Muswellbrook preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, November 3, 2024

Trainer Scott Singleton was impressed with the fighting second of lightly-raced mare Russley Tiara last start and feels the improving can go one better this weekend.

Lightly-raced mare Russley Tiara looks a great chance at Muswellbrook. Picture: Bradley Photos

Scone horseman Scott Singleton has recognised some familiar family traits in lightly-raced mare Russley Tiara and hopes the long-term results pan out in similar fashion.

Russley Tiara is a half-sister to Singleton’s Country Championship Qualifier winner and $240,000 earner Russley Crown and is closely related to his ultra-consistent, city-winning mare, Dollar Magic.

“She never showed us the world at home early on but she showed us enough,” said Singleton.

“We have never been in a hurry with her because we didn’t have to be.

“At her first start in a race, she ran terrific for second. We then tipped her out after her second run.

“We have looked after her and she is improving with every run this time.

Trainer Scott Singleton is pleased with the progress of Russley Tiara and gives her a great chance at Muswellbrook. Picture: Bradley Photos

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“While they are improving, you don’t know where it’s going to stop and hopefully she still has more to come.

“Russley Crown was similar. He just showed us enough early but kept improving and has turned in a handy horse.

“I’ll be happy if she can do something similar.

“Her mother, Flys Away, had a little bit of talent and we won a race at Canterbury with her and she is a half-sister to Dollar Magic.”

Russley Tiara broke through for her maiden victory over 1000m at Tamworth at her fourth career start and followed with a gutsy second behind tearaway leader Extreme Merger over 1280m at Muswellbrook last start.

Continuing an upward trajectory, she looks a great chance when she returns for the Country Boosted Benchmark 58 (1280m) with Christian Reith sticking with her.

“She is improving and her last run was the best she has performed,” Singleton said.

“It was a nice win at Tamworth and she come on from the run. She learnt a bit from the experience and she was always looking for a bit further than the 1000m.

“At Muswellbrook last start, she got strung up when there was a bit of carnage early in the race but she got around them and got going.

“She set sail out after that tearaway leader but she just ran out of time. It already had the race shot to bits but I thought she was good right to the line.

“She is in the right race this weekend but she has drawn a little

awkwardly but I expect her to be very competitive.”

Trapeze Legend gets the upper-hand late to take Race 6 at @sconeraceclub for @ANeashamRacing!

A fitting win on Golden Rose weekend for the son of 2017 victor Trapeze Artist 🌹 pic.twitter.com/v432sRUEAJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 27, 2024

Singleton will also saddle up Super Story in the same race with apprentice Ella Drew to again ride.

While the gelding beat just two home at Scone last start, he was less than a length behind the winner, Eclair.

“It was an okay run the other day,” he said.

“He’s a real little trier this horse even though he doesn’t have the best action and he gets his head up a bit.

“Because he always tries his best, I think he would be up there in the first four and if a couple of the more fancied runs don’t turn up and are off their game, he will be there running that same honest race.”

Singleton’s other runner for the day is Withania in the Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1500m).

The daughter of Rosehill Guineas winner, D’Argento, debuted with a three-and-a-quarter length sixth behind Trapeze Legend over 1100m at Scone before a tenth behind How Rude over 1280m at Muswellbrook but Singleton was pleased with her efforts.

“She is still trying to get her head around what to do in her races,” he said.

“She has been hard to educate at home because we a flat out trying to get out of three-quarter pace.

“There are probably a couple in this race who will out point but I think she will run well and will break that maiden soon.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 1: Galano

Nice run first-up over 1250m. Will appreciate stepping up to 1500m and drawn ideally.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 2: Prima Bella

Was impressive winning on debut last November before a long break. Solid return three weeks ago and can go one better.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 8: Russley Tiara

Good win two starts back then game in defeat after being pushed wide here last start.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2, 5

Race 5: 3, 4, 8, 9

Race 6: 4, 6, 7, 9

Race 7: 1, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Mitchell Bell can strike with an early double while Christian Reith an also pick up a couple of winners.

