Armidale preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, April 6, 2025

Although Cascan is dropping back considerably in trip, trainer Craig Clegg feels she can still prove too strong for her rivals.

Trainer Craig Clegg feels a wide gate is an advantage for Cascan on a wet track at Armidale. Picture: Bradley Photos

The absence of 2024 Wellington Boot winner Fingers Hunter is but one reason why trainer Craig Clegg is suitably bullish about the prospects of his filly Cascan.

Clegg’s three-year-old has performed admirably in the majority of her seven starts, winning once and placing at another.

“Her maiden win was pretty impressive, “ Clegg said.

“It was a great ride from Mikayla (Weir), but she really exploded from the tail of the field.

“So I backed her up again at Tamworth and she ran a nice race up in grade straight away.”

That ‘nice race’ was Cascan’s sixth (of 10) behind the aforementioned Brett Cavanough-trained Fingers Hunter in an unusually strong country mile.

“She is going back to 1100m so whether they just get away from her a bit would be the only concern,” Clegg said.

Cascan launches from last to storm home for a HUGE win for trainer Craig Clegg! 🔥@weir_mikaylapic.twitter.com/bY1y9K9mNz

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 27, 2025

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!

“I’ll say to Mikayla, just give her a bit of a dig in the ribs and ride the race whatever pans out.

“She showed she can get around the track. We have drawn a wide gate which could be an advantage actually on a Heavy track and she gets back anyway.”

Clegg’s remaining three runners on the card are all owned by ace broadcaster, form expert and bloodstock agent Anthony Manton namely It’s A Written, The Affirmative and New Zealand-bred Major Makeover.

There will be few, if any horses, that can match the pedigree of the It’s A Written who will require a handful of absentees to elevate her from emergency to starter in the Edwards Coaches Super Maiden (1100m).

“She has got ability and she is exceptionally well-bred,” said Clegg.

“Her grandmother was one of the best mares that raced in Australasia. If we can win a race or two, her residual value, you would think would be something.”

That grandmother is Elegant Fashion who won two Group 2s in Melbourne and was runner-up in an AJC Oaks before being exported to Hong Kong where she become a rare female Derby winner.

On top of that, It’s A Written is a direct descendant of the highly influential English broodmare gem, Highclere, who was bred and owned by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Magic Stalker cruises to victory in the third event at Tamworth. @ANeashamRacingpic.twitter.com/KS55pw4Huy

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 2, 2024

Manton’s, The Affirmative, likewise traces back on a direct line to an important broodmare; in her case it is Sunday Evening.

The Affirmative has only managed four wins in 44 starts but has finished on the podium a total of 16 times.

“When she draws a barrier, she picks up a cheque, sometimes she doesn’t draw a barrier and she still picks up a cheque,” Clegg said. “She’s just a like a little ATM.

“Her draw doesn’t help her but she’ll go forward.”

Manton, Clegg and Weir aim to bring it home in the last when the Waikato Stud-born and raised Major Makeover goes around for the first time since finishing down the order at Armidale on September 22.

“He’s had a few jump-outs and a trial,” Clegg reported.

“He is forward in condition.

“He is a deadset ten furlong horse after he’s had a few runs but we’ve got to start somewhere and Armidale looks like it is going to be.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 12: Shutter

Arrives here third-up off an impressive first win at Gunnedah last start.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 15: It’s A Written

Has more talent than the resume reads. Could come at these late.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 5: Takanakuy

Handy mare; has won five races and best of all, is one from one at the track and distance.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 3, 7

Race 5: 2, 3, 15

Race 6: 5, 6, 7

Race 7: 12

Luke Rolls looks set for a good day at Armidale. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Luke Rolls will be popular in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - ARMIDALE

RACE 1

Naftali was sold for $400,000 at the Easter Yearling Sale in 2023. Reason is, he is a half-brother to Blue Diamond winner Artorius and a close relation to another Greg Perry-bred Group 1 winner in Delectation. This Brett Cavanough-trained colt was a beaten odds-on favourite first up but it was an honourable defeat. Former Victorian housed galloper Tosinky did a fine job at his NSW debut when runner-up at the new home track, jumping from barrier 10 of 10 that day. Extra 100m ought to suit, big time. Has placed on Heavy.

