Moree tips: Trainer Matthew Kelley isn’t just making up numbers as he embarks on a long trek north chasing a feature race double

Trainer Matthew Kelley feels he has the right horses in the right races to make the 1500km round trip to Moree worthwhile.

Matthew Kelley is chasing success in the Moree Cup with Prophet’s Pride. Picture: Bradley Photos

It’s a long trek from Canberra to Moree but it can prove a fruitful venture for trainer Matthew Kelley with four genuine chances on the day including the two feature races.

His quartet have all drawn good barriers in suitable races, especially Prophet’s Pride in the Moree Cup (1400m).

“If it didn’t pan out and get good draws, I wasn’t going to hike all the way up there but it has all gone pretty smoothly with some good marbles so hopefully it’s worth the drive,” said Kelley.

“None of these horses are going there to make up numbers. I expect all four to be competitive and hopefully one or two will go close to winning.”

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Prophet's Pride dips deep to win the TAB Federal at @ThoroughbredPk! pic.twitter.com/KrfAT1Zu82

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 9, 2024

Prophet’s Pride has had a solid campaign which has netted a win on the Acton track at Canberra and two placings including a third at Canterbury in early July but it could have been a little better according to her trainer.

“She has done well this campaign. Her third in town had a lot of merit to it and she has backed that up with two good runs on the polytrack at Canberra,” he said.

“She probably should have won last start. She just had to do a fair bit of work from the wide draw. Her win before that was strong.

“She is rock hard fit and heading to Moree in great order.”

While unplaced in three runs over the 1400m, she has performed well at the trip so Kelley holds no concerns about the distance.

“I know the form doesn’t read overly strong for her over 1400m but if you go back to last preparation to her fifth in Snake Gully Cup, she got beat two-and a-half lengths and the four that beat her home have won Saturday races in town.

“From the soft draw and with a good weight, I think she will run it out strongly.”

Kelley also has a genuine contender for the Moree Town Plate (950m) in consistent gelding Spinosaurus.

The five-year-old went back-to-back at Wagga and Goulburn to start his campaign before a fourth to Love Shuck and two seconds at Kembla and Wagga.

“This is his first operation back from a throat operation so it has obviously done the trick for him. He’s airborne.

Spinosaurus does just enough to get the win in the third at Goulburn. @[e-mail]/MaiJsLEVU8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2024

“We have spaced his runs with his last start three weeks ago so that will do him good to freshen his legs up.

“He has drawn a good gate and he is generally a very quick horse out of the gates who usually leads or is right there on the speed so he will get his chance.”

Mariner’s Dream has run well in his three starts since joining Kelley’s team with fourth placings either side of a third at Moruya.

He contests the Class 1 and Maiden Handicap (1600m).

“He is going okay, he is just a big kid who doesn’t know what he is doing,” Kelley said.

“He does a lot wrong in his races and is his own worst enemy. He gets himself beat.

“If he puts it all together, he is ready to knock his maiden over.”

Puerto Rico is first-up in the Class 3 Handicap (950m) without an official trial but Kelley said he is ready to go.

“He does run his best races first and second-up. He has had four goes first-up for two seconds and two thirds,” he said.

“He is first-up this weekend where he has drawn a good barrier, has a good weight and with a good jockey on.

“I’ve got no worries with his fitness or with the distance. He’s had two jumpouts at Canberra and won both of them so he’s ready to roll.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 8 No. 8: Magic Flyer

Handy run first-up then had to come wide from well back when fourth at Tamworth. Ready to peak.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 9: Te Pani

First-up for a new stable but has solid form with placings in metro and provincial maidens.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 3: Puerto Rico

Resumes here and has placed in each of his previous first-up runs. Drawn well and can break through.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 5, 8

Race 6: 1, 3, 7

Race 7: 2, 4, 5, 8

Race 8: 1, 5, 8

Quayde Krogh heads to Moree with four good chances. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Quayde Krogh makes the long drive from Canberra to ride four horses for Matthew Kelley and all should be prominent in the finish.