Mitchell Bell looks a good chance to land a couple of winners at Muswellbrook. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL – MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 1

Climate Control was crowded on jumping and settled well back and wide before closing off well when fourth to Ivy Diva here last start. Led and won at Dubbo two starts earlier. Drawn better this time. Movin’ Denman was a tough second in that race after leading one off the fence with pressure inside and out. Runner-up to Don’t Call Me Honey in the Denman Dash here the start prior. Dehero battled away for fourth in that same race at big odds. On a quick back-up after a close second to Manage The Cycle at Quirindi last Monday.

Bet: Climate Control to win

RACE 2

Mad Harry got home well late for a close second at Tamworth first-up then raced keenly when stepping up to 1400m in a Super Maiden at Dubbo. Handy run here last start when a length second to Oceanfront over 1500m. Off The Scale has started favourite in both her runs at Tamworth and has been good late but has given away too much start. Latest third to Meddlesome was over 1400m and looks like she will appreciate further. A good barrier will also help. Unfortunately drawn wide again here. Withania has been better in her to runs than it reads on paper. Will definitely relish the 1500m.

Bet: Mad Harry to win

RACE 3

Lightly-raced mare Russley Tiara is improving with every run. Pushed up the fence to share the lead and fought strongly to win her maiden at Tamworth second-up. Got pushed very wide on the first corner and had to cover extra ground from there when a game second to tearaway leader Extreme Merger here last start. Negation charged home to go down in a photo when third to Savoca at Scone first-up. Give the tearaway Parmenio about 10 lengths at Bathurst last start and was beaten less than four lengths. Deebo has been good in both runs back while Super Story won’t be far away.

Bet: Russley Tiara each-way

Prima Bella can bounce back second-up at Muswellbrook. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Prima Bella drove through to lead and was strong holding out In Flight by three-quarters-of-a-length on debut over 1000m at Wyong last November. Runner-up won five of her next eight while Prima Bella was sidelined. Handy second to Admitted when resuming at Kembla on Oct 12. In Summer won well on debut before racing three-wide when a close fourth to Master Of Rewards here in May. Wide gate the only concern. Bold As Love led all-the-way on debut to beat Takeover Lad at Scone in July. Hard held in her first trial then shaken up in her second in a handy Newcastle heat.

Bet: Prima Bella to win

RACE 5

Space Ace led and kicked on the turn before being caught late by the fast-finishing, and more experienced, Noble One on debut at Canberra. Race outside the leader at Hawkesbury when run down by Nantucket Island who had trialled well. Blinkers go on and he can go one better. Oceanfront is an acceptor at Kembla on Tuesday and probably goes there. Big chance off his last start win here if he does run. Stylebender was good last start when runner-up to Bluebird Bay at Hawkesbury. Torie’s Rose has claims on her Hawkesbury maiden win.

Bet: Space Ace to win

RACE 6

Alinea has raced well in all four starts and gets her chance to break her maiden. Was just behind the placegetters in the Gimcrack and Widden and third on the Kensington in July. Will take improvement from her first-up third at Hawkesbury. Gustav has been good in his three runs this campaign and a win isn’t far away. Drawn to race on speed. Autumn Burst is a debutant by The Autumn Sun. Nice win coming from last in her Newcastle trial on Oct 22. What A Gent is a first starter by D’Argento. Has trialled nicely.

Bet: Alinea to win

RACE 7

Galano had handy form including wins at Geelong and Sandown and a Kensington second in record time over 1400m before joining the Messara and Gavranich stable this campaign. Will take improvement from his closing first-up third behind Mosgiel Daisy on a heavy track at Taree. Drawn well and can sit on speed. Jessandi had handy provincial form before a change of stable. Was okay when fifth to Night Fighter over 1400m at Coonamble. Will keep improving over further. Rossy’s Typa Girl drops in grade on her recent runs when just behind the placegetters.

Bet: Galano to win