Bet: Naftalia to win, quinella 6, 8

RACE 2

Gandolfini could potentially be absent and saved for Kempsey on Monday. Long story short, he’s flying. Hallowed Son has only won three times in 34 starts but credit to him, he has placed a dozen times. On top of that, the Gooree-bred son of Hallowed Crown is one for one at this track and distance and as recently as two starts ago. Stirling Osland-trained local Descending Mist has a win and a second from his three starts at this same track and distance.

Bet: Gandolfini to win or if scratched, Hallowed Son to win

RACE 3

Sirius Flyer has barely put a foot wrong in her whole seven starts. As for this campaign, she is ‘321’ which speak to her trajectory. Roses Imminente was a $20,000 HTBA Yearling Sale purchase by her trainer Lou Mary. A daughter of Impending, the filly has two wins and a second from her six starts, She was last of seven but had excuses at Canterbury first-up which she followed with consecutive fourths at Muswellbrook in very high quality Class 2s and 3s.

Bet: Sirius Flyer to win, quinella 3, 4

Sirius Flyer splits the middle to take out the third at Newcastle getting her first win on the board! 💥@cavanoughracingpic.twitter.com/iaCEa7iHTn

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 24, 2025

RACE 4

Snatchreilly was a dual acceptor on the card, this race and the one before. He’s obviously down to run here. One would suspect that is owed to the fact he has barrier 2 over the 1100m as opposed to barrier 6 over 1400m in the previous. Just has to handle the heavy. Bakhita is another of the Lou Mary string. This daughter of Deep Field ended her first campaign, here too as it happens, winning an 1100m Maiden. Has drawn very well indeed for the return. Nation Changing was super impressive winning at Scone on debut.

Bet: Snatchreilly to win, quinella 1, 7

RACE 5

It’s A Written is a rather valuable broodmare proposition being a granddaughter of Elegant Fashion who won several Group 2s in Australia, was a rare female winner of the Hong Kong Derby, and was Group 1 placed here and there. As for It’s A Written herself, her resume reads as just one third from eight starts but look at all her fourths and fifths. Could blouse them late here. Stern Reminder was well backed on debut at Coonamble on Qualifier Day when third in a Super Maiden. Unless he picks up another one, this will be Ashley Morgan’s only ride here.

Bet: It’s A Written win, quinella 2, 15, box trifecta and First 4 Nos. 2, 3, 10, 11, 15, DD 1st Leg 15, 2nd Leg 12

RACE 6

Takanakuy is quite a handy mare. The Melissa Dennett-trained five-year-old has raced 19 times for five wins, two seconds and two thirds. She broke her maiden here at Armidale, running them off their feet over 1100m. Open to improvement (hopefully) off the first-up fifth at Scone with the big weight. Acotango is one of those horses that may be some of an infrequent winner but is usually thereabouts. First-up here, bearing in mind that the son of Spieth has a win and two seconds from his six fresh runs. Straand Care is lightly-raced and has talent,

Bet: Takanakuy to win in the presumed absence of Taking The Mikki

RACE 7

Shutter can cap off what looks like a super day for Lou Mary. The Scone based trainer took this mare to Gunnedah second-up for a 1300m Maiden where it looked on paper that she was miles better than her rivals, hence the $1.85 starting price. She won by a length but was never going to lose and arrives here, I suspect, a very confident horse now that she has learned to dispatch a field. Has a future beyond country racing in my opinion. Just Jacky has won twice on Heavy. Can be a bit hold and cold and tepid between but can never be totally ruled out.

Bet: Shutter to win