INSIDE MAIL – MOREE

RACE 1

Just Breathe is backing up from a sixth at Tamworth on Monday. She settled just worse than midfield and held her ground behind Blazed Prince to went to the front near the 900m. More Elements has changed stables since a seventh to Castel Trosino at Lismore over 2120m on Aug 5. Dropping back to 1400m following that freshen-up and has placed at the trip. Suit Day resumes here and has claims on his second placings at his last two starts.

Bet: Just Breathe to win

RACE 2

Te Pani will appreciate a drop back to country grade when she has her first start for a new stable. Beaten a length-and-a-half into third behind Contrived and Rip Off in consecutive at Wyong before a third on the Sunshine Coast. Brae Ex started favourite when runner-up behind Senalda at Tamworth on debut two weeks ago. Drawn wide but has a 4kg claim. Weather raced wide without cover when fourth to Winny Bee here last start.

Bet: Te Pani to win

RACE 3

Reflecting Fame stepped up to 1600m third-up when taken back from the wide gate before making his move out wide at the 600m and scoring an impressive win at Tamworth last start. Drawn wide again but the one to beat. Mariner’s Dream is racing well while still doing things wrong. Back in trip from his fourth on the Canberra Acton track and visors replace the blinkers. Madalsa was runner-up here last start and won’t be far away again.

Bet: Reflecting Time to win

Reflecting Fame broke his maiden in impressive fashion at Tamworth and looks tough to beat again. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Puerto Rico resumes here without an official trial but he has won his two jumpouts at Canberra. Hasn’t raced since a seventh to Ready To Humble in a Bm82 at Canberra on Mar 29. Placed all four first-up runs and will give this a shake. Too Darn Lovely was disappointing when last at Newcastle first-up. Forgive that run as her previous efforts were very good with wins at her first two starts before a third in the Boot Prelude at Coonamble. Jet Empress has claims.

Bet: Puerto Rico each-way

RACE 5

Spinosaurus scored back-to-back wins over 1000m at Wagga and Goulburn before a fourth to the handy Love Shuck on the Acton. Runner-up at his last two including the Wagga Whiz on Aug 11. Outishka drops back in grade and distance from a Bm72 at Warwick Farm when sixth to Another Cognac. Won at Newcastle over 900m before that. She won his maiden at this track and distance at her second start. Coat Of Arms is coming off a big win at Bundaberg.

Bet: Spinosaurus to win

RACE 6

Night Fighter didn’t have a lot of luck when fourth at Grafton two runs back then was caught wide here last start. Prior to those two runs, he was fifth to Clear Thinking and a good third in the Grafton Guineas. Paris Lad kicked off his career with a smart win over 1200m at Bathurst in February and followed up with placings at Muswellbrook and Tamworth. Resumes here after a good first trial but was just fair in the second. Winkers go on. Rura Penthe was good late first-up at Tamworth. Keep safe.

Bet: Night Fighter to win

Night Fighter shows them what he's made of and makes it look easy. 👊 pic.twitter.com/G7cmgpd7SO

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 8, 2024

RACE 7

Prophet’s Pride was third to Llanddwyn at Canterbury and wasn’t far away behind Lady Extreme there at her next start. Led all-the-way on the Acton and just beaten there last start after working from a wide gate. Drawn well here and will be right in the finish. Rajnish has been right behind the placegetters at his last four starts, three of them in TAB Highways. Was fourth at Randwick to Cranky Harry who has since won the Murwillumbah Cup, then fourth to Intervarsity at Rosehill. Indifference won well at Tamworth on July 19 before a length-and-a-half sixth to Roma Avenue at Rosehill.

Bet: Prophet’s Pride each-way

RACE 8

Magic Flyer boxed on for third behind impressive Cyclone Rupert when resuming at Tamworth on July 19 and followed with a fourth to Burraneer Buoy after coming wide on the bend. Back in grade and gets a claim. Gold Counter resumed for a new stable with a neck second behind Champers Girl over 1100m at Dubbo on Aug 11. Placed in both second-up runs and will be thereabouts again. Leica Model was just beaten at Quirindi before winning over 1400m here last start.

Bet: Magic Flyer to win