Gilgandra preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Trainer Bryan Dixon will hope to exploit the home-ground advantage he has been given after the Parkes meeting was transferred to Gilgandra.

Trainer Bryan Dixon shapes as the biggest winner out of Sunday’s shift from Parkes to Gilgandra hands crucial home-ground advantage to his Satellite Handicap contender, Ecker Road.

Area (Racing NSW) steward Dean Bucknell crisscrossed the central west on Friday in search of a suitable venue to conduct the annual Parkes Cup meeting but was fast running out of options.

“Dean rang me on Friday and asked how much we had had and did I think that we would race and I said ‘yeah’,’’ Dixon told The Sunday Telegraph on Saturday.

“I sort of gave it out as a Heavy 8 on Friday afternoon but then we got a mil and a half overnight which put it into the Heavy 9 but it’s 25 degrees here today so hopefully it will get a bit better than that.’’

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An upgrade would be welcome for Dixon’s former Sunshine State resident Ecker Road who has won twice on soft but is yet to win on anything beyond that.

That said, Dixon’s grandson of Snippets is no duffer.

“He will get through it,’’ Dixon said.

“He will handle it but I wouldn’t say he loves it.

“He is just a genuine horse that tries hard and those sort of horses, even though they don’t handle (heavy ground), they get through it.’’

Ecker Road is a rising nine-year-old closing in on a half century of starts dating back to Christmas Eve in 2017 when he won his first race at the Sunshine Coast.

Dixon’s bay is having his fourth run of his latest campaign, looking to build on his two placings and a last start half-length fourth at Muswellbrook.

“He had a good spell and has come back good,’’ Dixon said.

“He was a bit unlucky the other day at Muswellbrook. The young girl rode him and he sort of got held up at the 200 and got out late and hit the line real good.

“I think now the distance goes to 1280m because they don’t have 1200m starts here – so that won’t bother him.

“My apprentice, Zara (Lewis), she’ll ride him and claim the 3kg so he’ll only have 52.

“He should be able to possie-up there pretty close just behind the leaders.’’

Bryan Dixon will be at his home track on Sunday after the Parkes meeting was moved to Gilgandra.

Sunday marks Ecker Road’s third appearance at his adopted home track.

His best of the two previous outings was as runner-up in this year’s Gilgandra Cup (1600m).

Ecker Road is a well-bred gelding.

His dam, Sounds Assertive, is a three-quarter sister to former Bowral Street giants, Assertive Lad and Assertive Lass whose combined feature race wins include a Doncaster, Champagne Stakes, AJC Sires’ Produce, Flight Stakes and Coolmore Classic.

Not only did Assertive Lass win a pair of Group 1s, she went on to become an epic broodmare.

Her six winning offspring include the unbeaten Reset, Canberra Cup winner and the Australian-bred Stage Presence who won the Group 3 Meydan Al Shindagha Stakes in Dubai.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.7: I AM SPIRITED

I Am Invincible three-year-old filly from the astute Neil Osborne stable who will appreciate the enormous step down in class from her visit to Warwick Farm last start.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No.4: NO DEBT

Been an absolute model of consistency, much like his trainer Brett Robb, who has placed this son of Unencumbered to win.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.7: ECKER ROAD

Had a “win” when the races switched from Parkes to his home track where his runs include a second in the Gilgandra Cup.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 2,7,8,11

Race 7: 1,3,6,7

Race 8: 1,2,3,5

Race 9: 5,7,10,14

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Anthony, aka Tony, Cavallo can get punters off to the right start at Gilgandra on Sunday aboard I Am Spirited in the opener.

INSIDE MAIL FOR GILGANDRA

RACE 1

All honours rest with Neil Osborne if I Am Spirited can win. The Master of Mane Lodge not only trains this filly, he owns and bred her. She’ll be worth a bit of money too later on as a broodmare given she is by I Am Invincible out of a half-sister to G2 winner, Alpha Miss. As for more immediate matters, I Am Spirited is way down in class on her visit to Warwick Farm. Dubai Moon has placed at seven of his 16 starts, and seems to handle it which will help no end here.

