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Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Tamworth

Trainer Cameron Crockett’s meticulous plan for Super Extreme has so far been perfect as the gelding looks to book his place in the Country Championships Final with victory in Tamworth’s Qualifier.

Adam Sherry
7 min read
March 9, 2024 - 5:00PM
Super Extreme can book his place in the Country Championships Final with a win in the Qualifier at Tamworth. Picture: Grant Guy
Super Extreme can book his place in the Country Championships Final with a win in the Qualifier at Tamworth. Picture: Grant Guy

The stars have so far aligned in a perfect preparation that trainer Cameron Crockett hopes will take Super Extreme to next month’s Country Championship Final at Randwick.

The five-year-old’s trackwork, trial and two races have been exactly what Crockett had hoped for and he is confident the gelding is the horse to beat in the H&NWRA Country Championships Qualifier at Tamworth.

Super Extreme kicked off his campaign with a narrow but pleasing win over 1100m in a Benchmark 74 at Dubbo on February 5.

He then finished a length and a quarter third at Scone after giving away plenty of weight to Sting Jet and Melody Again who he meets again this weekend.

“I feel this is the best he has ever been and he hasn’t missed a beat the whole preparation,” said Crockett.

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“The plan was to always run him in those first two races then head to the Qualifier.

“When he won at Dubbo first-up, it was handy because we didn’t have to stress too much about getting his benchmark rating up because we knew he would get a run in the Qualifier.

“Then he went to that Class 4 at Scone with 61.5kg. He gave the winner 8kg and the second horse 5.5kg and was going as well as them on the line.

“It was then that I was pretty confident he would be hard to beat in this race and then he drew barrier 8 which is absolutely perfect for him as well.”

Another thing Crockett is happy about with the son of Extreme Choice is his drop in weight to 57.5kg.

“He’s not a big horse and he has been carrying between 59.5kg and 61.5kg in three of his last four runs,” he said.

“He is going to appreciate getting back down to 57.5kg.”

Crockett will also saddle up five-year-old mare Riva Del Sol in the Qualifier but admitted there is a question mark on how she will handle the 1400m.

The daughter of Press Statement is coming off two runs over 1000m and 1100m this time in while she has only had one go at 1200m for previous trainer Con Karakatsanis.

“This is obviously a throw at the stumps with her being her first time at 1400m but she is going well,” he said.

“You only get one crack at it so the owners were keen to have a go.

“I wish I had given her a run in that 1200m race at Scone that Super Extreme was in rather than going to Quirindi but it is what it is.

“We will just try and stretch her out and see how she goes.

“She is really tractable so I’m not concerned in that sense. She isn’t a horse who will jump and charge and bring herself undone.

“She relaxes well and has drawn a soft gate so she will get every chance.”

Crockett is excited by the prospects of promising filly Dances With Hooves and is looking forward to seeing her step up to 1600m in the opening race, the Class 1 and Maiden Plate.

The three-year-old ran a handy race on debut at Tamworth before storming home to win over 1400m at Dubbo on January 15.

She had a hiccup leading into her last run at Mudgee but still ran exceptionally well at Mudgee last start.

“Her win at Dubbo was huge but it really took it out of her though. I had to put her in the paddock for a few days after that.

“She then had a bit of heel pain about a week out from the Mudgee run and missed a gallop or two.

“We thought she would be a bit underdone but if Mudgee was playing fair that day, she would have gone close to winning that race.

“She still run well for a three-year-old filly with everything against her.

“She hasn’t missed a beat since that last run and will be spot on this weekend.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 2: More Szyslak

The Brett Cavanough-trained gelding had a tough run on debut but kept trying to the line. Closed strong for second when resuming and can go one better.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 1: Luskaire

Narrowly beaten on debut over 1200m at Newcastle. Will appreciate the step up to 1400m and will take beating.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 4: Super Extreme

Scored a good win first-up and closed strongly late under a big weight when third at Scone last start. Primed for this race.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 1 Nos 5, 12

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 11

Race 6: 2, 3, 14

Race 7: 5, 5, 10, 14

Race 8: 3, 6, 8, 11

Ashley Morgan looks set for a good day at Tamworth. Picture: Bradley Photos
Ashley Morgan looks set for a good day at Tamworth. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ashley Morgan has a strong book of rides which gives him a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – TAMWORTH

RACE 1

Dances With Hooves came from a long way back on straightening before storming home inside the last 100m to beat Medinah over 1400m at Dubbo on Jan 15. Resumed from a let-up with a closing fourth to Medinah at Mudgee. She will be better for that run and will relish the 1600m. Silent Russian had his first start for Kristen Buchanan when third to his new stablemate Gardenzio over 1600m at Wyong on Feb 22. Night Patra ran on well for second to Sidenay here two starts back before a second to the in-form A Silvery Warrior at Scone.

