Dubbo tips: Jeremy Gask’s consistent gelding is set to dust his rivals

Handy gelding Crop Duster finds himself in a tricky place between country and provincial grade but trainer Jeremy Gask has found an ideal race at Dubbo.

Crop Duster is well placed to score another win when he heads to Dubbo. Picture: Bradley Photos

Scone trainer Jeremy Gask admits it is getting harder to find suitable races for handy gelding Crop Duster and he may have to start travelling further afield.

Gask said the four-year-old usually gets plenty of weight when he races in the country but his rating makes it difficult to get a run at the provincials.

“He is a little more difficult to place these days,” Gask said.

“He was in at Newcastle on Saturday but didn’t get a run. He is caught between that awkward stage of facing the ballot at the provincials and in the city and carrying heavy weights in the country.

“Once these country horses win a few races, it’s slim pickings so we will probably have to travel a bit with him going forward but we will see how the cards fall this weekend.”

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Crop Duster comes away for a nice maiden win!@brooke_stower with a well timed ride for Jeremy Gask. pic.twitter.com/saZy2txQZQ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 18, 2022

Crop Duster was a winner at Newcastle two starts back before a those sixth to Life Coach at Wyong but was sixth emergency for a Benchmark 64 there this weekend.

The son of The Brothers War lines up in the Benchmark 66 over 1000m where he has drawn barrier 7 with leading jockey Aaron Bullock to ride.

“He is great form and has been a terrific little horse for the stable,” Gask said.

“He loves the wet and it wouldn’t matter how wet it got for him.

“We know he’s got a certain pattern of racing – he gets back anyway – so the draw not an impact for him.”

In the same race, Gask also saddles up the lightly-raced but progressive Who Ever Thought.

The five-year-old made a late start to his racing career in October last year and has already scored two wins and two placings from seven starts.

His most recent win was at Scone on June 11 over 1300m but he drops back to 1000m this weekend.

“He’s had a bit of a chequered history this horse hence his last start to racing,” said Gask.

“He had some unlucky and bizarre injuries from the time he was born.

“It’s been a long with him hence his name because we never thought we would see on the racetrack.

“He’s a sound as a pound now and is another one who is going to progress further.

Who Ever Thought with a deserved victory in race 3 at Scone. @JeremyGaskpic.twitter.com/ZY9K9EVzzO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 11, 2024

“He’s one we are not quite sure which direction he will be going as far as trip is concerned,” said Gask.

“He just overraced a little bit last start but I thought Mitch (Stapleford) did a terrific job in managing that by letting him slide forward and I thought the horse did a great job to hold on and win.

“The drop back in trip doesn’t look ideal on paper but I think he will hit the line strongly.”

In the opening event, the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1400m), Gask saddles up Full Commitment who returns from a let-up.

The filly is still a work in progress but showed handy ability to place in two of her four starts.

“I think she is one we are still getting out heads around a little bit but I thought her runs were good last time in,” he said.

“We have just given her a little freshen-up.

“I would have preferred to have drawn a bit better to be honest but with a view to her stepping up in trip, I think this race should suit her.”

Gask has a good opinion of Little Bit Flash but is 50/50 about running the filly from a wide gate in the final event.

“I think she is a filly with a bit of a future who is going to get better. I just want her to get some positive experiences,” he said.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No. 5: Rajnish

The Cameron Crockett-trained gelding is due for a change of luck. Tough run in a Highway last start. Drops in grade and can break through for a well-earned win.

