Coonamble races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Brett Robb has his stable star ready to sizzle in The Kosciuszko but firstly, he has his sights set on Coonamble Cup success.

Trainer Brett Robb has Rylan’s Pick set to win again at Coonamble on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Trainer Brett Robb will be fielding plenty of handshakes from wellwishers at Coonamble on Sunday with just six days until the stable’s Country Championship Final winner Sizzle Minizzle is loaded on the float and heads to Royal Randwick.

A $35,000 yearling purchase, Sizzle Minizzle’s current earnings top half a million dollars with the chance to add considerably more depending on what share of the $2 million ATC Kosciuszko (1200m) he can collect next Saturday.

“I’ve got him as good as I can going into the 1200m,” Robb says.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

Country Championships Final winner Sizzle Minizzle is on target for next weekend's The Kosciuszko. Picture: Grant Guy

“He disappointed a lot of people the other day (at Rosehill) but when you go back and watch the run, it was better than what you think.

“He had the blinkers off and he has never won a race without them before.

“The blinkers are back on him so you will see a lot better horse and he is up to the 1200m at Randwick which will suit him better.”

Robb’s immediate focus is on Sunday’s huge Coonamble Cup meeting where he saddles-up six runners on the card including the in-form Rylan’s Pick in the co-feature Crystal Sprint (1200m).

Rylan’s Pick, who will celebrate his actual birthday while Robb is on a Kosciuszko ascent this Saturday, is himself aiming for a new peak at Coonamble despite already winning eight of his 19 starts.

“He has got a bit of weight at Coonamble and it is probably his biggest test, but I have said that his last two starts this time in,” Robb said.

“His last run at Dubbo when he won, he won very easy and I thought then he was probably looking for something a little bit better.

Rylan's Pick is chasing a hat-trick of wins when he heads to Coonamble on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I think I might have got the trick to him now. He is an older horse, he doesn’t take much work, and I think the month, five weeks between runs is his go.

“He’s had five weeks between Dubbo and Sunday and the race suited him. He likes the 1200m and he has got a good gate, the only thing is the weight.”

Robb is looking forward to seeing what stable recruit Bliss can offer at her first run under the new management since arriving from Queensland.

“She ran in a trial here the other day and pulled up really good,” Robb reported. “She ran a similar time over the 1000m to that they ran in the 1000m maiden race 1000m that day.

“I think we’re going to have a bit of fun with Bliss.”

Two of Robb’s Coonamble-bound six string are on a hat-trick, Rylan’s Pick one, Simply Xtravagant the other.

“She is up in grade now so they will run along a bit quicker earlier but she will be in the first four,” says Robb.

“I think it is a very winnable race for because she is very, very tough.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 2: A Pound Of Salt

Outstanding winner at Bathurst after a solid debut which signifies a horse on the up.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 1: Rylan’s Pick

Won eight from 19 including both starts this campaign. Draw is a big assist.

VALUE BET

Race 9 No. 2: Bare To Witness

Came from tenth of 11 to run past a quick horse at Dubbo first-up. Can keep progressing.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 2

Race 7: 1, 2

Race 8: 1, 2, 5, 7, 9

Race 9: 2

Mitch Stapleford can give the Jockey Challenge a shake at Coonamble. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Star apprentice Mitch Stapleford has a good chance of winning the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - COONAMBLE

RACE 1

Break Over remains winless after 14 starts but he placed five times and went as close as can get without winning two starts back at Dubbo. Drawn well, 1100m suits. Gifted a golden opportunity to shed the maiden status. Meet In Brazil was doing her best work late in that Tamworth maiden last start. Fitter for the run but the better barrier on Sunday is the key. Zarizatis hasn’t done much wrong at all. One Beat No Beat has trialled well.

Bet: Break Over to win, exacta 1 to beat 6

RACE 2

Madison Point has raced 65 times for nine wins and 18 placings, 13 of those are seconds, one of them was here at Coonamble at his only previous visit. The Rob Potter-trained son of Savabeel has probably raced in better company (and done well most times) than a huge majority of his weekend rivals. Belle O’Belle is one of 12 Connie Greig trained horses that made the final 18 of this year’s Picnic Championship and is in as good a form as any of them and better than most.

Bet: Madison Point to win

RACE 3

What A Peach is a consistent mare from the Scott Singleton stable who has won or placed at 10 of her 19 starts and when she is not on the podium, she is usually right on their hammer. That was the case at home at Scone at her last couple, In well after the claim. Princess Amira is one for one here at Coonamble. Guess who rode that day? Hugh Bowman. Simply Xtravagant is on a hat-trick. Harder here but she’s won in impressive style each time.

Bet: What A Peach to win, quinella 1, 2 box trifecta 1, 2, 7, 9

RACE 4

Titled Tycoon has been holding his form admirably for the whole campaign essentially. The Rodney Northam-trained son of Written Tycoon hasn’t managed to add to his win tally in that time but he has run a couple of close placings at home at Scone recently to some handy horses, perhaps better horses than these. Belleistic Kids could very nearly be unbeaten in his two starts this preparation and this is his best draw so far. Talkachino is flying.

Bet: Titled Tycoon to win

Titled Tycoon is racing in consistent form and looks a good chance at Coonamble. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Imezaaki was sold to Bjorn Baker for $200,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier sale in 2022. He’s a pretty close relation to Baker’s own Kiss The Bride. This gelding is bred to go 2400m one day but 1300m on debut is doable for a nice enough horse. Infinite Prince has finished runner-up four times in seven career starts; two of them by narrow margins. Pluses here include barrier one and Aaron Bullock. Bliss trialled well for new handler Brett Robb.

Bet: Imezaaki to win

RACE 6

A Pound Of Salt ran a huge race on debut at Dubbo, 14 of 14 at the turn, and beat half the field home that day over 1000m too. Stepped up to 1400m two weeks later and came from seventh of eight to win this time. This is harder of course but he seems to be on an upward trajectory. Ammahell is crying out for 1400m. Did draw but can finish off. All Too Sneaky won first-up this prep and since finished third, twice, in a couple of respectable Class 2 and Class 1 races.

Bet: A Pound Of Salt to win

RACE 7

Rylan’s Pick has been very well placed by Brett Robb which is reflected in his record of eight wins and two seconds from 19 starts. On top of that, Robb’s gelding has won from 1000m to 1400m and on Good, Soft and Heavy. Granted, he has 61kg to shoulder but he is ‘a winner’. Very Sharp has a barnstorming finish on her. Pay to forgive the run at the Farm last start given the presence of a riderless horse. Beauchamp has a handy record at 1200m.

Bet: Rylan’s Pick to win, exacta 1 to beat 2

RACE 8

Mayrose is the class horse in the Coonamble Cup and would even be a good show in the Big Dance or Little Dance provided she got through to one or the other. She is a two-times Midway winner and unlucky in a whole host of other races; last start included. Just needs the right ride. Iron horse Phillipsburg was beaten a whisker at Randwick last start. Runner-up in this race last year; he always tries. Stromus has strong city form.

Bet: Mayrose to win

RACE 9

Bare To Witness is (chief) among a handful of major winning prospects on the Coonamble Cup card trained by one-time local boy Damien Lane. This son of Star Witness has raced seven times for two wins and two placings. Fifth on debut in town to Disneck and Kimochi, this horse has gotten better with each run. Xeiby ran her rivals into the ground with that booming four-length win at Bathurst last start. Smart And Dapper and Press Forward have claims.

Bet: Bare To Witness to win

Originally published as Coonamble races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail