Nowra races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Trainer Pat Murphy is using lessons learned from his former boss Guy Walter and heads to Nowra with a strong chance of claiming treble.

Trainer Pat Murphy is chasing a winning treble at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Not a day goes by that Pat Murphy doesn’t think about his former boss – the late Guy Walter – and how he nurtured his horses to bring out their best whether they were a Group 1 star or a maiden galloper.

Murphy is using the is using the knowledge gained during that time as Walter’s apprentice jockey in his new career as a trainer.

“Guy was a great trainer and I wish he was still here with us. He is sorely missed,” Murphy said.

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“I got a lot of watching what he did with his horses and he was a genius at getting them to perform at their best.

“I would love to be able to ask him questions now that I am training.”

Murphy has four runners for the day starting with Vonk and Magpie Odyssey in the opening event – a Country Boosted Maiden Handicap over 1400m.

After starting out with Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou and trialling once at Hawkesbury, Vonk made his way to Murphy’s Goulburn base has placed in three of his four starts.

Fifo Filly (right), finishing second to Atmospheric Rock, looks a good chance to land her second career win at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

The son of All Too Hard resumed from a spell with a handy second at Gundagai on August 8, Murphy feels he will be even better this time out.

“I had him a bit on the fresh side and while we didn’t want to lead, it was just the competitive nature of the horse saw him kick up to share the lead.

“The run has really brought him on and I think he race craft will be a bit more enhanced on Sunday.

“He drawn a nice gate, has a good jockey in Kathy O’Hara on board and will handle it wet so there isn’t going to be too many excuses.”

Magpie Odyssey has finished down the track in both starts to date and is resuming from a long spell but Murphy feels the gelding is now ready to start showing his true ability.

“He is a bit of a work in progress. He’s a lovely big striding horse who will be better when he gets out over more ground,” he said.

“He just needed time to mature which his owner gave him but I’m happy with him and he should run well.”

Like Vonk, Fifo Filly also kicked off her campaign at Gundagai and while beaten into fifth place, she wasn’t disgraced and is ready to show her true colours in the Country Boosted Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

“I think it is a forgive run first-up at Gundagai,” said Murphy.

“She sat back on the barriers after being in there for so long and she missed the start by half a length.

“The race didn’t pan out the way she needed it to. She isn’t a lead at cost horse but it is an advantage around a track like Gundagai.

“She had a good blow after the race and I have been happy with the way she came through it. It has really brought her on.

“I feel she will parade much better this weekend and I expect her to run a really good race.”

Murphy’s final runner for the day is Body Bob in the Benchmark 58 over 1200m.

He debuted for the stable at Gundagai where he scored a smart win and Murphy feels he will go close again.

“I was impressed with the horse when he arrived and I was impressed with his win,” he said.

“I didn’t have him completely wound down first-up. He was where I wanted him with improvement still to come.

“If he gets the same run and the same luck this weekend, I can’t see him losing.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 1: FIFO FILLY

Will take plenty of improvement from her first-up fifth at Gundagai. Won by over four lengths second-up last campaign and will take beating here.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 4: SHUTTLE RUN

Broke his maiden with a nice win here two starts back and wasn’t beaten far at Muswellbrook last start.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 2: BODY BOB

Broke his maiden with an all-the-way win at Gundagai three weeks ago. Can go back-to-back.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 7 Nos: 2, 14

QUADDIE:

Race 4: 1, 5, 11

Race 5: 3, 5, 6

Race 6: 3, 4, 5

Race 7: 2, 3, 14

Nick Heywood looks set for a big say at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Nick Heywood has a strong book of rides and will be hard to beat in the TAB Jokey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - NOWRA

RACE 1

Vonk went into his first-up run at Gundagai without a barrier trial and wasn’t disgraced in finishing a length and a half off the odds-on favourite Soul Lady over 1180m on a heavy track. He will appreciate stepping up to 1400m, has a good draw and Kathy O’Hara on board. Dolce Bella came from three back rails to finish a three-quarter length second to Oneofthetwelve with nearly four lengths back to the rest of the field over 1300m at Goulburn three weeks ago. Placed three from four and looks the main danger. Oh My Hat was fourth in that same race at Goulburn. Man Of Mine placed third at his only run at this track.