Bet: Dances With Hooves to win

RACE 2

Luskaire sat behind the leader before easing wide turning for home an worked to the line strongly to finish a close second to Major Ore over 1200m on debut at Newcastle on Feb 26. The son of American Pharoah should appreciate the step up to 1400m. Rockbarton Island bucked after the start and raced wide when seventh at Newcastle on Feb 6. After a requalifying trial, he settled well back before running on nicely for a three-quarter length second to My Mate Kate at Quirindi on Feb 23. Van Charlotte battled away for fourth on debut before a solid effort when second to Rockapulco here on Feb 16.

Bet: Luskaire to win

RACE 3

More Szyslak was caught five and six-wide through out when seventh on debut at Muswellbrook on Sept 12 and was spelled. After a big trial win, he resumed with a closing second behind odds-on favourite Don’t Call Me Honey over 1000m at Scone on Feb 27. Will appreciate the step up to 1200m. Hard To Impress had trialled nicely before his debut second behind Thirteen Under over 1200m at Mudgee on Feb 25. He did a few things wrong but will be better for the experience. Best Defence ran a much better race here second-up when a close third to Keitany here on Feb 16.

Bet: More Szyslak to win

RACE 4

Proud With Pride won over 1600m at Gunnedah on Jan 16 and followed with a length and a half seventh to Lensman in a 1500m Highway at Rosehill. Sat behind the leader but didn’t run the trip when a well beaten 11th behind Fay’s Angel over 1800m in a Highway at Randwick. Down in grade and back to 1400m suits. One Beat No Beat was good going back-to-back at Muswellbrook in her first campaign. Raced wide without cover when runner-up to Lago’s Daughter at Newcastle first-up. Corpsman in racing well with three placings since his Scone win on Nov 13.

Bet: Proud With Pride each-way

RACE 5

Not In Doubt raced three-wide on the speed and boxed on gamely for a length and a half fourth on debut here back on Aug 25 before leading all-the-way to win her maiden over 1200m a month later. Under a hold when a length third to Commando Hunt in her Scone trial on Feb 27. Stablemate Hombre battled away when fourth to Magnucat when resuming at Scone on Jan 21 before a three length over this track and distance. Gets in well with the 4kg claim. Don’tcha Think resumes here after a handy second to Midnight Opal at Scone. Goes well fresh.

Bet: Not In Doubt to win

RACE 6

Stakes-placed filly Shine Your Light came out a clear last and raced keenly when last behind Countyourblessings at Canterbury on Feb 23. Good efforts to place second at Scone first-up and third to Atmospheric Rock in a Highway at Randwick second-up. Can bounce back. Deion has been good in his four starts with two wins and two places. Resumed with a handy win at Dubbo over 1000m on Feb 18. Exonumia is racing consistently in a long campaign. Placed four of his last five including a second to Aesthete over 1400m here last start.

Bet: Shine Your light each-way

RACE 7

Super Extreme stormed home for a first-up win over 1100m at Scone and followed with a gutsy length and a quarter third behind Sting Jet and Melody Again after giving away plenty of weight. The 1400m is ideal and drawn nicely. Rapbidash won her first three starts in good fashion but has had no luck in her three Highway starts since. Found trouble when a two and a half-length eighth to Atmospheric Rock at Randwick then on worst part of track when third to Belvedere Boys at Rosehill, both on soft tracks. Firm track is ideal. Demitasse didn’t have a lot of room late when eighth to Sting Jet at Scone last start.

Bet: Super Extreme each-way

RACE 8

Pyramid Of Fire raced better than it appears in his two runs back from a spell when the tracks played against him at Walcha and Mudgee. He is three from three at this track, twice over this trip. Gets a nice run from gate 1. Jacenza is the first emergency for the Country Champion Qualifier. Led all-the-way to win at Taree before a third to Prince Aurelius at Wyong. Battled away then a three length seventh to Sting Jet at Scone last time out. Back in grade is a winner at this track. Broadway Bouncer went back from a wide gate and never ran on when last to Smart And Dapper at Newcastle last start. He is better than that.

Bet: Pyramid Of Fire each-way

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