Tuesday racing: Ray Thomas previews the NSW meetings of Cowra and Muswellbrook

DOG Tags gets out to suitable distance range when he steps out to 1700m at Cowra on Tuesday, with The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas making him his best bet.

Christian Reith (not pictured) has four rides at Muswellbrook, all for trainer Brett Partelle. Picture: Jenny Evans

DOG Tags gets out to suitable distance range when he steps out to 1700m at Cowra on Tuesday on a track where he has won twice.

On that critera, The Daily Telegraph’s Ray Thomas has selected him as his best bet on the Cowra card.

Ray has nominated Jamming, racing in career-best form with two wins from four starts this campaign, his best at other NSW meeting at Muswellbrook.

COWRA

Fat filly now a real babe

TRAINER Dean Mirfin said his first impression of Shelleybabe was hardly flattering, but hasn’t that changed.

“Shelleybabe is a mare we had no opinion of to start with,’’ Mirfin said.

“She was a little, fat thing as a filly but she has developed, lengthened out and has grown into a lovely mare. She has always shown ability on the track and Matthew Cahill loves her attitude and determination.’’

Shelleybabe has transformed into a lean racing machine and can record her third successive win in the Vale Viv Miller Class 2 Handicap (1200m) at Cowra on Monday.

Mirfin gave Shelleybabe the time she needed to mature and didn’t send her to the races until the autumn of her three-year-old season. She was placed at her first two starts at Orange and Dubbo before winning her maiden at Bathurst in May.

Shelleybabe has had only one start since, resuming with a game win over stablemate Marvel at Bathurst over 1100m on a heavy 10 track surface on September 13. “Her effort first-up was better than most would realise,’’ ­Mirfin said.

“I had only given her a couple of gallops prior to the race, no trials, jump-outs, anything like that, so it was a tremendous effort to win.

“She has always had this good will to win. In her first preparation she was just edged out in a photo at Dubbo. But after travelling three and four wide all the way she was entitled to get beaten a long way but refused to lie down.’’

Shelleybabe has not raced for a month since her Bathurst win in very heavy conditions but Mirfin said this was a deliberate ploy.

“We planned on giving her a nice gap between runs and the program has been perfect for her,’’ he said. “She handles all going but she is better not having to go through the slush.’’

Mirfin also has in-form Super Pig in the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1700m) and Marvel lines up in the Peppertree Farm Handicap (1375m).

“Super Pig has excelled on wet tracks in the last few months,’’ Mirfin said. “He is well placed again at Cowra because the track suits horses like him that get up on the speed.

“Marvel does get back in his races and under normal circumstance Cowra is not a track that would suit him, but I looked at the entries and he only has four horses in front of him. He can sit off them and finish his race off with no weight.’’

RAY THOMAS’S BEST BETS

BEST BET: DOG TAGS (Race 1, No. 2)

Dog Tags ran on well for a game third to the in-form Midnight Obsession in the Queanbeyan Cup Prelude at 2000m last start. He comes back slightly in trip to a more suitable 1700m on Tuesday and on a track where he has won twice. Racing consistently and is the one to beat.

NEXT BEST: SUPER CHASE (Race 3, No. 3)

Super Chase ran on for third behind Jazzee Nic at Scone then wasn’t beaten far at Coonamble as favourite behind Blinkin Trying last start. He will appreciate getting out in trip and is drawn to settle in the front half of the field. This is his chance.

Powaful (not pictured) looks a great chance at Muswellbrook. Picture: Jenny Evans

MUSWELLBROOK

Farrell’s Powaful belief in gelding

PAT Farrell, trainer of Powaful, had a succinct message for punters: “What beats him will win it!’’

This was Farrell’s summation of Powaful’s chances in the Panzer Division At Arrowfield Stud Maiden (900m) at Muswellbrook on Tuesday.

Powaful has only had two starts, including a comeback effort at Muswellbrook this month when he ran seventh behind Joey’s Destiny over 1000m.

“He has improved a lot since that run,’’ Farrell said.

“We have drawn out a bit (barrier 12) but he has good early speed and will go forward from that gate.

“He is going well and I was actually going to have a sneaky go at him (Narro­mine last Sunday) but he was only second emergency and we didn’t know we were going to get a run until 7.30am and it was too late to make the trip.’’

Farrell also rates Allaru an each-way chance in the Tab.com.au Handicap (900m). Champion country jockey Greg Ryan, who has ridden 30 winners this season to be second on the NSW premiership behind Brenton Avdulla (34 wins), has taken the rides on both Farrell runners on Tuesday.

Farrell is considering aiming his promising filly Alliterate at the Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Derby Day after her close second to boom Godolphin colt Bezel at Randwick last Saturday.

“If Alliterate doesn’t run about a bit she might have made it more interesting,’’ Farrell said. “But she is a good filly and I think she can run a strong 2000m.’’

Alliterate (fence) beaten by Bezel in a photo finish at Randwick. Picture: Jenny Evans

RAY THOMAS’S BEST BETS

BEST BET: JAMMING (Race 7, No. 5)

Jamming is racing in career-best form with two wins from four starts this campaign. He was dominant over this course and distance last start, powering to the line to win by an increasing margin of nearly two lengths. He prefers a firm track and gets conditions to suit.

NEXT BEST: INVICTA (Race 8, No. 8)

Invicta scored a good win when resuming in a Taree maiden then ran on well for a good third behind the very promising Bezel at Newcastle’s Beaumont track. Bezel has since franked the form by winning at Randwick last Saturday. Improving galloper suited at 1450m.

EXOTICS: BOX TRIFECTA RACE 4 Nos. 2,3,7,8

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW: CHRISTIAN REITH

Christian Reith is making the trek to Muswellbrook on Tuesday for four rides, all for trainer Brett Partelle. They include barrier trial stars Always A Lady (race 1) and Paris For Me (race 2) who both look ready to race well first-up.