Bet: Vonk to win. Quinella 1, 2

RACE 2

Fifo Filly was a shade slow away and had to be ridden along to settled behind the leader when she returned from a spell with a two and a quarter length fifth behind Minnewater at Gundagai. Went into that race without a trial and will be better for the run. Led all-the-way for a big win in her maiden at Gundagai when second-up from a spell in her first campaign. Masters found the track a bit too firm at Moruya last start. Previous form was good including a nice win at Forbes two runs back and can bounce back. Big Impact was third behind Minnewater at Gundagai at her first run for Todd Smart. Will be thereabouts again. Norris raced wide when third at Goulburn to weeks ago.

Bet: Fifo Filly to win. Quinella/trifecta: 1, 3, 4

RACE 3

Perfect Proposal will strip fitter for her first-up second over 900m at Newcastle behind Moravia who looks a very promising colt. She did start favourite when second in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut last year. Can get her maiden win. Struff had trialled very well before resuming with a third to Just Gisella at Hawkesbury on Aug 8 after coming widest off the bend. Will make her presence felt. Helldancer was just behind the placegetters in both runs in her first campaign. Will take improvement from her first-up fifth to Moravia at Newcastle. Art Volant was a close third to Serafima on debut and can place again.

Bet: Perfect Proposal to win. Exacta/trifecta 12 /6, 9, 10

RACE 4

Candlelit worked early when a length and a half second to I Stole It at Kembla on July 20. Sat outside the leader when fifth to Pushy and Hanau over 1200m in a strong maiden at Kembla on Aug 5. Back to 1100m, drawn to lead and gets his chance to breakthrough. Missile Seeker resumes from a spell and has been trialling well. Sat three-wide and won his Warwick Farm heat on July 24. Sat back and wide when second to Tiz Invincible in his second trial there on Aug 4. Rinzai debuted nearly 12 months ago with a handy third behind Heart Of Vancouver at Canberra and been off the scene since. Pushed up to lead and wasn’t pushed to win his recent trial at Warwick Farm.

Bet: Candlelit to win

Our Kinsmen can make it back-to-back wins when he heads to Nowra. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Our Kinsmen had handy form around the provincials before changing stables to the Natalie Jarvis team and breaking through for his maiden win at Forbes on Aug 6. Showed good speed from barrier 12 to sit outside the leader before coming away to win by a length and a quarter. Not easy to win a Maiden and Bm 58 in consecutive starts but he looks well placed to do it here. Rent A Rock felt the track at Moruya last start and the 1200m was too short. Was a close third to Chaotic Beauty over 1600m at Goulburn before that and jumps back up to that trip here. Buff In Disguise found winning form when stormed home at Goulburn last start.

Bet: Our Kinsmen to win.

RACE 6

Shuttle Run took benefit from his debut fourth to Hellova Nature at Hawkesbury on July 9 and posted a solid length win over 1100m here at Nowra two weeks later. Followed up with a neck by Touch Of Navy over 1280m at Muswellbrook with a big gap to the rest. Steps up to 1400m for the first time but looks like he will handle it. Deep Fury was held up for a run until after straightening when beaten less than a length by Showsumgrit at Newcastle last start. Won at this track and distance three starts back. Oneofthetwelve ran a handy race first-up at Goulburn first-up and was good in beaten Dolce Bella at the same track second-up. Can progress to better races as he gains experience.

Bet: Shuttle Run to win. Quinella/trifecta 4, 5, 6

RACE 7

Former Victorian Body Bob made his debut for Pat Murphy with a smart all-the-way win at Gundagai on Aug 8. He was first-up from a spell and will be improved by the run. Can go back-to-back. Tawfiq Star kicked off his campaign with a solid win from Dynamic One at Goulburn on Aug 7. Big chance again but has a wide draw to overcome. I Am Mighty is shooting for at hat-trick after win here on June 1 and at Sapphire Coast on July 30. Bully For You raced keenly when fifth to Broadway Bouncer at Hawkesbury last start. Closed off well when beaten a short head here first-up.

Bet: Body Bob to win. Quinella 2, 14

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