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

Father and son training duo keep promising fillies apart as they chase end of year success.

Co-trainers Luke and Robert Price are looking forward to the return of Ocean Eyes at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

With several nice three-year-old fillies in the early stages of their careers, Robert and Luke Price are doing their best to keep them separated where possible.

The Kembla-based father and son training duo elected to run Fugitiva at home on Saturday despite drawing barrier 15 while she drew the inside gate at Nowra.

The pair are still left with two fillies in the Maiden Handicap – Ocean Eyes in barrier 8 with Brock Ryan and Our Cosmic Belle from barrier 9 with Robbie Downey.

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Former stable apprentice Brock Ryan partners Ocean Eyes for Robert and Luke Price. Picture: Getty Images

“We didn’t want to clash with Fugitiva even though she drew barrier 1 so she went to Kembla on Saturday and these two fillies go around here,” said Luke Price.

Ocean Eyes is the more experienced of the pair having had a barrier trial in July and a race start in August where he was a creditable fourth behind Capital Heart and Lady Jezam after racing three-wide throughout over 1000m at Kembla on August 5 before heading to the paddock.

The daughter of Astern had two barrier trials to prepare her for her race return with an untouched third behind stablemate Monte Kate in her Kembla heat on November 27.

She was restrained to race at the back of the field and wasn’t pushed when seventh to Xidaki at Hawkesbury on December 12.

“It was a good fourth at Kembla on debut after racing wide all-the-way,” Price said.

“She has had two trials now as she is a big, gross filly who has nice ability.

“She can certainly win this race if she handles the wet track.

“She is out best chance at the meeting providing she gets through the heavy ground.”

Our Cosmic Belle hasn’t had the same experience as Ocean Eyes having just one trial at Kembla back in August when fourth to News At Five and another at Hawkesbury on December 12 when seventh behind Santasia – both over 800m.

“She will probably need the outing and I think she will be better off once she gets out to 1400m second-up,” he said.

“This looks a good starting point for her on paper but kicking her off on a heavy track isn’t ideal.

Annabel Neasham has some nice chances at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy

“We will just wait see how the track looks on race morning and what scratchings there are in the race.

“Because of the public holidays, acceptances have been earlier than usual so trainers are nominating horses for multiples meetings and waiting to see which race they are best suited in.

“We will do the same.”

Meanwhile, trainer Annabel Neasham can start the day on a winning note with two chances in the Class 1 And Maiden Plate over 2200m.

Alpine Kandy broke her maiden on a Soft track over 1600m at Goulburn back on November 5 before a close third at Muswellbrook and she wasn’t far away at her first try at 2000m when fifth to Acceber at Canberra.

Stablemate Tenniel made steady ground on debut for fourth behind Shisuta Bo over 1500m at Goulburn on Dec 15 and looks like she will appreciate getting out over more ground.

In the Maiden Plate over 1600m, Neasham has Majorian, Dublin Belle and Up And Comer engaged with all among the chances.

Dublin Belle led and finished fourth on debut behind Kind Wards on a Heavy track at Hawkesbury on November 9.

She has been freshened since handy third behind Kenyada at Newcastle on November 26 at just her second start.

Majorian finished a length fourth behind Sonofdec at Tuncurry last start and was runner-up on a heavy track at Orange before that.

Up And Comer will take improvement from his first-up third at Orange and should appreciate the extra distance.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 7: Ulysses Blue

The Terry Robinson-trained gelding will take benefit from his first-up run in a TAB Highway at Rosehill. Has won on the heavy here and will go close again.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 11: Ocean Eyes

Was spelled after a handy fourth on debut. Recent trials have been good and looks to have come back better this campaign.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 11: Port Douglas

The gelding had a tough run but fought on gamely for a close second in the Cooma Cup last time out. Will be prominent again.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 4 Nos: 3, 5

QUADDIE:

Race 4: 2, 3, 5

Race 5: 1, 3, 6, 9

Race 6: 2, 3, 10, 11

Race 7: 2, 8, 11

Shaun Guymer can end the year on a high note at Nowra. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Shaun Guymer has some nice rides including and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – NOWRA

RACE 1

Alpine Kandy toughed out a handy maiden win over a mile on a soft track at Goulburn on Nov 5 and followed up with a length third to Flying Deel over 1750m at Muswellbrook. Boxed away at her first run over 2000m when fifth to Acceber at Canberra last start and will be better for the experience. Electric Tigress was a three and a half-length fifth in the Listed The Phoenix at Eagle Farm back in June before a spell. Will be improved by two runs back from a spell and a step up in distance. Tenniel worked to the line okay on debut over 1500m at Goulburn on Dec 15 and will also appreciate the extra distance.

