Preview: Trainer Adrian Bott backs Savapinski to relish longer trip at Wyong

BEST BETS: CO-TRAINER Adrian Bott is confident the stable has pulled the right rein by saving Savapinski for an easier assignment at Wyong.

“A city-class horse going back in grade and up in trip at the provincials — that is a good formula.’’ This was co-trainer Adrian Bott’s assessment of Savapinski, hot favourite for the Tab.com.au Class 1 Handicap (1600m) at Wyong on Sunday.

Bott, who trains in partnership with Gai Waterhouse, had Savapinski entered for a race at the Newcastle Beaumont meeting on Saturday but decided to reserve the mare for Wyong. It looks a winning move with Savapinksi rated the $1.50 favourite on TAB Fixed Odds to win the opener.

RAY THOMAS’ BEST BETS

WYONG

BEST BET: ABSOLUTE (Race 2, No. 1)

Promising three-year-old colt from the Godolphin stable with competitive second placings at his only two starts — on debut here over the 1350m trip then at Canterbury when going back to 1250m. He was beaten by a smart type in Gold Standard last start who then franked the form with a stakes placing next start. Looks placed to advantage here.

NEXT BEST: BRAZEN (Race 4, No. 1)

Carried 61kg, was given no peace in front in a fast-run race and can be excused for his tiring seventh to Street Pursuit at Canterbury. It all went wrong for him last start and it will pay to overlook that run. He’s better than these and can bounce back to winning form.

BEST VALUE: LAST CARD JOE (Race 8, No. 5)

Last Card Joe has never won successive races but he goes into this race in career-best form. Tough effort to comfortably defeat Rolston over the Wyong 1350m course just over a month ago and has been kept fresh for this race. At $5, he is good value and will run competitively.

Trainers Jim (left) and Greg Lee will be hoping to snare a winner with Last Card Joe in the last at Wyong on Sunday.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4,8. Race 6: 1,2,3. Race 7: 1,2,3,5. Race 8: 4,5,10.

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

PAUL PERRY’s stable is churning out the winners of late and is set for another successful day at Wyong. He has five good chances on the program including Uncle Rodriguez (race 1), Gadfly (race 6) and Princess Pattern (race 7).

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

TYE ANGLAND has some terrific chances at Wyong including Yeah Bravo (race 1), Absolute (race 2) and Prince Dylan (race 8).

SCROLL DOWN FOR RAY’S EXTENDED PREVIEW

SHAYNE O’CASS’S BEST BETS

NOWRA

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

Was scratched from a much harder race at Newcastle Beamont on Saturday, where she drew wide. Closed off well when third to a very smart horse on debut at Beaumont. Impossible to go past.

NEXT BEST: METEOR GAL (Race 6, No. 2)

Was a massive drifter, $4.80 to $11, on debut and ended up being beaten five lengths mostly due to her wide draw which ruined her chances. Drops back to a very skinny race and will benefit greatly from the experience.

VALUE: KINETON (Race 4, No. 6)

Has only won one race in 17 starts but that win as over this trip and he relies a lot on tempo; needs it on up front so he can finish off. Well worth a look on an each-way basis.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

JEFF PENZA was NSW’s leading jockey last season and has another strong book of rides here.

SUGGESTED BETS

Running double — Race 5, No.7/Race 6, No. 2

Quinella — Race 4, Nos. 3,6

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3,6. Race 5: 7. Race 6: 2. Race 7: Field

Jockey Jeff Penza is always worth following on the country circuit. Picture: Jenny Evans

******

Savapinski has only been to the races twice for a debut win in a Newcastle maiden in March before resuming with a game fourth to the smart Irithea at Canterbury over 1200m.

“She was very good first-up, they were just a bit sharp for her over the 1200m,’’ Bott said. “She settled back and worked into it nicely. She was left her flat-footed at the top of the straight but she knuckled down and stuck on well which was the most pleasing aspect of her race.”

Bott said Savaninski should be better suited going out to 1600m on Sunday rather than the 1350m of the Newcastle race on Saturday.

“We had to decide whether to go to Newcastle over 1350m or step her straight up to the mile at Wyong,’’ he said. “She was well placed in both races but we felt she was forward enough to go to the 1600m at Wyong. She certainly has some talent.’’

Trainer Km Waugh is sending two runners to Wyong and could easily leave with a stable double. Prince Dylan is the pick of the Waugh duo and is rated the $3.30 favourite for the Benchmark 60 Handicap (1350m), while Ahalf is at $13 for the Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m).

“This is a race to suit for Pince Dylan and I think Tye Angland will suit the horse, too,’’ Waugh said. “He has been very consistent this preparation and he’s been waiting to get out to 1350m.

“It all went pear-shaped for Ahalf at Taree first-up but she has got some ability and has no weight on her back which is good for her as she is only tiny. I think she can run a good race.’’

Adrian Bott says Savapinski should be suited by the step up to 1600m on Sunday. Picture: Hamish Blair

INSIDE MAIL with RAY THOMAS

WYONG

R1 (12.40pm): CLASS 1 HCP (1600m)

2. Savapinski is very short but she should be too good for her rivals. Lightly-raced mare with ability and she ran on well to finish just behind the placegetters at Canterbury first-up. She is jumping up sharply in trip but it won’t stop her. 1. Yeah Bravo, 3. Uncle Rodriguez and 4. Delago Thunder are chances but hard to tip against the hot favourite.

BETTING STRATEGY: SAVAPINKSI to win.

R2 (1.19pm): 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1350m)

The bet of the day, 1. Absolute. Promising colt who chased home Gold Standard at Canterbury last start and that form looks very good now with Gold Standard running a close second in the Up And Coming Stakes last start. Absolute should breakthrough here. Only bad luck will beat him. 5. Problem Solver was good on debut, 2. All Day and 3. Euro Gold are place chances.

