Raceday focus: Newcastle preview, best bets, and inside mail

A hulking son of Lonhro from the Gerald Ryan yard can become the super sire’s 954th individual winner when he steps out for his second start at Newcastle on Sunday.

Gerald Ryan is hoping the perfect barrier should have his hulking gelding Gulf Of Panama in the perfect place to become sire Lonhro’s 954th individual winner come Sunday at Newcastle’s Beaumont track.

The Sun Bloodstock three-year-old put up a good showing on debut at Warwick Farm when chasing home Bartoselli in the 1200m maiden this month.

Gulf Of Panama was blessed with barrier one at his first start and has fared well in Sunday’s Australian Bloodstock Maiden Plate (1350m) with box two.

“He was in on Wednesday at Warwick Farm but he drew wide and was going to be trapped wide, so it seemed better to take the punt and hope he drew a better barrier at Beaumont which he has,’’ Ryan said.

“I don’t think the 1350m will be any problem for him and from that gate he is going to be right up on the speed. He should be hard to beat.’’

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Gulf Of Panama has a lot of Lonhro about him but what sets him apart, from some of the breed at least, is his size.

“He is a big, strong horse,’’ Ryan said.

“He is a really good type. Even Darren Beadman commented on him at the trials at Hawkesbury, saying what a great type he was.’’

Gulf Of Panama is out of Cabernet, whose six wins included the MRC Summoned Stakes.

Cabernet is perhaps best known these days as a broodmare of some significance, thanks in part to her Tristarc and Nivison Stakes-winning daughter Madam Rouge.

Ryan and co-trainer Sterling Alexiou are well placed to claim the Des Edser Memorial Maiden Plate (1200m) with lightly raced Corumbene Stud filly Soprano.

Soprano is a daughter of ­Sebring, who is one of two Golden Slipper winners bred at Dunedoo by Corumbene Stud owner ­George Altomote.

He owned the other one himself, namely 2013 race winner, Overreach.

Gerald Ryan has Lonhro gelding Gulf Of Panama running at Newcastle. Picture: AAP

“Soprano has always shown good ability but she has just lacked a bit of strength,’’ Ryan said.

“Her trial, to me, was good. I just would have liked Tommy (Berry) to have asked her a bit going to the line but she’s worked well since.

“She’ll sit back off the speed and find the line good. She’s ­always given me the impression she would win in town.’’

Soprano has plenty to do on the racetrack with only the two runs under her belt but will no doubt one day head back to Dunedoo to join Altomonte’s elite broodmare band given her pedigree.

Soprano’s third dam is Malcolm Johnston’s Flight Stakes runner-up Picholine whose offspring include VRC Derby winner Rebel Raider, Norman Robinson winner Shamoline Warrior and the Werribee Cup winner Cadillac Mountain.

Ryan. meanwhile. (part) bred he and Alexiou’s third runner on the Beaumont Boxing Day card, Mihocek, whose only negative is his barrier.

“I just don’t how come he has got so far back at his two runs back,’’ the trainer said.

“I would like to see, if he began on Sunday, be ridden further ­forward.’’

Lonhro has more than 950 individual winners as a sire.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOPS SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No.11: YOU LIKE

Chris Waller-trained filly who is ready to open her NSW account on a high note on the score of some impressive trials.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No.10: MAMOUNIA

Triscay descendant is crying out for a crack at the 2000m, which she does here off some excellent lead-up runs.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No.11: SEGANTINI

Might be going off a run, or even a preparation too early, but there is something to like about this son of American Pharoah.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2,3

Race 5: 3,5,11,12

Race 6: 4

Race 7: 1,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Grant “Bucko” Buckley can give the TAB Jockeys Challenge the proverbial shake on Boxing Day barring any 7.30am scratchings

INSIDE MAIL: NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Mamounia, the Triscay descendant, is yet to place in her three starts but she has been getting better with every run which coincides with that little extra distance to her respective assignments each time. Here, at last, she gets out to 2000m and that could be the key to a new PB. Much of the same goes for her chief rival, Count On Me, who is a Reliable Man son in the truest sense of word. He will relish getting out to 2000m on Sunday in the fourth run of his lifetime. Tailoring rounds out a trio of horses mentioned here that is crying out for the ten furlongs.

