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

Trainer Keiren Hazleton feels Not Too Bad is ready to bounce back to his best form at Wellington. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in western New South Wales on Sunday is at Wellington.

Trainer Keiren Hazelton has gone back to what works best in an effort to coax a fifth career win out of the blue-blood gelding Not Too Bad at Sunday’s Wellington meeting.

The Gilgandra-housed chestnut will be ridden by Clayton Gallagher whose record on the horse currently stands at two wins and a third from their three shared missions.

Not Too Bad heads into the KFC Wellington Handicap (1600m) with a ‘977’ alongside his name but has been hitting the line better than those numbers suggest.

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“He has always been a horse that has taken a couple of runs,” Hazelton said.

“I wouldn’t read a lot into his last run at Wellington. He got trapped off the track coming to the corner coming down the hill and he got shot right off the track and things just didn’t go to plan.

“Fourth run back, he is fit and he is ready to go. I reckon he will run a really good race.”

Not Too Bad is a grandson of Joleur who is responsible for three stakes-winners; Bhutane Dane, Gaze On and Dark Jewel winner, Upon This Rock.

His grandam is Gainesville, whose Bite The Bullet filly Mica’s Pride left four stakes-winners herself, none better than Criterion.

Hazelton has two chances of winning the opener on the card via the lightly-raced Patron Of Power and The Percentage.

Astern gelding Patron Of Power has been somewhat hot and cold in his four starts to date but looks to get his chance to step up on Sunday.

“He’ll go with anything at home and he probably should have won a maiden by now off his work but when I take him to the races I lose a bit of trust in him,” Hazelton said.

“He has got a few quirks and probably has a little think about things but if the horse that works at home turns up, he can give it a shake.”

The Percentage, meanwhile, remains winless after 27 starts, the last half dozen of them for Hazelton.

“All bar a couple of runs for me have been good,” the trainer said.

Jake Pracey-Holmes rides Meet In Brazil for trainer Keiren Hazleton. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I would rule a line through his last two runs last prep, I think he had just come to the end of it.

“If the horse had a run under his belt, I would be a lot more confident.”

Hazelton is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of another Wellington-bound stable recruit named Meet In Brazil who tackles the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Maiden Plate (1100m).

“She will win her maiden pretty soon,” he said.

“We thought she would probably need the run at Warren going a month between runs.

“She loomed up at the right time to win but was probably just a gallop short.

“As the noms come up quite small at Wellington and she came through the Warren run without any issues, I just decided to throw her in and we’re happy for her to go around.”

Meet In Brazil has plenty of unfinished business to conduct on the track but she will make for a worthwhile addition to anyone’s broodmare band given her family heritage.

The Bowness Stud-bred bay’s third dam is Copperama, Robert Sangster’s 1981 VATC One Thousand Guineas winner.

Hazelton’s fifth and final runner on the program is Mean Girls who tackles the Federal Hotel Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

“We are going to press the button early from the wide gate there at Wellington and try to be racing in the first three or four,” the trainer said.

“She goes all right but I think it is the strongest race on the card.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 1: Small Town

Fast and talented horse who resumes in the perfect race off a six length trial win in sizzling time.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 1: Backlash

Remains winless after 18 starts but his ‘best’ would be good enough to stretch most, if not all, of the rivals.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 2: Talkachino

Won two of his three runs this preparation and was fourth in a deep Class 3 at the other. Go well.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 11

Race 5: 1, 7

Race 6: 1

Race 7: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8

Clayton Gallagher could be in for a big day at Wellington. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Clayton Gallagher will be a popular pick for punters playing the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - WELLINGTON

RACE 1

The Percentage has gone 27 starts without a win but he has placed six times. On top of that, he has only had six runs for Kieren Hazelton and the majority of them have been quite good. Fact is, he might not have been in a ‘weaker’ race than this. It is just a matter of fitness to get the job done. Stablemate Patron Of Power has been a bit hot and cold in his four starts but the ‘hot’ would be enough to see him win this race. Flight Or Fight has the draw to lead and he might just keep going this time after a career best performance here first-up.

Bet: The Percentage to win

RACE 2

Invest In Love had her first run for the new trainer, Clint Lundholm, in a 1010m maiden at Orange on Oct 15. She raced up on the speed but faded to finish seventh of the nine runners. She had trialled exceedingly well before that and all her prior form was quite good so might be wise to extend her another chance on Sunday. Brett Robb’s Rothgate handed in two respectable runs to open his career last preparation. Could be the strongest one late here. The Hulkbuster and Meet in Brazil have claims.

Bet: Invest In Love to win, quinella 3, 4

RACE 3

Talkachino has drawn to go forward, even lead, which is certainly a plus here at Wellington. This WA-bred gelding won his first two starts this preparation prior to that last run in a very deep Class 3 at Coonamble where he clocked in fourth to Belleistic Kids and Skyforger. Vis I Do rates five points higher than Talkachino but has to give away 4kg. Whatever the case, Vis I Do presents a highly consistent and in-form horse competing at his favourite distance. Gayna Williams’ mare Boongarra Girl is a last Mudgee winner and Wellington winner as well.

Bet: Talkachino to win, exacta 2 to beat 1

Backlash can break through for his first win at Wellington. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Backlash was one of just 37 foals from Counterattack’s single Australian crop before he was exported to Germany to continue his stud duties. Backlash has raced 18 times without a win but he has placed three times and is usually thereabouts. He has run quite well in better races than this. It might be his birthday today. That said, the Clint Lundholm-trained filly Moon Zone looks to be the one with the upside. She went within a half-length of winning at Moree 16-days ago and that was only her second start. Dubbo duo Fresh Start and Deceptive are in the mix.

Bet: Backlash to win, quinella 1, 11

RACE 5

Mr Invincible, a NZ-bred former stablemate of Mr Brightside has really taken to life in NSW having raced four times for Brett Robb for a win and two thirds from four runs under the new management. His benchmark rating is six points clear of his nearest rival. Has a big weight (less 2) and a wide alley but otherwise, easy to like. Shubick has just one win from 17 starts but credit to him, he has six placings and plenty of other ‘creditable’ performances on his C.V. Go well here. Not Too Bad is coming good now after three runs, the last one here was not as bad as it reads (pardon the pun).

Bet: Mr Invincible to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 4, 7

RACE 6

Small Town has the honour and distinction of being the highest rated horse in action at Wellington on Sunday and you could make the case that he is the fastest one as well. The Sue Grills-trained son of Your Song has won four of his 16 starts. He is first-up on the weekend but he must be in good nick given that six lengths trial win at Tamworth 12-days ago where sizzled over the 1000m in 56.13 seconds. Smart And Dapper has won three from nine including that easy, all the win at Muswellbrook on November 5 in very quick time.

Bet: Small Town to win, exacta 1 to beat 3

RACE 7

Hallowed Star could cap off what looks to be a worthwhile Dubbo-Wellington-Dubbo round trip for Clint Lundholm. This son of Golden Rose winner Hallowed Crown has raced seven times for a win and a third but take note that he has four fourths and a fifth. Point there is that he is always around the medals somewhere. One more thing; his win came first-up as he is on Sunday. Mean Girls is ready to win, she just finds herself in a pretty strong Class 1 sadly. Deion has drawn to run well again. Life’s A Party was good first-up and has talent.

Bet: Hallowed Star to win