A great battle in the TAB Highway at Rosehill, with the fav Rematch victorious!@aus_turf_club@Paulmessara@[e-mail]/LGRyNnoEbi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 1, 2024

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 2: Chico Casino

Score a good win on debut before two handy placings. Can kick off this campaign win a win.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 3: Crop Duster

Honest campaigner dropping back from provincial grade. Will give this a shake.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 4, 5

Race 5: 3, 4, 6, 9

Race 6: 3, 5, 10

Race 7: 1, 2

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Hard to go past Aaron Bullock to win the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL — DUBBO

RACE 1

Full Commitment is back from a let-up after her handy third behind Presswin at Quirindi on Apr 30. Handy efforts at her previous two runs when third at Muswellbrook and fifth on the Beaumont. Drawn wide but gets the 2kg claim from Mitch Stapleford. Poison Point is a two-year-old but at this point of the season, it won’t make much difference taking on the older horses. Just pipped by Singing Star here last start and will be prominent again. Jeffo has been handy in both NSW runs and has place claims again.

Bet: Full Commitment each-way

Braven gets home in a tight finish from the second at Muswellbrook! pic.twitter.com/a756s3li5g

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 15, 2024

RACE 2

Rufus Winright has had a long campaign but has found his best form with a win and three placings from his last five starts. That win came in a Bm66 at Orange on Mar 11. Was third to Don Stefano over this track and distance last start. Drops in grade and drawn nicely. Weave That Web was fourth in that race won by Don Stefano here on May 25 before scoring a big win from careering Away at Gilgandra on June 9. Gets in well with the 3kg claim. Rubiland is another coming off a last start win after some handy efforts.

Bet: Rufus Winright to win

RACE 3

Nomorenightshift is a two-yea-old debutant by Denman and a half-brother the handy Tags. Sat wide and kept under a tight hold when beaten a short half head by Fake in his Scone trial on June 12. Expect a forward showing. Air Combat went back from a wide gate before working home for a three length sixth behind She’s Got Veuve at Newcastle on Mar 2 before a three length second to Vermillion Dragon at Kembla on Mar 15. Resumes for the Brett Robb yard and must be respected. Divine Belle has placed in both NSW runs and will be thereabouts again.

Bet: Nomorenightshift to win

RACE 4

Rajnish didn’t handle the heavy track at Newcastle under 62kg first-up and had to change course when sixth in the Country Cup at Scone. Wide run in the Highway at Rosehill last start when fourth to Rematch. Aimpoint returned from a break on a heavy track at Newcastle last weekend when seventh to Star Impact. Will appreciate a drop in grade and the track in the soft range. Form last campaign was good including a Tamworth win on Apr 26. Sizzle Minizzle was caught wide early when down the track here first-up. Can bounce back.

Bet: Rajnish to win

The second Winter Country Classic Qualifier at @DubboTurfClub goes to Shen Gui, with @Mitchwbell26 in the saddle, and he wins both editions! 🧤 pic.twitter.com/V8NXWyIcFL

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2024

RACE 5

Shen Gui raced well below his best when he dropped out to finish last behind Bengatta at Muswellbrook last start. Back in grade and has won two from three at this track including his all-the-way victory two starts back. Pay to forgive. Sports Page is coming off a near four and a half-length won in a Class 1 over this track and distance on June 19. Will be prominent again. Leopardi will take improvement from his first-up fifth to Shen Gui here on June 7. Form last campaign was good.

Bet: Shen Gui each-way

RACE 6

Crop Duster was terrific coming from well back to beat Senshi and French Marine over 1250m at Newcastle on May 25 before closing to finish three-quarters of a length in sixth behind Life Coach at Wyong last start. Back to country grade and will give this a shake. Aquarter resumed from a spell with a strong closing length win from Super Freds at Muswellbrook on May 13. Wasn’t seen again until a handy third to I’m Not Slew at Scone on June 23. Loves the 1000m. Who Ever Thought will be running on and can place.

Bet: Crop Duster to win

RACE 7

Chico Casino started favourite on debut and got the job done nicely from Luskin Vain at Bathurst on Feb 2. Followed up with a couple of handy third placings at Bathurst and Mudgee. Can resume with another win. Charge Away placed in seven of her first eight starts including three consecutive seconds before breaking through with a narrow win from Palentino Swinger over 1200m here last start. Last start winners Grand Oyster and Ishamashi both and have claims.

Bet: Chico Casino to win