Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Warren

Trainer Brett Robb can’t see any reason why his in-form mare can’t make the jump to open company and claim the Cotton Cup. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Brett Robb believes Simply Xtravagant can make it five wins on end in the Cotton Cup at Warren on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy

Former Victorian mare Simply Xtravagant has been a bit of surprise packet for trainer Brett Robb by making a swift passage through the grades.

In five starts for Robb, the four-year-old was a solid third at big odds at Narromine first-up before going on a four win streak what has seen her go from a Class 1 to winning consecutive Benchmark 66 races.

She now finds herself in Open company for the first time where she has opened favourite in the Qube Logistics Cotton Cup (1600m) at Warren with Clayton Gallagher to ride

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That's 3 in a row for Simply Xtravagant! pic.twitter.com/KkDjRmLAZI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 8, 2023

“She has thrived since joining the stable and is going really well,” said Robb.

“She’s only little, she was light and a bad windsucker when she first got here and I thought we wouldn’t get a lot of racing out of her.

“However, she has just kept improving. She keeps getting stronger and stronger.

“You would with the racing she has had, she would be starting to look for a break. She is showing no signs at all that she wants to go for a break.

“She isn’t even wind-sucking anymore. She is just a very happy horse.”

At her most recent run, the daughter of Xtravagant showed plenty of grit to run down Ringside by a long head in the Baradine Cup (1400m) at Coonabarabran on a Good 3 surface.

She carried 61.5kg on that occasion while he had 56kg.

“I was a bit worried that her last run at Coonabarabran would knock her around because it was a hot day, the track was hard and she carried a big weight but when she got home, she licked her (feed) bin out and she didn’t even look like she had run around,” said Robb.

“She goes up to the mile for the first time since I have had her and I think it will suit her.

“She gets in well at weights with 56.5kg. She drops 5kg on her last run.”

The other main race on the day is the Matt’s Mates Warren Jockey Club Sprint (1200m) where Robb saddles up the two topweights, Moetta and Morgenstern who won this race last year.

Morgenstern returns to defend his title in the Warren Jockey Club Sprint. Picture: Bradley Photos

Moetta is another very consistent mare who was just pipped by Scarzel when she resumed in the Cup Day Showcase Sprint at Coonabarabran three weeks ago.

Under 59.5kg, she led but was kept one off the fence with Scarzel (53.5kg) holding the rails and after being clearly headed in the straight, fought back to go down by a short head.

“It was a great run by Moetta last start and she was unlucky not to get the win. I think she was a good thing beaten that day,” he said.

“She is another mare who tries hard and she has been unlucky not to have won three or four Open sprints out here.

“I think the Warren track will suit here. It’s a big track but it does tend to favour those on pace.

“She is definitely a chance on her last run.”

Morgenstern resumed from a spell in the same race where he raced three-wide throughout before finishing seventh.

“He was a little bit disappointing the other day. I thought he could win that race,” said Robb.

“He is a More Than Ready horse and they love the wet. There has been a bit of rain at Warren so I hope there is a bit of give in the track.

“If he gets that, on his work at home, he will be right in the finish.

“He is fit and well and I do think he is capable of bouncing back. He will run a good race.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 4: I’m Independent

The Brett Thompson-trained filly ran a handy race on debut before a narrow second at Dubbo. Well placed to break through.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 7: Illusive Star

Good effort to score over 1100m for new stable before a close second last start. Looks suited dropping back to 1200m.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 2: Better Judgement

Handy efforts at both runs back from a spell. Ready to peak and drawn to get a nice run.

QUADDIE:

Race 5: 1, 2, 6

Race 6: 2, 3, 5, 6

Race 7: 4, 7, 9

Race 8: 2, 3, 5

Clayton Gallagher looks set for a good day at Warren with several leading chances including Simply Xtravagant in the Cotton Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Clayton Gallagher has a strong book of rides and can go close in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - WARREN

RACE 1

I’m Independent sat just behind the speed and was a little green in the straight when fourth behind Deion on debut at Coonabarabran on Oct 22. Shared the lead on the rails and wanted to lay out on the bend before fighting strongly to the line when beaten a short head at Dubbo last weekend. Improving with experience and can break through. Flying Molly raced greenly when looking for a gap in the straight before switching across heels and hitting the line well for a close fourth at Wellington last start. Meet In Brazil debuts for a new stable. Has place claims on her fourth at Coonamble two runs back.

