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News.com.au
05-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Mudgee preview: Trainer David Smith optimistic despite rain threatening Lockdown Gamble's Cup campaign
It will be the rain and not a crushing weight that denies local idol Lockdown Gamble a win in the much anticipated XXXX Cup (1400m). The David Smith -trained gelding boasts an exemplary record at the Mudgee 1400m and towers over his rivals in the Benchmark ratings department. Add in a four kilo claim and Lockdown Gamble seems to have all bases covered, but for one, the weather. 'I am not sure he will get out of third or fourth gear here with the wet conditions but if the track improves, he will be terribly hard to beat,' Smith said. 'He needed the run (last start at Canterbury). He was about five or six weeks between runs and he just got away from us fitness-wise. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE wins the Wellington Cup! Consolation from the Country Championships for @DJSRacing6 as Lockdown Gamble survives a protest from Danish Prince to win the @WellingtonRaces Cup and earn Big Dance ðŸ'ƒ eligibility. Sizzle Minizzle ran a close third. @tabcomau â€' Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 14, 2024 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! 'It was just a sit and sprint over the last 600m and I am quite pleased with how he has come through the run.' Given all of Lockdown Gamble's past heroics, it was only fair to the others that he was afforded 64kg in the XXXX Cup. Not that Smith saw it as an impossible task but has managed to cut the impost down to a manageable 60kg thanks to the whopping claim of young apprentice jockey, Nicholas Hyde. 'I saw an article on him on the Racing NSW (website). I watched him on Cumboogle there at Narromine and I thought he was quite strong for a four kilo kid being able to ride one out,' Smith said. 'That's pretty much what we're after. Once we dropped a few points after that Canterbury run, we thought if we could find a half decent kid who is going to be able handle him, we can pick up another Cups race out here with him.' Smith, meanwhile, is suitably bullish about the prospects of the supremely well-bred mare Champers Girl when steps out in the Oriental Hotel Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m). Smith's mare was nothing short of the eye-catcher in the race when she finished second to one of Dubbo's most in-form horses - Midnight Dream - at her most recent outing. 'I'm extremely happy with her too,' the trainer declared. 'I think she is probably my best chance on the card.' Borrowed Luck cruises to victory at HUGE odds at Tamworth! ðŸ'° â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2025 Champers Girl, as her name may suggest, is a great granddaughter of Champagne who won the 1998 Mackinnon Stakes, four days prior to her close second to Jezabeel in the Melbourne Cup. Smith's stable of blue bloods doesn't end there. His Mudgee digs are home to Instead who was once part of Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin racing string. A daughter of Lonhro, Instead is a very close genetic relative of the Hong Kong champion Vengeance Of Rain, AJC Oaks winner Dizelle and her VRC Oaks winning daughter, Pinot. Instead has been holding her form admirably, evidenced by her determined fourth in a deep 2200m Benchmark 58 at Dubbo last weekend. 'I have no hesitation in her backing up and the reason for it is she just likes the wet track,' Smith said. 'The only time I have done it, she was coming off a Coonabarabran win when she stepped up to the mile for the first time at Dubbo and she was only just nabbed on the line there.' Fans of Johnny Cash will be drawn to Smith's participant in the final race, the Wild Oats Country Boosted Class 2 Handicap (1400m), namely A Boy Named Soo. The son of the now Indonesia-based stallion Sooboog has been somewhat hot and cold over his career but is warming up to another win says Smith. 'He is going much better than his record suggests this time in,' Smith offered. SHAYNE O'CASS' TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 4 No. 1: LAST LALIQUE Half-sister and stablemate of Dollar Magic. Might just be better than these. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 6: RED SPECTOR Left a lasting impression when he won at Coffs Harbour back in December. