he comes down to 59.5kg now

“I don’t think he will have any problem backing up either and I expect him to run very well over the 1250m.”

Ball also has three runners in the Lightning Handicap – Standing Bear, Time For Victory and Adamdeeant.

“Standing Bear and Time For Victory are resuming while Adamdeeant has had three runs this time in,” he said.

“Standing Bear will be charging home and will come quick when he comes.

“Time For Victory won first-up last time in over 1000m with 64.5kg and he doesn’t care whether it’s wet or dry. He will run a big race again.

“Adamdeeant goes well here on his home track and comes in with just 53kg.

“He only just got beat here two starts ago by Alicia Roma who is a very nice mare and he was caught out wide that day.”

“It’s hard to split them. You can make a case for all three horses.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 10: Talma I Love Her

The Robert Agnew-trained gelding is knocking on the door for his maiden win. Tough effort for a close fourth last time out.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 3: Bantarki

On a quick back-up from a close seventh in a TAB Highway at Rosehill last week. Winner his only start this track and distance and the blinkers go on.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 3: Standing Bear

Resuming from a spell and does have a strong fresh record. Good record on his home track and looks a good each-way chance.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 6, 7

Race 6: 3, 6, 7, 14

Race 7: 1, 5, 10

Race 8: 3, 5, 9

Dylan Gibbons looks a great chance in the Taree Gold Cup and the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons has five rides including leading chances Solutionist and Rogue Bear in the Gold Cup.

INSIDE MAIL - TAREE

RACE 1

Waikato Flyer looks well place to land a second career win. Three handy runs from a spell over distances too short before going down by a half head over 2018m here on Oct 29. Gets his chance here. Charmed Destiny has battled away to be just behind the placegetters at his last two starts, the latest a length and a half fourth behind Kristithegreat over 2200m at Grafton on Nov 8. Irish Knight steps up to 2000m for the first time this campaign after a handy second at Grafton over 1700m last start. Just behind the placegetters over this trip last campaign.

Bet: Waikato Flyer to win. Exacta/trifecta 3 / 1, 2

RACE 2

Talma I Love Her came from well back well back when fifth to Eloheh over 1120m at Grafton before having a tough run out three-wide when beaten a neck into fourth place behind Extreme Merger over 1250m at Kempsey on Nov 10. Steps up to 1400m for the first time and drawn out but does look hard to beat. Open Circuit closed off last campaign with a couple of handy runs when beaten a nose by Hot Wok over 1614m here on June 27 and a length and three-quarter fourth behind dead-heaters Pair OF Hearts and Rupert’s Boy at Tuncurry. Resumes here without a trial but from an astute stable. Uncle Smokey and Rebel One have place claims.

Bet: Talma I Love Her to win. Quinella 10, 11

RACE 3

He’s A Copy Boy was very consistent last campaign and is ready to pick up where he left off. Won three in-a-row including two of them here on his home track and was third in the Wingham Cup over 1614m. Two handy trials have him ready to go first-up. Believe So didn’t appreciate a strong run 1800m TAB Highway at Randwick on Oct 21 before dropping back to 1450m and finishing a length fourth to Aheadofhistime in the in the Kempsey Cup. Can give this a shake. Duble Memory was hampered near the 200m and lost momentum when seventh to Shades Of Frisco here on Oct 29. Narrowly beaten by Candy Kiss here last start.

Bet: He’s A Copy Boy to win. Quinella 1, 2

RACE 4

Standing Bear resumes from a spell and has a good first-up record with two wins and a third from five starts. Also has a good record on his home track with two wins and two seconds. Was fifth in this race last year with 59.5kg. Good each-way chance. Defiant Heart is the one to beat. Was second to Spacewalk over 1000m at Warwick Farm on Oct 2 before a three length fifth to Way To The Stars over 1100m at Rosehill on Nov 4. Drawn out and does have 61kg. Time For Victory won first-up for the first time last campaign. Was second at his only run this track.

Bet: Standing Bear each-way

Solutionist can make it back-to-back wins when she heads to Taree. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Solutionist kicked off her career with a seventh to Sovereign Fund at Wyong last December and was tenth to Los Padres at Gosford in March. Resumed with an impressive two and a half length win from Inquisitive Legend on the Beaumont on Oct 30. Can go on with it here. Bear’s A Star followed a debut half-length second to Coal Fire with a narrow win from Thedaythemusicdied both at this track. Resumed from a spell with a third to the promising Reateros here on Oct 29 when carried wider in the straight. The main danger. Taking The Mikki ran a handy race when third to Olivia’s Spirit at Grafton last start and has place claims again.

Bet: Solutionist to win. Quinella/Exacta 6, 1

RACE 6

Oakfield Badger was wide early before racing outside the leader with the pace quick when runner-up to Rapt on debut over 1250m here on Oct 20 before racing keenly in front and fading when last behind Smart Action over 1300m at Newcastle on Nov 4. Drops to 1000m and can bounce back from a good draw. Snitzaroo was safely held in his only two starts at Gosford and Newcastle before a spell. Trialling well and will find this easier. Russian Zarina was good on debut a head third to Feel The Magic at Queanbeyan despite racing greenly.

Bet: Oakfield Badger to win

RACE 7

Rogue Bear scored a handy win first-up this track from Hit The Target before a seventh to King Of The Castle in the Big Dance Wild Card at Randwick then a fifth to Loch Eagle at Randwick over 1500m. Steps up to 2000m fir the first time in Australia but did run second over 2063m in England. Aramayo is racing better than his form suggests. Solid effort behind subsequent Epsom winner Rediener three starts back in the Bill Ritchie and was a handy third to Loch Eagle at Randwick last start. Strobing has been building nicely with each run this preparation and can run a cheeky race.

Bet: Rogue Bear to win

RACE 8

Bantarki is backing up from his seventh behind The Dramatist in the TAB Highway at Rosehill last week when beaten less than two lengths. Won two of his previous three runs here including one at this trip. Blinkers go on. Sir Boo resumed from a long spell with an impressive three length win from Good Times Again at Grafton on Oct 24. Given time to get over the run. Auzstar closed off last campaign with a win here in June. Recent trials have been good and drawn to get the right run. Xtra Approval is ready to run a cheeky race.

Bet: Bantarki each-way