Mudgee races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Local trainer Mack Griffith and leading jockey Aaron Bullock look set to warm up a winters day with three live chances at Mudgee. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Johnny Dash will be looking to bring his track record breaking form to a wet track at Mudgee on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Mack Griffith can play the role of hometown hero on Sunday with three live hopes on the card, two of which wear the Dynamic Syndications silks, one of them a course record holder at its last start.

Enter Johnny Dash, an impeccably bred son of I Am Invincible out of the Dash For Cash mare, Dashoff.

A Gosford maiden winner in 10 lifetime appearances, the then Geoff and Beryl White-owned mare, has proven to be a much more worthwhile broodmare with her offspring boasting the likes of SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes winner Spright and the Group 3 placed Mine Two.

Johnny Dash may not have any black-type against his name at present but he does have the honour and rare distinction of being a course record holder.

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!

The formerly Annabel Neasham-trained three-year-old was having just his third run under the new management when smashing his rivals by seven and a half lengths and setting a new 1400m track record at Dubbo.

“The trick for him the other day was the firm surface,” Griffith says.

“His runs before that were okay but as soon as he got on a really dry track, he really showed what he has got and he really put them away.

“That might be the only concern on Sunday, whether the track is a bit too (rain) affected for him.

“It doesn’t matter where you go, any course record means you’re the best horse at that track so it was a big effort.”

Griffith and Dynamic Syndications team up in an earlier race at Mudgee this weekend with another well-bred three-year-old called Aussie Pharoah.

As his name suggests, the gelding is a son of USA Triple Crown winner American Pharoah.

His dam is Lisson Grove whose two career wins, both as a juvenile, included the Listed SAJC Dermody Stakes (1000m) in Adelaide.

Trainer, Mack Griffith is in for a big day on his home track on Sunday. Picture: AAP Image

“He has been consistent in easier grade,” said Griffith, “He just does a few things wrong in his races but he is slowly putting it all together.

“He has drawn wide on Sunday (but) you don’t really want to be stuck on the fence when the track is rain affected. You want plenty of galloping room and get out wide normally.”

Aussie Pharoah has had three starts for Griffith, each one better than the last, culminating for now with his brave half-length second at Coonamble on June 18.

“He didn’t shirk the task there, he kept giving his all,” his trainer said.

Griffith, meanwhile, is warning punters not to assess former Godolphin-housed gelding Aimpoint on his last run at Coonamble where he beat one home in the 14-horse field.

It was a far cry from his stable debut a few weeks earlier where he was successfully backed in from $1.75 to $1.55 in a Gunnedah maiden.

“His first-up run for us was quite good, he won well,” Griffith said.

“We thought he would do the same last start but he just had no luck at all

“He got in all the trouble in the world up the straight and never say daylight and was eased out of it in the last part because he had nowhere to go.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 4: EASY ROSIE

Had excuses in town for an uncustomary blot on an otherwise exemplary copybook.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 6: LUSKIN VAIN

Been all around the money in his four starts to date. Getting close now.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 10: RAIDING

Powered away and was strong through the line when she won at Dubbo over 2200m. Well placed here.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 9, 10

Race 5: 1, 8, 9

Race 6: 4

Race 7: 12, 13

Aaron Bullock will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images)

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock is going to be short odds as usual and hard to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE

RACE 1

Kissing Supido is the third foal of his Stolen Kisses following on from Irish Kisses and then Group 3 and Four Pillars winner, Kiss Sum. As for Kissing Supido, he has also accepted for Muswellbrook on Monday is what could be argued to be an easier race. Golden Fighter is a flashy chestnut who has finished first, third and second at his three starts to date. Seems to enjoy the sting out; just a matter of whether the wide draw comes into play. Barcoo River is a locally trained son of Choisir who has been good in all four runs for Bob Howe.

Bet: Kissing Supido to win or if scratched Golden Fighter to win

RACE 2

Line Of Fire is a Dundeel grandson of Star Satire who won a Group 1 in NZ and is the dam of Group 2 winners Satin Shoes and Zarzuela. This Bjorn Baker-trained colt has made up ground to varying degrees in his two starts, one at Bathurst, the other at Nowra. Gives the impressive, 1500m might be do the trick this time. Killer Kerr brings some impressive provincial form to the table on Sunday. Goes well. Aussie Pharoah stuck to his guns admirably at Coonamble.

Bet: Line of Fire to win

RACE 3

Luskin Vain has been getting beaten a fair way, granted, but he has been the one taking the most ground off the winners of all three starts this campaign and he hasn’t drawn terribly well in two of them as well. Barrier 4 on the weekend puts him within reach hopefully. Firefinch. a grey daughter of the grey stakes-winner Aronisa, is showing signs of improvement at this, her first preparation. Has contested three strong maidens to get here. Lord Cat was tipped out after fading from the front at Scone back on December 9. Trialled well enough at home recently.

Bet: Luskin Vain to win, quinella 6, 11

Mikayla Weir will again partner Raiding on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 4

Raiding broke her maiden last start over 2200m. No wonder she stays. Her sire, Rebel Raider won the VRC and SAJC Derby. Raiding’s third dam is a sister to Our Sophia who won the 1985 Oaks. Can’t vouch for what Raiding beat that day but she towelled them up and was strong through the line. Blue Jager, the daughter of VRC Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse, has loads more talent than a horse who has won one from 19. Her pattern has held her back a bit but she can really finish off. Sapphires Son was a closing fourth in the same race that Blue Jager was second in.

Bet: Raiding each-way

RACE 5

Starane has raced really well throughout this campaign baring one or two which is entirely forgivable. The son of Star Turn was strongly fancied at Dubbo last start and punting notwithstanding, he ran well enough finishing a length fourth. Drawn 4 on Sunday, it’s another suitable race for him. Feirme Prince ran eighth in the Starane race at Dubbo but was only a length behind him and he was hitting the line with some real purpose. Former Godolphin gelding Competition who passed a lot of horses at Dubbo last start over 1400m; 1500m here remember.

Bet: Starane to win, Feirme Prince each-way, quinella 8, 9

RACE 6

Easy Rosie has won six races which is no mean feat - and she has only needed 20 starts. She has also placed half a dozen times which really speaks to her consistency. In terms of her class and ability, you only must go back and watch the replays of her efforts in the SERA Championship Heat and the Wildcard. Hit The Target is on the verge of winning 10 races which is not easy these days with the benchmark system evening up the fields. Hit The Target gets Bullock, is fitter, and stepping up to a favoured trip. Budhwar has mixed and matched in similar or better company.

Bet: Easy Rosie to win

RACE 7

Johnny Dash is one of the Dynamic Syndications horses with Mack Griffith at Mudgee. The two that are racing on Sunday, Aussie Pharoah and this one, are certainly appreciating country life. That much is obvious given Johnny Dash broke the Dubbo 1400m course record last start when he won by seven and a half lengths. Sweysive is lightly-raced and handy of course. He brings some decent provincial form to the race. Daredevil could and should be prominent for a long way.

Bet: Johnny Dash to win, quinella 12, 13

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