Raceday focus: Moruya preview, best bets, and inside mail

Trainer Joe Cleary has sights on the Narooma Cup and Town Plate feature race double with his stable star and a consistent veteran.

Jess Taylor on Girls Are Ready winning at Warwick Farm. Picture: AAP

Everything is falling into place nicely and trainer Joe Cleary couldn’t be happier heading in Sunday’s two feature races with Girls Are Ready and Up Trumpz.

Girls Are Ready has struck a purple patch of form this campaign and appears to have the Narooma Cup (1300m) at her mercy while Up Trumpz can break through for a long overdue win in the Narooma Town Plate (1010m).

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“Girls Are Ready has done it from the time she was a two-year-old and she even raced in the Magic Millions that season,” Cleary said.

“Last preparation she didn’t seem herself and she was at the crossroads. I said to myself that if she didn’t come up this time in, I would retire her but she has really put her hand up.

“The weather has been pretty good to us with all the rain we have had as she likes the heavy tracks.

“She is really in the zone at the moment, she looks fantastic – gleaming with dapples – and as the old saying goes ‘A mare in form, we’ll keep her going’.

“I’m really looking forward to Sunday with her.”

The daughter of Better Than Ready, who will be ridden by regular partner Jess Taylor, followed up two nice third placings with a brilliant win at Canberra last start and will be ideally suited by a wet track.

“The track will be in the soft to heavy range which is ideal for her and at her one and only run at Moruya, she finished fourth in a Country Championships Qualifier and it was a cracker of a run.

“She has been trained out of our Moruya stable in the past so she knows the place well.

“She is jumping out of her skin at the moment. Her trackwork rider said to me the other day that this is the best she has felt since her two-year-old days.

“She is ticking all the right boxes and I would love to see her put two (wins) together.”

Up Trumpz is out to break a long winning drought dating back to August 2019.

Stablemate Up Trumpz is looking end a long drought of 844 days since his last win but the gelding has placed in 11 of his 25 starts since that Warwick Farm victory in August 2019 including five of his last six runs.

The seven-year-old resumed from a spell with an eye-catching third behind Look Only and Shores Of Avalon at Queanbeyan four weeks ago.

“It’s been so long since he won a race but he does race well at Moruya,” Cleary said.

“There looks to be good speed in the race which will suit him and he gets into this race really well at the weight, just 3kg over the limit.

“He’s been kept fresh since he raced in the Thunderbolt. The form out of that race has been good with the runner-up, Shores Of Avalon, coming out and winning her next start.

“He will be suited with a bit of juice in the track and a top three finish will see him break $300,000 in prizemoney.”

ADAM’S SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No.2: EL LAGO

A lightly raced stayer who was good winning back-to-back in the winter before stepping up in grade and finishing just out of the placings. Has trialled nicely and will be hard to beat.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No.3: GIRLS ARE READY

Smart mare in great form. Stylish winner at Canberra last start and will appreciate a bit of juice in the track. Ran well here in only start at this track.

BEST VALUE

Race 5 No.12: PANDERING

Recorded a nice maiden win at Queanbeyan before a second to the promising Accrue at the same track last start. Another who likes the sting out of the ground.

QUADDIE

R5: 1,3,7,12,16

R6: 1,2,3,9

R7: 1,3,4,10

R8: 2,3,5,6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jess Taylor has solid book of rides at Moruya including leading chances Girls Are Ready, Pindarra’s Dream and Crackalacka.

INSIDE MAIL: MORUYA

RACE 1

Lambardi has placed in half of his 12 starts, including a length third in a Bm 58 three starts back. Handy run last start, beaten two lengths at Wagga over 1200m, and looks suited going to 1650m. Reginald is yet to run a place in six starts but he has been racing in metro and provincial company. Boxed on for a handy fifth to Deniliquin at Gosford three starts back. Will find this easier. Spritely Emily raced wide when second at Nowra last start. Genjiro is worth including in the multiples.

Bet: Lambardi to win.

RACE 2

El Lago looked good in winning at Moruya and Nowra before stepping up in class when sixth to Snitzonfire at Kensington. Ran on nicely from near last when fourth to Stolen Glances at Kembla. Trialled nicely at Kembla last week. Loving Cilla drops in grade from a Class 5 at Newcastle. Unlucky second at Goulburn when resuming. Urjuwaan followed an upset win at Canberra with a handy fourth at the same course. Outahand is coming off a win at Wagga after a couple of nice placings.

Bet: El Lago to win.

RACE 3

This is a strong Class 1. Galactic Warrior kicked off with a win at Canberra 12 months ago but was then off the scene for some time. Has plenty of talent. Romero hasn’t been far away in four runs since scoring his maiden win here in August. Can give this a shake. Written Statement scored a good win at Queanbeyan first-up but had no luck at his next two starts. Tongue tie goes and expect a forward showing. Awesome Audrey will benefit from her first-up and run and has claims.

Bet: Box quinella/trifecta 2, 5, 6, 8, 12.

RACE 4

Oblique is knocking on the door after placings in four of his six starts, including both runs this campaign. Drawn to get an ideal run. Pressing Issue turned in a good effort on debut when a long head fourth to Successful Star over 1100m at Nowra two weeks ago. Looks suited stepping up to 1300m. Jauhera was held up in the straight when a close fifth at Moruya two starts back before a fourth to Fiorzana at Nowra 10 days later. Back from a spell and drawn to figure prominently. Giottino will benefit from his first-up fifth.

Bet: Oblique to win.

RACE 5

Pandering enjoyed an ideal run and scored a smart win at Queanbeyan before a handy second last start. Drawn to get another ideal run and will go close. Bella Broadway won well at Goulburn on November 7 before being fractious in the barriers at Wagga last start. Needs a couple of scratchings to get a start but looks an each-way chance if she does. Denmiss is coming off a good win at the Sapphire Coast and is a genuine chance again. In My Wallet can be included in the exotics.

Bet: Pandering each-way.

RACE 6

Bombdiggity followed a first-up win with a handy fifth at Warwick Farm. Won his only start this track and distance and the one to beat. Up Trumpz has been out of the winners’ circle for quite a while but he is still racing consistently. Held up near the 400m when third to Look Only at Queanbeyan first-up. A win wouldn’t surprise. Pindarra’s Dream was three-wide when beaten a nose at Sapphire Coast three weeks ago. Colonel has some handy provincial form and is not without a chance.

Bet: Bombdiggity to win.

RACE 7

Girls Are Ready has found her best form this campaign with two good third placings before crushing her rivals with a three-length win in a TAB Federal Open at Canberra. Good fourth in record time in the Country Championship Qualifier at her only start here. Wet track is ideal and wide draw suits. Blaazy is better than his 11th behind Lord Desanimaux in a TAB Highway on October 9. Akeed is also better than his last run. Good win at Sapphire Coast the start prior.

Bet: Girls Are Ready to win.

RACE 8

Unique Prince didn’t have an ideal run but still got the job done with a length win at Wagga two weeks ago. Drawn to get a nice run just behind the speed and can make it two in a row. Crackalacka won first-up for the Bateup stable at Sapphire Coast on November 29. A chance again. Tornac was just beaten by Crackalacka last start and meets here a little better at the weights. Crystal Waters was caught in front at Kensington last start. Better with a sit and has claims wins at previous two.

Bet: Unique Prince to win.

Originally published as Raceday focus: Moruya preview, best bets, and inside mail