BETTING STRATEGY: ABSOLUTE to win.

R3 (1.54pm): MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)

12. Speedway is showing steady improvement with each run and indicated she was ready to win last start when she ran second to Almighty with Social Element third in a strong Newcastle maiden. She is taking on older horses here but this is a filly with more upside than her rivals. 5. Shaolin Kungfu is ready to improve and 6. Celtic Love is getting close to a win.

BETTING STRATEGY: Boxed trifecta 5,6,12.

R4 (2.29pm): CLASS 4 HCP (2100m)

1. Brazen was taken on in front and simply went too hard when he tried late to run seventh to Street Pursuit at the Canterbury midweeks. His losing effort was very good given the circumstances as he had to shoulder 61kg and was beaten less than a length-and-a-half on the line. Drops 2kg and this is much easier. Provided Brazen settles early, he should win. 4. Jagger just keeps winning, 3. The Getaway, 5. Sakhumzi and 2. Manhattan Son are all capable of running well.

BETTING STRATEGY: BRAZEN to win and boxed trifecta 1,3,4,5.

R5 (3.04pm): MAIDEN HCP (1000m)

A match between 4. Catmosphere and 8. Usurp. I have a slight leaning to Catmosphere who has drawn the right gate, will settle on speed and looks hard to beat. He showed promise last season and has shaped well in two recent trials. Usurp makes his debut here and, although he hasn’t been tested in his trials, he is a lovely mover. 6. Dexluther and 12. Princess Kandis are worth consideration.

BETTING STRATEGY: Boxed trifecta 4,6,8,12.

R6 (3.39pm): BENCHMARK 65 HCP (1000m)

2. All From Scrap has shown good sprinting ability in his short career, his only failure coming on a soft track. Resumes here off two barrier trials and, although the latest run reads only fifth of six in a Newcastle heat last week, he was stuck behind the leader into the straight and never got a crack at them. The 1000m here suits All From Scrap. 3. Princess Command will be charging home, 1. Gadfly was good first-up and will improve, and 5. Billabong Cindy is an improving mare.

BETTING STRATEGY: ALL FROM SCRAP to win, and take him in a quinella with PRINCESS COMMAND.

R7 (4.14pm): F & M CLASS 4 HCP (1600m)

5. Princess Pattern and 2. Sensacova renew their rivalry after fighting out the finish of a Newcastle 1600m two weeks ago. Princess Pattern ran down Sensacova that day and meets that horse 1kg better at the weights here. Princess Pattern can win again. 1. Fleeteor and 3. Concessions are the other contenders.

BETTING STRATEGY: PRINCESS PATTERN and SENSACOVA for the quinella.

R8 (4.49pm): BENCHMARK 60 HCP (1350m)

5. Last Card Joe did a good job to win over the Wyong 1350m last start. He covered plenty of extra ground and still proved too strong late. He likes his races spaced and will be hard to beat again. The obvious threat is 4. Prince Dylan who is ready to win after three competitive efforts since resuming. The step up to 1350m suits Prince Dylan. Of the others 7. Dynamic Bid and 10 Loquetex have claims.

BETTING STRATEGY: PRINCE DYLAN and LAST CARD JOE for the quinella.

NOWRA

Shayne O’Cass

A SNIP Of Cyndy has only won one of her 15 starts but trainer Paul Murray had no hesitation nominating the granddaughter of Snippets the best of his runners at Nowra on Sunday.

While A Snip Of Cyndy has been unable to graduate from maiden winner, she has been runner-up on four occasions, two of those silver medals coming at her last couple of runs.

The four-year-old mare went as close as possible to a second victory 13 days ago when beaten a nose in a mile race at Goulburn. That run could top her off nicely for a well deserved breakthrough on Sunday.

“She has been very consistent and it doesn’t look an overly strong race,’’ Murray said. “She drops a bit in weight now being a set-weights race, I think it’s nearly her day on Sunday. She loves the mile and is an on-speed runner. I think she can nearly get away with this race.’’

Murray saddles-up Viva Lavino in the Dolly’s Due Winning Horse of the Year Handicap (1400m) in search of what would be a third career win at start No. 12. The mare is a daughter of the one-time Murray-trained Willful Default, who is a half brother to Takeover Target.

Trainer Paul Murray believes A Snip Of Cindy’s is his stable’s best at Nowra. Picture: Mark Evans

“She is a mare that probably wants 2000m but I was very happy with her first run back at Moruya and stepping up to 1400m is probably still too short,” he said. “She just needs another run and then will go to a mile or straight to a 2000m race. She has thickened up a lot which I am very happy about.’’

Earlier on the card, Murray has another of the Wilful Default offspring engaged namely Direct Default, who debuts in the second race. The chestnut three-year-old showed glimpses of talent when a distant fifth of seven in his Kembla barrier trial that featured (runner-up) Bonny O’Reilly, who raced in a Group 1 at the final start of her last campaign.

“Direct Default is still very new to racing but I just think he will learn a lot more in a race than another trial and jump out,’’ Murray said. “He is a half brother to Direct Strategy who was a very good horse of mine that we sadly lost a few months ago to colic.’’

Another of the Murray-trained Nowra runners is the classically bred Rebel Forever who is part-owned by former politician, media commentator and thoroughbred enthusiast Mark Latham.

“I said to Mark that she needs to be stepped up to 1400m and a mile because she has given us the indication that she is a real stayer,’’ Murray said. “Hopefully she’ll get back and be hitting the line like she did at Moruya.’’

Originally published as Preview: Trainer Adrian Bott backs Savapinski to relish longer trip at Wyong