Muswellbrook best bets, inside mail for Thursday, January 2, 2025

Following two solid placings on her home track, lightly-raced Scone filly Girrawheen heads down the highway ready to score a second career win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Girrawheen is ready to record a second career win when she heads to Muswellbrook. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Muswellbrook on Thursday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

MUSWELLBROOK

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 6: Girrawheen

Good win on debut. Placed in both runs back from a spell and primed to win.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 11: Speck

Came from last to win over 1000m two runs back then raced keenly in a strong race. Can bounce back.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 7: Extreme Courage

Had a tough run on debut. Had trialled nicely prior and worth another chance.

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 5: 11 / 2, 4

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 3, 7

Race 5: 11

Race 6: 2, 6

Race 7: 1, 11

Aaron Bullock looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock is going to be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 1

Stylebender led all-the-way for a nice win over 2100m at Tamworth then was held up on straightening and didn’t get the clearest of runs when third to Le Souci at Tuncurry on Dec 9. Dropping back in trip but placed third over this track and distance on Nov 5. Magic Pharoah got back and found it hard to make ground in a TAB Highway at Randwick last start. Narrowly beaten in a Bm66 at Dubbo before that. Up And Comer will be improved by her first-up fifth at Goulburn.

Bet: Stylebender to win

RACE 2

Withstand is knocking on the door for his first win with third and fourth placings in all six starts. Covered plenty of ground when a close third to Lily Bobtail at Tamworth and wasn’t disgraced when fourth to Lough Eske and Cold Brew at Newcastle. Stablemate Pelette was third to Overtook and Shropshire Lad at Newcastle first-up before a second on the Beaumont to Moonlight Dream. Zihuatanejo raced three-wide without cover at Quirindi on debut when third behind Chidiac who remain unbeaten. Gets a nice run from the inside gate.

Bet: Withstand to win

WS-bred 3YO son of Tivaci, Hammoon Thunder (ex Baby Shacks) scores his maiden win with ease at start three for Rod Northam 👌🏻 The progressive galloper was sold for $40k @inglis_sales Classic through the draft of @GlennLeeThorou1 to his trainer. Well done 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/D2PIxowXhs

— Waikato Stud (@WaikatoStud) December 13, 2022

RACE 3

Hammoon Thunder resumed with a fifth behind Chesteray in a Bm66 over 1300m. Will take good improvement from and run and will appreciate the step up to 1500m. He is a second-up winner, drawn well and can give this a shake. The Favourite Son broke his maiden over this track and distance back in May and nearly went back-to-back when a nose second to regatta at Scone over 1300m. Mellencamp won well at Quirindi before finishing down the track behind In Summer at Randwick.

Bet: Hammoon Thunder to win

RACE 4

Extreme Courage Didn’t have much luck on debut at Newcastle when caught three-wide on the speed before fading. Drawn well and worth another chance. Miss Judas has been racing well in provincial grade. Was a handy third to Flying Embers at Newcastle before a fourth to the in-form Zealously at Kembla. Has been freshened and will appreciate the drop down to country grade. Cool Space was slow away before driving up along the rails to lead before finishing fourth to Yukon Rose on debut on a heavy track at Newcastle in May. Resuming here off a nice Newcastle trial after sitting very wide.

Bet: Extreme Courage each-way

RACE 5

Bella Corazon was held up in the straight and bumped another runner when fourth to Inside Man first-up at Canterbury. Forced very wide on the bend before making ground when fifth to Puntin at Nowra. Looks like she will appreciate the extra distance. Navy Buoy worked to the line for third behind Cash And Cards on debut over 1200m at Canberra. Will take benefit from the run and a step up in trip. Dale worked to the line okay over 1300m first-up at Scone when fourth to One Man Show. Bred to get over some ground and gets his chance here. Blinkers go on.

Bet: Bella Corazon to win

Look at Girrawheen and @NockBraith down the outside to swamp them in the Silver Goblet at @DubboTurfClub! And it's a double to trainer Peter Bloomfield! pic.twitter.com/3W1ton6uZG

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 7, 2024

RACE 6

Girrawheen scored a an upset win in the Silver Goblet on debut in June. Resumed with a close second at Scone on Nov 11 and returned five weeks later with a third to Sir Remlap after racing wide. Drawn the pole this time. Cheergal placed in three of her first four starts including a third to Lenape Vibe at Canterbury before breaking her maiden with a big win at Kembla mover 1600m. Puerto Banus followed two handy second placings here and at Wyong with a closing win at Newcastle.

Bet: Girrawheen to win

RACE 7

Speck came from last with a run on the inside to grab Staffa on the line over 1000m at Tamworth before racing keenly on the speed when third to Sir Remlap over 1100m at Scone. Back to the 1000m. Invasive Dreams placed at her last three runs before a spell including a third to Toes In The Water in a TAB Highway at Rosehill. Resuming for a new stable. Drawn well and gets a 3kg claim. De Luca won her maiden first-up at Echuca followed a half-length second there on Nov 5 before heading to New South Wales where she finished third at Scone two weeks later. Freshened and will be thereabouts again.

Bet: Speck to win