Bet: I Am Spirited to win.

RACE 2

Howling Victory is trained by Nick Olive, the filly’s dam is a half-sister to Single Gaze’s mother. This two-year-old debutant trialled rather well at home down in Canberra back in mid-December. Not sure she will come here but she can gallop. Riverside Special did enough at Pakenham over the over to warrant respect here. Was $7 into $6 too that day. Rhythmic Song is a clear contender.

Bet: Howling Victory to win.

RACE 3

Astrolith is a handy horse with a bright future. The Dean Mirfin-trained son of Widden Stud resident sire Stratum Star was tipped out after finishing second at his two runs at the first preparation. Trialled up really well. Just a matter of whether he comes now. Loch Anton Lady’s best run in five starts was her second at home at Orange which was a Heavy 8. Stunning Sunrise is off a Heavy 8 (nose) second coming into this.

Bet: Astrolith to win.

RACE 4

No Debt is, like his trainer Brett Robb, the absolute model of consistency. These are a cross section of No Debt’s last few runs: 1232x132. That’s some pretty nifty placement from Robb who has found a nice race for the son of Unencumbered again. Just maybe want a track upgrade? Brooklyn Star would seemingly need an upgrade from heavy but she is a last-start Gilgandra winner. Centurion has drawn wide but could come in a lot with scratchings.

Bet: No Debt to win.

RACE 5

Loose Love is at best a 50/50 chance of coming but he will be very, very hard to beat if he makes the trip across from Canberra. The Todd Smart-trained son of Turn Me Loose (great song that) won in the ACT prior to his creditable sixth of 12 in the Wagga Guineas. The Pres is a last-start winner and looking at his form, he is a borderline muddie! Neon Moon peaks her third-up after his third, albeit a distant one, to Amulet Street.

Bet: Loose Love to win or if scratched The Pres to win.

RACE 6

Minimal was soundly beaten in his first two starts at Geelong and Benalla in Sep/Oct 2021 but was a shade too good, a nose to be precise, when he resumed at Kilmore on Feb 24. That was his last run for the Corston’s, Sunday will be his first for the astute Glenn Frazer who would have been suitably pleased with the trial at Wellington. Claire Lever’s Olympic Time’s CV doesn’t scream wet tracker but you never know and his form is right for this.

Bet: Minimal to win.

RACE 7

Ecker Road was going to be on a float to Parkes on Sunday to contest the Satellite. Thanks for the rain, the card was switched to Parkes to Gilgandra which just happens to be Ecker Road’s hometown. The Bryan Dizon trained former Queenslander has raced there/here twice and one of them was his second on the 2022 Gilgandra Cup. Major Time is flying but is this too wet for him to come? Has the pattern that you want at Gilgandra – if he still comes.

Bet: Ecker Road to win.

RACE 8

Cup time and it looks like we might lose a few including the horse most of us thought would “just win” in Cyborg. Assuming Cyborg and Norm Gardner both stay at home, it might well gift this year’s Parkes Cup to another Canberra trainer and horse in Milamoo. Form reads pretty well for this and her run in the big mare’s race at Wagga was much, much better than 13 of 16 would suggest. Invincible Dash is a massive player if he comes.

bet: Cyborg (unlikely) so Milamoo to win.

RACE 9

Can’t vouch for She’s Super being there on the day, doubt it, but we have to get her name in here and also to mention that she has been nominated for a race at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Only won one in 23 but she is closing in on a second one. The Bent Elbows was $41/$31/$41 when she won, quite easily in fact, at the Sapphire Coast last start. Just has to hold that form now of course. Keep It Down is unlikely so we go to the grand old man, Petain as next best.

Bet: She’s Super to win.