Nowra tips: Trainer Amanda Turner expects More Mischief to bounce back to his best with conditions to suit

Trainer Amanda Turner declared it was her error that cost More Mischief last start but feels everything is right for the gelding to bounce back at Nowra.

More Mischief can bounce back to his best form at Nowra.

Warwick Farm trainer Amanda Turner is hoping her blueblood gelding More Mischief can go back to the future when he makes a return visit to Nowra.

A Greg and Donna Kolivos-bred son of their Two-Year-Old Triple Crown winner Pierro, More Mischief’s last win came at this same meeting almost 12 months to the day in a Class 1 over the mile.

His mission here is the Fix Auto Benchmark 66 also over 1600m.

“I made a mistake by backing him up the other day,” Turner explained.

“He didn’t handle the wet track (at Kensington) and I thought he pulled up really well so we headed to Goulburn and it backfired badly.

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A brave More Mischief digs in and wins the battle!@Kathy_ohara@amanda_racingpic.twitter.com/VOBRXpevJS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 17, 2023

“I thought he was hitting the line quite well so all in all it wasn’t a bad run but I was expecting better.

“On top of the ground again, going into the race, I can’t be happier.

“The blood is good, he’s well, he’s fit, he’s happy and he’s in a good place in the brain at the moment.”

Turner saddles-up one of the more interesting runners the card, namely Spencer’s Spirit who most recent appearance dates back to September 21 in 2023.

“It was only a very small injury in the suspensory but I had to give him the right amount of time because he is such a big horse,” Turner said.

“I did say back then it was going to be 12 months and it’s 12 months now but he’s had the two trials.

“The first trial was just a nice fitness one, the second one we took the handbrake off and let him have a good solid trial so we weren’t kidding ourselves where his fitness was.

“Just lately the last two gallops have been really solid on the grass and he has pulled up super.

“He is going into the race perfect but we still just have to wait and see.

Spencer's Spirit resumes from a year long break at Nowra. Picture: Bradley Photos

“It’s been a long time between runs but he is as good as I can get him.

“I have done everything I possibly can, it is up to him now.”

Turner’s third and final runner at Nowra this weekend is the cleverly-named Border Town who is a son of BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner, Strasbourg.

Border Town’s best career run, of three starts so far, came at Nowra in August when finishing second in a 1200m Maiden.

Either side of that are two failures, more attributable to manners rather lack of lack of talent.

“He’s got this bad fault of hanging in races and he doesn’t do at home,” Turner said.

“He threw it away the other day at Wyong by doing it really bad.

“Admittedly it is a tight track but he literally just hung so bad and so we have out some gear on, we put the tongue tie and we’ve also put a bubble-cheeker on that side as well so hopefully we’ll eliminate all that.

“He’s got horses inside and outside of him so hopefully on Sunday he’ll just change everything around.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

R7 No.12: Now You’ve Done It

Zoustar filly who has been most impressive in her two trials ahead of her debut.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.7: More Mischief

Track and distance winner who will appreciate the firm surface and the good alley too.

VALUE BET

Race 2 No.3: Shot Out

Makes her Jim and Greg Lee stable debut off a nice little trial in a deep heat.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 8, 11

Race 5: 1, 2, 7

Race 6: 1, 9

Race 7: 12, 18

Jean Van Overmeire looks a great chance in the Jockey Challenge at Nowra. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jean Van Overmeire will have plenty of admirers in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - NOWRA

RACE 1

Here Comes Hogan was $1.30 when he won at Scone beating two others. It was a Heavy 10 which might have lessened what looked on paper like it would be a gap job. Anyway, he won, and has gone back and trialled very well against Willaidow in a city Heat nine days ago. Zhivago led but faded noticeably when he resumed at Moruya as the $3 fav. Track was a bit hard for him perhaps, he’s better than that and barrier one is his ‘go’. Stablemate River Frost has raced 22 times and been on the podium 11.

Bet: Here Comes Hogan to win, exacta 3 to beat

RACE 2

Shot Out has raced eight times, all for Peter Robl, both in NSW and Queensland. For the record, the mare has won once and placed four times, three of those were seconds. Shot Out will make her Jim and Greg Lee stable debut in an ideal race off a trial that was both encouraging and pleasing. Champ De Mars has a prominent on-pace racing style. He led at Gundagai and passed late by Daze Off who goes quite well. Mooshaka is always a winning chance and this race is no exception.

Bet: Shot Out to win, quinella 2, 3

RACE 3

More Mischief beat Step Aside and State Of America at Warwick Farm to win his maiden. The other one was here at Nowra and over this same trip. You could make the case to argue that he has raced against better opposition than his Sunday rivals but the real key is the Good track. Killer Kerr is housed at Hawkesbury yet her two career wins are both at Nowra where she can lay claim to being unbeaten. Lady Devine who is entitled to run well in this grade.

Bet: More Mischief to win, exacta 7 to beat 5, trifecta 7 (standout) to beat 1, 5, 6 (boxed)

RACE 4

Jukebox Money remains winless after 19 starts but the Rex Cole trained son of Casino Prince has placed four times and is invariably thereabouts when off the podium. His last two have been as good as anything he has ever done and this is such a winnable race. Broom Hilda creates a bit of interest given she hails from such an astute stable. Had excuses for her ‘poor’ trial back in February. Bound To Fire is a Nowra local who has ‘a winning draw’.

Bet: Jukebox Money to win

Dame Annie bolts in for her maiden win at @gundagairaces!@JarrodAustin6pic.twitter.com/0386iwWmTP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 8, 2024

RACE 5

Dame Annie is a stablemate of Terra Mater. Jarrod Austin ventured to Gundagai with this Denman mare on September 8 and she absolutely bolted in. She was $19 but in hindsight, and having a second look at her debut run at Newcastle, she was massive overs. Let’s see if she can back it up from the good draw. Sunrise should be peaking now at her third run of the preparation. Note that the previous two were at Hawkesbury and she has run in a Group 2 and the Karaka Millions over in New Zealand.

Bet: Dame Annie to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (7), 2nd Leg (18)

RACE 6

Heir Jordan is arguably the best horse in the race. The Luke Musson-trained son of Spieth resumes at home with a visitors draw and a big weight but he was probably going back anyway and he does get 2kg off after the claim. Expecting him to be strong late. The Right Rein was given a very good ride to win at Queanbeyan first-up and first run for Pat Murphy. This is harder but he was $14 in early betting and that is appealing on an each-way basis. Tillman is a very consistent racehorse. Taytay Bay is a genuine contender.

Bet: Heir Jordan to win

RACE 7

I could be wrong, but for what it is worth, I think Yamato is a better horse than what he has done so far and the last run really did have some hidden merit. He is from a Group 1 winning stable (Edward Cummings) and is third-up with a jockey (Jess Taylor) who is very familiar with Nowra. Cashburn has done more than enough at the trials to warrant respect and attention. So too the cleverly-named Gorbachev (the son of Russian Revolution).

Bet: Yamato each-way, quinella 8, 18

BEST BETS

NOWRA

BEST BET

R7 No.12: Now You’ve Done It

Zoustar filly who has been most impressive in her two trials ahead of Sunday’s debut.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.7: More Mischief

Track and distance winner who will appreciate the firm surface and the good alley too.

BEST VALUE

Race 2 No.3: Shot Out

Makes her Jim and Greg Lee stable debut off a nice little trial in a deep heat.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,8,11

Race 5: 1,2,7

Race 6: 1,9

Race 7: 12,18

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jean Van Overmeire will have plenty of admirers in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.