Dubbo tips: Trainer Rodney Northam is chasing gold with with talented siblings Very Sharp and Sharp Shock

Trainer Rodney Northam has his sights on locking in a Big Dance spot via the Dubbo Gold Cup with Sharp Shock while Very Sharp chases a feature win of her own.

Sharp Shock can qualify for the Big Dance with victory in the Dubbo Cup. Picture: Bradley Photo

Rodney Northam heads from Scone to Dubbo with a couple of the stable’s siblings on a quest to collect both town features and pick up Big Dance eligibility along the way.

Northam’s R And R Racing will be represented in the coveted Vincent Gordon Flying Handicap (1100m) by Very Sharp while her younger brother Sharp Shock lines-up in the annual Dubbo Gold Cup (1600m).

The latter providing for one of a steadily diminishing number of opportunities to secure Big Dance eligibility.

Sharp Shock has finished first or second in 10 of his 19 starts.

Granted, only three are wins, but that’s often the trade-off for barnstorming beasts like Sharp Shock.

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Sharp Shock gets the better of Scarzel in the final race of the day! pic.twitter.com/JJkuqwMtW1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 16, 2023

“He likes big fields and the speed on to set it up for him to charge home late,” Northam said.

Exhibit A was the son of Bull Point’s September 21 second at Royal Randwick in a near record time of 1.21.95 seconds for the 1400m.

Sharp Shock boasted a last 600m in 33.46 seconds including an 11.04 seconds 600m to the 400m split and 11.42 second final furlong, the quickest of the 11 participants.

“I was rapt with his effort.” Northam said.

“They went pretty quick so he came off that hot speed and he was probably chasing a fair way out but he was very good.

“That puts him in good stead for backing up a week later, he’s had that good tough hit-out under his belt to step up to the mile so I am quite happy he will be fit enough for the run anyway.

“He ran second at Newcastle beaten a nose in a Highway over a mile so you’d like to think, he’d run it out no problem.”

Sharp Shock was foaled on October 8 in 2019, just over two years after his aforementioned sister, Very Sharp, arrived on the scene.

“Very Sharp is a seven-year-old but she hasn’t had a lot of racing,” Northam explained.

Very Sharp is chasing victory in the Vincent Gordon Flying Handicap at Dubbo. Picture: Bradley Photos

“She will go to stud this year. If we can get her in foal, we will probably race her in foal for a couple of months.”

While no decision on Very Sharp’s spring suitor has been confirmed, Doncaster winner Brutal and his one-time Team Hawkes stablemate North Pacific are high on the list of possibles.

Before all that, Very Sharp makes her fourth visit to Dubbo with designs on the Cup Day sprint where has drawn the outside gate.

“It (the wide barrier) doesn’t mean much really,” Northam said.

“She likes a bit of room and she gets back and comes with one run.

“There looks to be a few speedsters in it so if they can run along she can get back, probably be three-wide back near last with a trail and just let her balance up and come with the one run and see how close she can get.”

Both of Northam’s Dubbo-bound pair are progeny of Bull Point who had the distinction of topping the 2012 Magic Millions Yearling Sale ($950,000).

The son of Fastnet Rock won over $500,000 on the track; his stakes win coming in the Manfred at Group 3 level, but he will always be best remembered for his heroic third in the 2013 Golden Rose behind Zoustar and Dissident.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 2: Mad Harry

Handy type who put the writing on the wall when flashing late first-up.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 3: Final Comment

Has hit his best stride now and can keep on trucking.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 15: Lonhro’s Queen

Aiming for four straight. This is a test for her but she is still untapped.

QUADDIE

Race 5:1, 2, 9, 11

Race 6: 2, 12, 15

Race 7: 3, 7, 12, 17

Race 8: 1, 2, 6

Tyler Schillerheads to Dubbo looking for a feature race double. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Doncaster winner Tyler Schiller heads west on a quest for both Dubbo features.

INSIDE MAIL - DUBBO

RACE 1

Now Voyager is trained by Cameron Crockett who went within a whisker of four winners at Narromine on Monday. Crockett has two in here with the same jockey (Ash Morgan) on, namely this horse and Bullion Hunter. Whichever one turns up out of the pair can win off their trials. Angelisle is a five-year-old mare on debut but it could be worth the wait if she is as good as her Mudgee trial on Sept 8. Taormini Sailor has the race experience and the form.

