Muswellbrook, Wellington best bets, inside mail for Friday, March 28, 2025
Todd Howlett will take the wrapping of the Widden Stud-bred Try Me in the annual Starmaker 2YO Handicap at Muswellbrook. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Horse Racing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and analysis of the quaddie legs at Muswellbrook and Wellington on Friday.
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 1 No. 11: Try Me
Trained here out of a top yard and has been trialling super.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 5: Rhegion
Ryan/Alexiou galloper, gelded, and winning trials in town.
VALUE
Race 4 No. 10: Leantothemoon
Lightly-raced and loaded with talent and promise.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 3, 5, 8
Race 6: 1, 7, 8, 12
Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Race 8: 1, 6, 11, 12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Alysha Collett will ride Bold Mac in the Muswellbrook Cup.
WELLINGTON
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 3: Bolo Miss
Runner-up in her only two starts to date. Go well.
NEXT BEST
Race 4 No. 3: Shadow Shot
Always thereabouts and is close to another win.
VALUE
Race 5 No. 11: Casino Diva
Charged home to win in impressive style last start.
INSIDE MAIL - MUSWELLBROOK
FINGERS HUNTER won the Wellington Boot this time last year. She was fifth to Lazzura at her next start, that was in the Listed Woodlands at her home track at Scone. As for her recent form, she was an easy winner as a $1.35 fav ought to be, in that mile Class 1 at Tamworth. Skips a grade but she’s also run fifth to Private Life in town. The best SYRIAN STAR would more than likely charge over the top of these. DON’TCHA THINK is too consistent to leave out. Drawn 3 here for Keagan Latham.
Bet: Fingers Hunter to win, quinella 3, 5
THE DRAMATIST, aside from being a dual Highway winner, also won the coveted Country Cup run each year on Scone Cup Day. This son of Shamus Award wasn’t as bad as it reads first-up at the Rosehill midweeks and take a look at his second-up form. Former SA resident ANNIE’S ROSE ran a neck second to Money Team at her first run for Kristen Buchanan, sixth to the same horse next time. That’s Championship form.
Bet: The Dramatist to win, quinella 1, 7, box trifecta 1, 7, 8, 12
What a win to end the day!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2024
The Dramatist powers away to take out the Country Cup at Scone under a great ride from Reece Jones.@rodnorthampic.twitter.com/jsdpHHWnx6
LAVISH EMPIRE is one of a handful of horses that have accepted for the Muswellbrook Cup and Saturday’s Doncaster Prelude. I’m no Tim Bailey or Alan Wilkie, but some of them might be better off at Muswellbrook just in case Rosehill is underwater. For what it is worth, my order is whoever comes out of the following; Lavish Empire, WEST OF AFRICA, BERKSHIRE SHADOW and then BOLD MAC.
Bet: Lavish Empire to win or any of the above, Bold Mac to place
ZAKOR has drawn 20 of 20 with no jockey booked so is not a guaranteed starter. On top for me if he comes (each-way only). Hellcibell ran a huge race in the Championships Qualifier the other day and behind two horses that could potentially medal in the Final. Back from 1400m to 1000m but she is such a good racehorse and with a big time trainer. CELUI will deserve every cent of the $36,500 purse if he can win the Skellatar from the wide alley with the big weight. He has earned the weight though and wide draws are hardly the end of the world here.
Bet: Zakor each-way but if scratched, Hellcibell to win
INSIDE MAIL - WELLINGTON
DIZE is worth a bit as a broodmare when it is all said and done on the track. This is a rolled gold Jack and Bob Ingham family. So much so that her fifth dam is the brother’s 1967 Golden Slipper winner Sweet Embrace. Dize is very quick and her only win (so far) was first-up at Gosford. MISS MIKKI ISLE has the race fitness advantage and is just so darn consistent like most of the Todd Smart horses.
Bet: Dize to win, quinella 1, 3
THE MOOCH has only won twice in 36 starts but she has placed 13 times. On top of that, the Cowra housed mare has a win, seven seconds and three thirds circa this trip. Raced at the venue three times for a second and a third. As for the last run, she got close to a $1.09 fav at the finish. I should point out that the runner-up in that race, CHOICE DEEL, is here too. DAO SUN is flying for Kieren Hazelton having won two of her last three by a combined seven lengths.
Bet: The Mooch each-way. Daily Double 1st leg 9, 2nd Leg 7
Triple Tempo gets in - just - at Orange! @BBakerRacing | @brodie_loypic.twitter.com/XjmDcyQv2B
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 23, 2025
ZALE has lost 19 times in 20 starts but that doesn’t tell the real story. In fact, he’s not a bad horse. He’s placed six times and all of his best form is at this trip, including the lone win so far. He has been known to have run some pretty decent races in town and at the provincials. This is no slam dunk given the presence of FLASHY ICON, THE MANAGER et al but it should be well within the Gary Nickson-trained gelding’s reach.
Bet: Zale to win
CORPSMAN, believe it or not with that name, is in fact a mare and a well-bred one at that. Broodmare sires include Zeditave, Marauding, Lunchtime. Better still, her third dam is discriminate who was a very handy Newhaven/Clarry Conners filly back in the day. Long story short regards Corpsman, she has been hitting the line big time for a long time. Just hope Wellington doesn’t play against her. BELLE O’BALLE, DONNA EMILIA and SPORTS PAGE all have claims.
Bet: Corpsman each-way
MUSWELLBROOK
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 11: Try Me
Trained here out of a top yard and has been trialling super.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 5: Rhegion
Ryan/Alexiou galloper, gelded, and winning trials in town.
VALUE
Race 4 No. 10: Leantothemoon
Lightly-raced and loaded with talent and promise.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2,3,5,8
Race 6: 1,7,8,12
Race 7: 1,2,3,4,6,12
Race 8: 1,6,11,12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Alysha Collett will ride Bold Mac in the Cup.
WELLINGTON
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 3: Bolo Miss
Runner-up in her only two starts to date. Go well.
NEXT BEST
Race 4 No. 3: Shadow Shot
Always thereabouts and is close to another win.
VALUE
Race 5 No. 11: Casino Diva
Charged home to win in impressive style last start.
‘I was sceptical … but we started seeing marked improvement’: Alligator Blood’s ‘magic potion’
Seven-time Group 1 winning superstar Alligator Blood’s part-owner says the iconic horse may not be approaching a miracle return to racing without a ‘magic potion’ from the Cook Islands.
Qld Racing Minister’s promise: No secrets, I will release report
Queensland Racing Minister Tim Mander has spoken to senior racing writer Ben Dorries on a range of issues including the wide-ranging review into the three codes of racing in the Sunshine State.