Newcastle preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, December 1, 2024

Marc Conner’s in-form Outcast Girl is ready to face her toughest challenge as she strives to bring up a hat-trick of wins when she tackles the Cessnock Cup.

Outcast Girl is shooting for a hat-trick when she contests the Cessnock Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

Magic Millions Cup winning jockey Deanne Panya can help herself and in-form mare Outcast Girl to a hat-trick of wins if the pair are able to add the feature Cessnock Cup to their tally.

Horse and rider head to Newcastle having covered the best part of 1000 km to secure those last two wins at Scone and Nowra respectively.

“It is what we wanted to do; take her away and give her a bit of experience and a bit of confidence, and so far it is going to plan anyway,” Outcast Girl’s trainer Marc Conners explained.

Both wins were over 1600m with the daughter of San Domenico Stakes and Canonbury winner Pariah now required to stretch herself to a longer trip.

No longer an outcast! 👏 Outcast Girl breaks through for a win in the opener @newcastleraces_ for @G1TySchil and @ConnersMarc! pic.twitter.com/M27wzK6K3E

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 9, 2024

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“The way she has been racing, I think that 1850m is going to be right up her alley now,” said Conners.

“She just seems to take a little while to wind-up and she doesn’t get going to probably the last 100m.”

The track at Newcastle is going to be rain-affected but to what degree remains to be seen.

“She has won on a Soft 7,” Conners said.

“The rail is out eight metres and you probably don’t want to be sitting too wide on a track like that I wouldn’t think but being the last race it might be different, you don’t know, but at this stage you’d like be in a good position if you can.”

Panya’s record for Conners is impressive; 17 wins spread far and wide.

The former boom apprentice has ridden a handful of Conners’ highest profile gallopers in recent times starting with the sizzling Super Too, bold on-pacer Danish Prince and the camp’s current star - Willaidow.

Panya steered the son of Shamus Award to his first four wins, one more than champion jockey James McDonald.

A late run home sees Sir Godric salute first up in a photo finish! 📷 pic.twitter.com/xLBBhtE5Gr

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 11, 2024

“Deanne rides a lot of trackwork for us and she’s part of our team,” Conners said.

“She rides very well and she’s got a great strike-rate for us and when the chips are down, she’s there.”

Local trainer Mark Minervini, meanwhile, is pleased to have secured a run in the Liquip Newcastle Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) with the Gerry Harvey-bred and part-owned emergency King’s Duty.

“The horse is in good form and gets in well with the claim,” Minervini said.

“And I am sure he is better with a little bit of cut in the ground.

“The only minor little negative would be the wide draw but sometimes you see those provincial races, they have ten scratchings, particularly when it’s wet.

“So we’ll just keep our fingers crossed.”

Minervini, who is best known with his exploits with the bonny mare Vormista, is aiming to win his second race for the aforementioned Gerry Harvey in the space of four days.

The Baramul boss and the former Morphettville master won the Provincial Maiden at Newcastle during the week with the hugely impressive Rubi’s Serve.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 7: Cutepi

Kris Lees-trained Supido filly whose two runs at the first prep both held merit. Trialling well.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 2: Miss Cartel

Ticks every possible box here; particularly the draw which seals the deal.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 10: Burj

Epic blueblood whose trials indicate she may go to a ‘high’ level in time.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 4, 7, 10

Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 10

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 5

Race 8: 1, 4, 5, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Braith Nock has some excellent rides on the day.

Apprentice Braith Nock looks set for a good day at Newcastle. Picture: Grant Guy

INSIDE MAIL - NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Cutepi is a Kris Lees-trained Supido filly from the same family as his Brian Crowley winner, The Bopper. Cutepi, a $35,000 yearling purchase, was set aside after two honourable runs as a two-year-old, one on the Miss Finland, the other behind Zampano. Has been trialling the house down of late. Lightly Sparkled has finished fourth either side of the spell, both in very strong races. Go well. Rivana is consistent and getting close to a win.

Bet: Cutepi to win

RACE 2

Sanctuary Storm was a $150,000 Magic Millions Yearling purchase. Born and raised at Coolmore, he is a son of Pierro and grandson of a dual Group 1 winner in Germany. He has a real 2000m-plus look about him but he was talented enough to win at 1300m on debut. Can keep progressing. Outback Archie has only won one from 19 but the Paul Perry-trained gelding has placed five times and comes through some rather strong races.

Bet: Sanctuary Storm to win, quinella 6, 8

RACE 3

Sounds Unusual is bred to be in Cups, big ones too, and who is to say one day he won’t be given lots of things including that he is with Chris Waller who just gets this breed. Sounds Unusual could be the eye-catcher and the Black Booker out of this. The Ciaron Maher-trained Kotaishi has the (good) race experience. The New Zealand-bred Alzaman is another one who debuts at 1500m but for very good reason.

Bet: Sounds Unusual each-way

RACE 4

Mignonette is the fourth foal of the mighty 12-time stakes-winner Catkins. This one is by Zoustar which means of course her trainer, Chris Waller, trained both the parents. Finished ninth of 10 in her first trial, third of nine in the other. You would have to say both were good. Stablemate Pratt is really well-bred too and fact is, his trials (and he’s had five of them) tell a different story to where he has actually finished. Vadisimo ought not to be overlooked here at odds. Ditto for She Rex. the close relative of Pride Of Jenni.

Bet: Mignonette each-way or if scratched Pratt each-way

RACE 5

Burj is a cleverly-named son of Pride Of Dubai who was trained by Peter Snowden who also houses Burj. Burj’s dam, Samantha, was really smart as were a few others in this classic Corumbene family like True Jewels, Wager, Villain and Noesis, etc. As for Burj, he trials like a good horse. Rockbarton Flash was a massive drifter for no good reason when she debuted and in the end, almost won. Trained here, gets 3kg off. Arrowfield/Portelli’s Castelvecchio gelding Cifonelli starts off in an ideal race.

Bet: Burj to win

RACE 6

Uncle Harry sent out positive signs when closing off willingly in a 1400m Class 3 at Scone first-up. He was pretty safe in the market that day which is encouraging, also the fact that the Paul Perry-trained galloper has won second-up and has won here at home. Worth noting that the very much in-form Awesome Tycoon finished second in the same Class 3. Unless the fence is off for some reason, barrier 1 is a big plus for the Dynamic entry. Crop Duster has won three times at Newcastle and ‘Soft’ is his sweet spot.

Bet: Uncle Harry each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (4), 2nd Leg (7)

RACE 7

Miss Cartel won three straight last preparation. She went from a Maiden to a Class 1 to a Benchmark 66 which is no mean feat. Angela Davies’ places horses as well as anyone and once again the Provincial Championship winning trainer has served her up a half volley outside off stump here. Handles the wet and the barrier just seals the deal. That’s not to say she has no competition. Ces Soirees La and Lounerse have got that little bit of x-factor.

Bet: Miss Cartel to win

RACE 8

Outcast Girl is on a hat-trick having won at Nowra and Scone over 1600m each time leading into the 1850m Cessnock Cup. Trainer Marc Conners told us that he thought the extra trip would pose no real issue for her and pointed out that she has won on Soft ground too. He did make a good case for her, for me, barrier one and Deanne Panya was the clincher. That said, the Kris Lees-trained Bestower just has to be the one to beat. She’s run in so much better company than this.

Bet: Outcast Girl each-way, quinella 1, 7