Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Lismore

Trainer Fleur Blanch has found the ideal race for her unusually named mare to claim a six career win at a milestone race start.

Nanakorobi Yaoki can celebrate her 50th race start with a win at Lismore. Picture: Bradley Photos

Grafton trainer Fleur Blanch is eager to see her beloved veteran mare Nanakorobi Yaoki commemorate her 50th race start with a sixth career win.

Blanch’s daughter of Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win was born and raised at the historic Newhaven Park Stud at Boorowa in southern New South Wales who offered her (as agent) at the 2020 Inglis Yearling sale.

She was purchased, for $80,000, by Equine Holdings from Japan who gave her that obscure, tongue-twister name.

“It means ‘Get knocked down seven times and get back up eight’. It’s not about what happens to you, it is how you handle it,” Blanch explained.

Nanakorobi Yaoki had her first three starts in life for Chris Waller and were underwhelming at best.

So much so that she was put on the market after her dozen lengths last in a Kembla Maiden in late January, 2020.

“I purchased her online at the Inglis Digital sale for $5,000,” Blanch told The Sunday Telegraph.

“I think I was lucky because there were about 500 horses in the sale and she just got under their belt.

“She has been a great buy.”

Nanakorobi Yaoki has raced a further 46 times at a variety of locations over a range of distances on tracks from Good to Heavy.

In that time, the now seven-year-old has managed to tally up five wins and 10 placings, five of them seconds and with earnings in excess of $120,000.

“I love this horse,” Blanch said.

“She is a very honest mare. She has been hard to place at times just because of her benchmark.

“She doesn’t carry weight and you have to and find the right distance at the time as well - the calendar doesn’t always work with you.

“And she is quite a burly mare so you can’t give her a long time in between runs because she gets too fat on you.

“So it has been a little bit hard in that respect but she absolutely tries her heart out every time she gets out there.

“Winning on Sunday would be a lovely reward for her.”

‘Nana’ tackles the Lismore Workers Group of Clubs Benchmark 58 Handicap (1420m) off an honourable third at Ballina on Boxing Day.

“She has really come on since then,” Blanch reported.

“She has dappled up this past week and she is going well. I am really happy with her.

“Obviously this is a much harder race on Sunday but these are her races. She has won against these horses before and there is no reason why she can’t do it again.”

Blanch has business to attend to earlier on the Lismore card on Sunday when the stable recruit Shatusla contests the Levi’s Project Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1536m) off the back of her sixth at Coffs Harbour last month with Andrew Gibbons riding in her 1415m assignment on the day.

“Andrew said it was a great run and to step her up (in distance), even up to the mile, and said that she won’t be a maiden for too much longer,” Blanch said.

“She has done well within the week so I believe she will back-up well into Sunday and hopefully the 1500m suits.

“With the apprentice (Amy Graham) on, she is down in weight and that should put her right into the race.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 3: Milton Road

Been on an upwards trajectory this whole campaign. Impressive winner last start who can go on with it.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 8: Up The Country

Ex-Bjorn Baker trained filly who won her first run for Jack Bruce here and in easy fashion.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 4: Singular

Lee Freedman trained Nicconi gelding on debut who has trialled well enough to figure.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 5

Race 5: 3

Race 6: 8

Race 7: 1, 6, 13

Brodie Loy looks hard to beat in the Jockey Challenge. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Brodie Loy will be a popular pick - and for good reason - with TAB Jockeys Challenge players.

INSIDE MAIL – LISMORE

RACE 1

Golden Garden is a well-bred grandson of Choisir and John Messara’s 2000 ATC Widden Stakes winner, Miss Bussell. The Dwayne Schmidt-trained bay has only managed one win from his 16 starts but is invariably thereabouts. On top of that, his win came as recently as two starts ago so he is in good form. Ditto that for Always Hunting who has finished runner-up at his last three. Maybe he is looking for this trip now. Ngozi, the son of Preferment, has raced around this distance four times for two seconds and a third.

Bet: Golden Garden to win

RACE 2

On Merit is a Lee Freedman-trained three-year-old who C.V reads well, namely second, fourth and third (in order) from just the three starts. That third was in fact here at Lismore and behind Up The Country who races later in the day and might win again. On Merit has drawn wide and is nominated for Doomben next Wednesday. Should it be absent, it would open the door up for Matthew Dunn’s Bravezel who resumes in the right style of race with the benefit of a good alley and a pleasing 1010m trial hitout at Ballina albeit an entire month ago now.

Bet: On Merit to win or if scratched, Bravezel to win

RACE 3

Singular is another three-year-old trained by Lee Freedman. This one is on debut and a son of Nicconi. There wouldn’t be many Nicconi’s that don’t win a race; they are a very reliable breed and from the way Singular trialled, he won’t stay a maiden for long. Adam Campton-trained galloper Spirit Of Heath has done enough to figure. Not sure if the Matthew Dunn-trained Texas Fireball is here on the day but is a huge player if he comes. The more scratchings, the more likely he is to start of course. Veralise split the aforementioned Up The Country and On Merit here on December 22.

Bet: Singular to win

Lee Freedman saddles up debutant Singular who has trialled well. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

RACE 4

Bow Ribbon is a lightly-raced chestnut from the Max McGaw stable at Coffs Harbour. The son of Niconoise (he’s a half-brother to Nicconi as it happens) has been good to varying degrees in all four starts this first preparation of his. He is right in the race on form of course and he is in on the limit after Glenn Cahill’s claim. I’m Picturesque remains winless after 15 starts but he is getting close to a well-deserved win. Drawn wide but if he can get into a prominent position early, he could well be in contention at the end. Dazzling Rock was a distant runner-up here last start but a runner-up nonetheless.

Bet: Bow Ribbon to win

RACE 5

Milton Road is an interesting horse. He is a son of the great NZ-stallion Darci Brahma from and a direct descendant of our own Oh Calcutta. A mere $18,000 weanling purchase, the Matthew Dunn-trained grey was seriously impressive when leading from start to finish in a 1200m Super Maiden at home at Murwillumbah. Can keep progressing. Bring Me To Life was a real eye-catcher first-up at Coffs Harbour and it is worth noting that his only win so far came second-up. Go well. Just Cosmos has won four races in her time, three of those were here at Lismore.

Bet: Milton Road to win, Daily Double 1st leg (3), 2nd leg (1)

RACE 6

Up The Country was a drifter but still well fancied when she made her debut in a Gosford 1200m maiden on November 2 when handled by Bjorn Baker, The daughter of Sooboog raced handy but faded to finish fourth of the six runners. She had her next start for Jack Bruce in an 1110m maiden here at Lismore on December 22 and was an easy and impressive winner. Never easy to win the Class 1 next time but she might be able to pull it off. At the end of the day, it is looking like this race could be stripped away of all of the main chances (Watchguard/The Astronomer) which will make Up The Country’s quest much easier of course.

Bet: Up The Country to win

RACE 7

Showman is worth the wait. A little background first; he was at Rich Hill Stud in NZ and by rights, he should be lining up in 2400m to 3200m races being by Shocking out of a mare by Sir Percy. His form here at Lismore is two starts for a win and a third. Trials can be a bit misleading at times but it would seem (IMHO) that if he brings that Ballina trial from Boxing Day with him, he won’t get beat. Hardley Grey races well at Lismore and wasn’t that bad here last start. Quick Enuff is slow early but fast late.

Bet: Showman to win or if scratched, Hardley Grey to win, box trifecta 1, 3, 6, 13

Originally published as Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Lismore