Bet: Mamounia to win, quinella 5,10, box trifecta 2,5,9,10.

RACE 2

You Like is a Chris Waller daughter of his own former champion, three-year-old colt Brazen Beau. She also happens to be a half-sister to the former Godolphin tease Drachenfels. You Like raced twice in Victoria at her first campaign and found the line each time. Trialled twice up here before the return today and went super. Starmoss is yet to medal in four starts but looks like he may step it a notch on the score an eye-catching trial performance at HQ. Soprano is a well-bred Corumbene Stud (et al) filly who ran OK in a deep race in town on debut in May. Fabulous Choice is a player.

Bet: You Like to win, exacta 11 to beat 6.

RACE 3

Costly is a cleverly named son of Xtravagant out of Moshiki who won the Listed SAJC Cinderella Stakes in Adelaide. This Waterhouse/Bott-trained gelding didn’t do much in his two runs in the winter but those two trials wins at Randwick are indicative of a horse ready to rock ’n’ roll. Drawn one. Minouche was $11 into $6.50 on debut and ran accordingly when making up many lengths in the straight to finish runner-up to the handy Party For One at Canterbury. Fenton is the big watch here. He is a strikingly handsome son of Capitalist who gets a pass-mark on his first prep and a lovely trial, albeit on November 3.

Bet: Costly to win.

RACE 4

Amarantz is a John O’Shea filly by Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom out of the Belle of the Turf winner Amiarata. It was clear that this filly is always going to blossom with a bit of racing and that’s exactly the way it seems to be going for her in light of her huge first-up run at Hawkesbury. Massive watch required on Forever You. This Irish-bred mare by Galileo is already worth a small fortune, being a sister to a King George winner and the trials were the mark of a quality animal. Chenin is a Mark Newnham-trained sister to Shadow Hero. Drawn poorly but has talent. Estonia is a major contender.

Bet: Amarantz to win, quinella 2,3, box trifecta 2,3,4,7.

RACE 5

Taking a huge leap of faith in a hunch that Segantini might be an all-right horse. You wouldn’t think so looking at the majority of his five trials but I’m sure there is more than meets the eye to this superbly bred American Pharaoh. Chances are he will need racing but he is going to be big odds. Gulf Of Panama has the race experience and ran really well the day that he chased the winner home at Warwick Farm. Vega One’s half brother Tidal Creek absolutely bolted in to win his trial. Nice horse. Ditto for another of the Waller crew, Adviser.

Bet: Segantini each-way.

RACE 6

Air Of Solace was way over the odds when she won at Kembla by virtue of the fact that she was up against a long odds-on pop whom she had no trouble getting past inside the final stages, coming away in fact. With the benefit of hindsight, she was always going to run a bold race on her trial win coupled with the fact that she is a Contributer. Tycoon Hallie hasn’t done a lot wrong in her seven starts. Important to note that she is a first-up winner, beating Different Strokes that day. Go well. Nikau sent out some pretty encouraging signs with that closing fifth at Canterbury first-up.

Bet: Air Of Solace to win.

RACE 7

Loch Lomond has a wide draw and a big weight but the 2kg off for Dylan Gibbons is a luxury, bearing in mind that the horse is now in with three over the limit weight. It is a decent race to be sure, but certainly the easiest one that the horse has run in this prep. Mihocek was brave to run fifth in that Class 1 here behind Noble Beauty given that he drew 10 of 11. Could peak for this. Maccomo is consistent and has a desirable alley. Single Crown is from a prolific winning stable and could sneak into the medals.

Bet: Loch Lomond to win, quinella 1,12.