Bet: Alpine Kandy to win

RACE 2

I’m A Steel is a debutant by Real Steel from the Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones stable. Showed good speed to share the lead before striding clear in the straight to win by nearly three lengths untouched in his Goulburn trial on Dec 15. Dubai Oak was a length third to Dundas first-up at Orange before making ground along the rails when fifth to Lady Revolution at Queanbeyan on Dec 20. Vereeva is a first starter by Pluck. From barrier 1 kicked up to lead and skipped away off the bend before going home under a hold to win her Aug 9 Kembla trial by three-quarters of a length from Dead of Night. Heads into the without a public trial this time in.

Bet: I’m A Steel to win

RACE 3

Art Cadeau’s half-brother, Ulysses Blue, made steady ground in the straight when seventh to Wilbury in a Class 2 TAB Highway over 1100m when resuming at Rosehill last start on Dec 2. He was a winner on a heavy track here first-up last campaign before a second at Goulburn. Drawn well and will go close. Miss Givings broke her maiden here on Sept 17 before a let-up and she returned with three handy runs including a win at Sapphire Coast. Epaullo Creed resumed from a spell with a short neck second behind Hez Golden over 1000m at Canberra on Dec 8. Has placed at three of his five runs on heavy ground.

Bet: Ulysses Blue to win

Ulysses Blue looks hard to beat at Nowra on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Puerto Rico missed the start and settled near last and wasn’t pushed in beating one home in a Class 3 TAB Highway behind Bomarea at Randwick on Dec 16. Ran a handy second first-up at Wellington when he led and expect him to be right up on the speed again here. River Frost is knocking on the door for another win after placing at his last four starts with three of those this campaign. He has a win and three placings from four starts at the 1000m and has placed twice on heavy ground. Flying Birds resumes from a spell after a couple of nice trials, the latest a length win from Martini Crusader at Hawkesbury on Dec 12.

Bet: Puerto Rico each-way

RACE 5

Dublin Belle debuted on a heavy track over 1400m at Hawkesbury where she led and finished fourth behind handy filly Kind Words who was stakes placed at her next start. She then finished third to Kenyada over 1500m Newcastle on Nov 26. She should appreciate stepping up to the 1600m here. Ambitious Creek had a tough run on debut at Warwick Farm before a let-up. She returned with a gear change and ran home well for fifth behind Nicci’s Gem at Hawkesbury on Nov 23. Majorian has been good in all three starts including a second to World Atlas on a heavy track at Orange at his second start.

Bet: Dublin Belle to win

RACE 6

Port Douglas stepped up from 1200m in a Bm60 to 1600m in a Bm70 at Canberra two starts ago and ran a handy fourth behind Geostorm. He backed-up a week later in the Cooma Cup on a Heavy 10 and ran a gallant length second to Nieces And Nephews who has won again since. Drawn well and looks a good each-way chance. Vandelay Style improved second-up when third to Utopian Wine over 1600m at Gosford on Dec 21. Finished top two in three of her four runs on heavy ground. More Mischief is back from a let-up. Won over this track and trip two starts back.

Bet: Port Douglas each-way

RACE 7

Ocean Eyes was sent to the paddock after her debut fourth behind Capital Heart at Kembla back in August. Sat off stablemate Monte Kate was good to the line in finishing third in her Kembla trial on Nov 27. Always back and wasn’t pushed when seventh in her Hawkesbury trial on Dec 12. Picasso’s Dream is knocking on the door after placing at her last three runs, the latest a long neck third to Field Agent on a heavy track at Queanbeyan on Dec 20. Also placed third on a heavy track at Orange two starts earlier. Shebrings Beauty is resuming from a spell. Placed at five of her six runs in her first preparation.

Bet: Ocean Eyes to win

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