Best Bets and Inside Mail for Quirindi and Murwillumbah on Monday
QUIRINDI
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 12: Shutter
Lightly-raced mare perfectly set-up for her first mile contest.
NEXT BEST
Arrives here in country grade with good recent provincial form.
VALUE
Drawn one; resumes off an impressive trial win. Handy mare on her day.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 12,14
Race 5: 6,7.9
Race 6: 12
Race 7: 4,12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Mikayla Weir has some good rides at Quirindi on Monday.
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MURWILLUMBAH
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 10: Stynsy
Reliable Man 3YO who should run this trip right out.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 4: Pear Bellini
Peach of a race for this in-form Waller filly.
VALUE
Race 6 No. 8: Russian Diva
Won twice already this prep and seems to handle the slop.
RACE 1
Wanavan wears the same silks as her Hawkesbury Guineas winning 'auntie' Shazee Lee. Wanavan's best run of her five starts so far was a neck second (led) in a 1000m Super Maiden at Muswellbrook. Rest assured, she'll be in this for a long way. Clan D'Oro remains winless after 20 starts but she has placed nine times and in some quite respectable races around the place. Take note, she was a distant (led) second here on April 29 to a potentially smart horse, that being Calico Miss which runs in the last today.
Bet: Wanavan to win, exacta 6 to beat 8
RACE 2
Bouzy's Babe (no rider booked) will be hard to beat in the event if she starts. If not, all roads lead to the John Ramsey filly Pathelia who is a valuable broodmare given she is by The Autumn Sun out of G3 winner Dawnie Perfect whose own dam, Zagalia, was fourth in a Cox Plate. Pathelia comes back from 2200m to 1450m but has done that before effectively. Cup Of Ambition has gone 26 starts now without a win but this is winnable.
Bet: Bouzy's babe to win or if scratched Pathelia each-way
RACE 3
Press Forward has won only three races in his 41 starts but has 10 seconds and six thirds. Long story short, some of those seconds were by very narrow margins and barriers haven't always been kind to him. Happy days here for the Brett Robb trained gelding who should get every possible chance from barrier 4. Might not be a faster horse in action at Quirindi today than Too Darn Lovely. Boasts a win and a third at his only two runs at the track/trip.
Bet: Press Forward to win, quinella 1,2
RACE 4
The Piccolino was runner-up to two pretty good horses on March 24 and April 14 respectively. Looked close to a good thing on April 29 in a weaker Maiden but was beaten. In his defence, he was well back, came wide and ran on really well. It's time! Speaking of which, Holy Song is a 14 start maiden but he has run more races than bad. Well placed in this affair. Gerry Harvey's Musumeci was a shade disappointing at $3.40 last start but can atone.
Bet: The Piccolino to win
RACE 5
Arrabbiata is a handy mare and a very well bred broodmare for later on too given her direct descendant of the noteworthy producer - Subterfuge. As for her own talents, Arrabbita boasts two wins, four seconds and a third from her 17 starts. She broke her maiden here (at her only visit) by six lengths and has run some very respectable races in country, provincial and city grade. Great trial too. Insightful Award has won three of 12, one of those wins was here at Quirindi. Very fit and very well weighted; can't say the same about her barrier (10/10).
Bet: Arrabiata to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 9, 2nd Leg (4)
RACE 6
Shutter has had six starts for a Gunnedah maiden win and two thirds. That is the chronological order of her form leading into Monday's mission so she is in good form. The most appealing thing about her today is that it is a mile and she should relish that. Ditto that for Girly Pop who is another lightly-raced type; in her case a 3YO filly who won over 1400m on debut and is, as mentioned, crying out for 1600m now. Old hardheads, Bill Peyto and Badboy McCoy, are in contention.
Divine Bene has a fascinating pedigree; mostly because of his sixth dam, Sweet Embrace, still the longest priced winner of the Golden Slipper when she took out the 1967 edition, while still a maiden, at 40/1. As for Divine Bene, he heads back to the bush armed with Newcastle form. Sagaponack is a very valuable great granddaughter of Lady Jakeo. She was super impressive winning her Maiden at Port Mac last start. Has obvious talent. Eager to see how Calico Miss follows up her emphatic debut win here from April 29.
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