Bet: I’m Independent to win

RACE 2

Hemsted has been for quite a while now but continues to race with great consistency. Placed five of his last seven starts including a head second to Laffing Waters at Dubbo last weekend. He won this corresponding race last year. Imperioness Was a solid winner at Tamworth in September and was just pipped on the line by Hiraishin at Muswellbrook last start. Both career wins were over this trip. Turnaway will be better for his first-up run when fifth at Scone on Oct 27. Was runner-up second from a long spell last December and third when second-up off a 9 week break in April.

Bet: Hemsted to win

RACE 3

Bliss resumed from a break for new trainer Brett Robb at Coonamble on Oct 8 when a length and a half fourth behind Bold Storm after a little keen behind the leader. Will be better for the run and drawn to get a nice run. Infinite Prince came out of the same race with a run up the fence. That was his third close second in-a-row after placings at Dubbo. Will be prominent again. Sports Page sat outside the leader and looked a chance down the straight before Barry The Poet closed too well to score at Dubbo last week. Handy effort when just behind the placegetters in his first two runs.

Bet: Bliss each-way

RACE 4

All I Have broke his maiden at a non-TAB meeting at Gilgandra before leading and finishing a length fourth to Foxy Baroness when stepping up to a Class 1 at Coonabarabran. Tracked the leader and proved too good for Joshua over 1600m at Dubbo last start. Expect him to be ridden similarly here. Stablemate Mr Invincible came from midfield to win his Class 1 at Narromine two starts back before a third to Our Orator at Wellington over 1400m after sitting behind the leader. Drawn well and gets a 2kg claim. Barry The Poet broke through for a well-earned win from Sports Page at Dubbo last weekend. Handy second to Poppy’s Girl at Orange before that.

Bet: All I Have to win

Moetta looks a great chance in the Warren Jockey Club Sprint. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Moetta led with Scarzel kicking up under her to keep her off the fence before going on to nose her out in the Cup Day Showcase Sprint when she was resuming at Coonabarabran on Oct 21. Was a narrow second at her only run here and can go one better this time. Praline stormed home from last to win over 1000m at Dubbo last weekend after a handy fourth over 1400m at Coonabarabran before that. Drawn well and 1200m suits. Morgenstern was trapped wide throughout when seventh behind Scarzel and Moetta first-up. Will be improved by the run and won this race last year.

Bet: Moetta to win

RACE 6

Former Victorian mare Simply Extravagant has been near faultless since heading to the Brett Robb stable. A length third at Narromine has been followed by four smart wins. Carried 61.5kg when she ran down Ringside at Coonabarabran last start giving away 5.5kg. She steps up to Open company but strops to 56.5kg. Drawn perfectly and can win again. Watch Me Rumble was fourth in the Coonamble Cup on Oct 8 before finishing runner-up to Scorched Land in the Coonabarabran Cup last start both over this trip.

Titled Tycoon was rewarded for his consistent form with a stylish two and a quarter length win from Bill Peyto at Coonabarabran last start. Was third to Randwick placegetter Belleistic Kids at Coonamble before that.

Bet: Simply Xtravagant to win

RACE 7

Illusive Star had her first start for trainer Rodney Robb at Forbes on Oct 14 and kicked off the best way possible with a length win from Heavenly Prophet over 1100m. Led and just beaten by Our Orator over 1400m at Wellington two weeks ago. Drops back to 1200m and will be hard to catch. I Like Big Putts drops back in grade on her last three runs when third in a TAB Highway at Randwick, second last in a Bm85 at Bathurst and eighth in a Highway at Rosehill. Is one from one at the track. Girragulang resumes form a long spell but has won a Wellington trial recently. Broke his maiden at this corresponding meeting last year.

Bet: Illusive Star to win

RACE 8

Better Judgement was trapped out three-wide on the speed when seventh at Orange beaten two and three-quarter lengths by Twin Seas first-up. Led off the fence before being challenged before the bend and boxed on when second to the swooping Timely Bel at Moree on Nov 3. Drawn close in this time and can go one better. Deion raced greenly but still proved too good for Tabata Set at Coonabarabran on debut. Good chance again. Rockin’ Edition broke his maiden with a narrow win from I’m Independent at start three after placings at his first two. Drawn nicely as well.

Bet: Better Judgement each-way

Originally published as Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Warren