Bet: Now Voyager to win or if scratched, Bullion Hunter and Angelisle each-way

RACE 2

Mad Harry is a Brett Cavanough-trained son of Harry Angel who has placed at three of his seven runs and a few of the others have been quite okay too. That said, surely this horse pulled off a career best when he took lots of ground off, and got close to, the handy Kimberley Moon at Tamworth last start. Let’s Go Leo aims to, and can in fact, end a sequence of five consecutive seconds placings.

Bet: Mad Harry to win, exacta 2 to beat 5

RACE 3

Final Comment bid a not so fond farewell to all those wet winter tracks (he’s none from five on heavy) and arrives here off an easy win at Moruya and a very close second at Hawkesbury. One visit, one third in the past. Zounile is racing in fabulous form and has been for ages, both for Clint Lundholm and present handler Kylie Kennedy. Has won three races at Dubbo. No Second Thoughts was convincing (finally) when he won at Bathurst.

Bet: Final Comment to win

RACE 4

Broadway Follies, a Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of Smart Missile, was $3.40 into $3 (for good reason) when she made a winning debut at Bathurst. Long story short, she had trialled very well indeed and it wasn’t the strongest maiden ever assembled. Sure, she didn’t win by far but she banked plenty of experience for her effort. Adelsun was really impressive winning first-up at Orange for the new management. Just the second-up record is a bit wobbly. Lundholm duo Shaquila and Avalicious are players.

Bet: Broadway Follies to win

Mrs Bull storms home to win on the line in race 1 at Orange! pic.twitter.com/1xrt90Duha

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2024

RACE 5

First of all; please kindly take note that Broadway Follies in an emergency here and drew 18 so surely she runs in the previous? If she is out of this, it would make it easier for the likes of local Mrs Bull who has been to Dubbo (to race) five times for four placings. She was outstanding in a good looking Class 1 at Bathurst first-up. So Rosie has no jockey booked. Wonder if Zac Lloyd ends up on her? Whatever the case, she is on an upward trajectory and drawn well too.

Bet: Broadway Follies to win or if scratched Mrs Bull to win

RACE 6

Lonhro’s Queen has won four of her eight career starts. Better still, the Cameron Crockett/Gooree mare has won four of her last five runs and the last two were in Highways. She’s fresh here but has trialled twice and was brilliant each time. Tyler Schiller will have to work some of his magic to get Gallant Star home first given the very wide alley. That said, it is fair to say, he is the best horse in the race. Smart And Dapper, Very Sharp and Deep Snow in the battle for the bronze.

Bet: Lonhro’s Queen to win, box trifecta and First 4: Nos. 2, 8, 10, 12, 15

RACE 7

Cup time, Big Dance ticket time just could not have come around at a better time for Hollywood Hero. It just looks so obvious that the son of dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls is ready to peak here at his third run in and what’s more, he’s had 62kg on his back and ran fantastically in those two Randwick Benchmark 78 races. Assuming the Cup is run fast and horses are charging late, Sharp Shock comes into contention even more. Vivy Air is so consistent. If there is a $41 blowout and one for the multiples, it is Marsabit perhaps.

Bet: Hollywood Hero to win, box trifecta and First 4 Nos. 3, 7, 12, 17

RACE 8

Shipshape is a former Godolphin galloper by Astern; the grandam won five Group 1’s namely Divine Madonna. Shipshape has been with his current owner/trainer Richard Jackson for his last six starts, one was a third in the Wellington Town Plate, his last couple were midfield finishes in really deep Highways in May and June. With Kreon out, Don’t Call Me Honey is now the best horse in the race by a fair way. Just needs to overcome a very wide alley now. Deion and Kora Magic have claims.

Bet: Shipshape each-way

DUBBO

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 2: Mad Harry

Handy type who put the writing on the wall, flashing late, first-up

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 3: Final Comment

Has hit his best stride now and can keep on truckin’ away from Heavy.

VALUE

Race 6 No. 15: Lonhro’s Queen

Aiming for four straight; this is a test for her but she is still untapped.

QUADDIE

Race 5:1,2,9,11

Race 6: 2,12,15

Race 7: 3,7,12,17

Race 8: 1,2,6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Doncaster winner Tyler Schiller heads west on a quest for both Dubbo features