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 2: THE IMPECKABLE Third-up; good draw, good jockey, good prospects. QUADDIE Race 4: 1 Race 5: 1, 4, 8, 10 Race 6: 2, 6 Race 7: 2, 3, 6, 9 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW AARON BULLOCK has a 20.7 per cent winning strike-rate at Mudgee. INSIDE MAIL - MUDGEE DE LOUVIERE (3) is a Matthew Smith trained son of the German Derby winner Sea The Moon who was scheduled to race at Beaumont on Tuesday, only the meeting was washed out. Smith's Irish-bred import blotted an otherwise exemplary copybook with that fading seventh of eight at Wyong last start but he did plenty of overtime up there in a no holds barred 2000m. AVION FURY (1) boasts a plethora of provincial form. Failed last start too but this looks a lovely race for him to bounce back. Maybe BUSH TELEGRAPH (2) wants 2000m now. Bet: De Louviere to win, exacta 3 to beat 1 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 2: McGrath Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1200m GREAT IDEA (2) is a rising six-year-old with just one start on his resume this far; that was on March 9 this year when an eye-catching fourth at Tamworth in a 1200m race at $61. Resurfaced at Scone on June 25 winning a 1000m trial. Good draw, Grant Buckley rides, nice race for him. ANOTHER PEACH (9) has been blessed with what might be a 'winning draw'. She should do no work and thus have no excuses if she can't run up to her best from box three. Mack Griffith's local SILENT ACE (6) is a massive watch. Bet: Great Idea each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 3: XXXX Cup (Bm82) 1400m LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) has won seven times with six placings in his 31 starts. He is of course trained here at Mudgee where his record at this track and trip is rather impressive; five runs, one win and two thirds. The win was in an 82 and the thirds were in the Mudgee Cup and the CDRA Championships Qualifier. ZULFIQAR (2) was scratched from the Midway at Rosehill to run here. Hasn't been far away his last two. MEDINAH (7) is a Mack Griffith-trained local whose own record at the Mudgee 1400m is almost faultless being three starts for two wins. FLORINO (3) should be very prominent in the run from that alley. Bet: Lockdown Gamble to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: Goree Super Mdn Hcp 1400m LAST LALIQUE (1) is a half-sister to stablemate Dollar Magic. This three-year-old daughter of Star Witness has raced three times so far for a fifth, a fourth and lastly a third, that one at Scone when closing off willingly. That was 1300m, this is 1400m. How perfect could it be. GHAZNAVI (5) remains winless after 16 starts but he has placed five times; two of them have been since he joined the Cameron Crockett. He does look to be getting close but we've said that before. BONNIE AND BRUCE (2) can figure. Bet: Last Lalique to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 5: Oriental Hotel (Bm66) 1200m CHICO CASINO (8) is a handy horse. The Dean Mirfin-trained four-year-old was an easy winner on debut at home. His record as it stands is 15 starts for two wins and nine seconds, four of them are seconds. We should also point out that he ran in the 2025 CDRA Qualifier and wasn't awful either. Drawn wide but has Aaron Bullock to assist. Stablemate DE FORERUNNER (1) has raced at Mudgee twice for a win and a third. He is the top-rater in the race which has to count for something and the trial was a beauty. GRINS (4), CHAMPERS GIRL (10) and VOIGNER (3) are in medal contention. Bet: Chico Casino to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 2 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 6: Bisec Hcp (C1) 1200m RED SPECTOR (6) is one of the handful of progeny of Red Henno to have raced so far and all of them can gallop. None better, or faster, than this Jake Hull-trained three-year-old who was just so impressive when he won that 1205m maiden at Coffs Harbour on December 30. Brilliant again in his June 16 trial. PRESSNELL (2), the horse named in honour of the great man himself (Max) has his first run at Mudgee after some tidy efforts away from home. Has plenty of wins in him. WILD SENSATION (5) has drawn well and is in good shape off a recent second at Nowra. â– â– â– â– â– THE IMPECKABLE (2) sent out signs that a win was imminent when he came from well back at the 400m to finish third in a 1400m Benchmark 58 at Tamworth on June 16. That was second-up so it stands to logic that he should be at his peak now for this very suitable race. Gets Chad Lever, good draw and 1400m. PODCAST (3) wasn't too bad in his first Highway attempt at Rosehill on June 14. This is easier of course but made slightly harder than it could have been given a very wide draw, Still, he gets back anyway and has Aaron Bullock to help out.
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Parkes preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, May 18, 2025
Jockey Kody Nestor was successful on the Parkes Cup from a wide barrier two years ago and he hopes history can repeat when he partners Lockdown Gamble in this year's edition. In 2023, Nestor partnered the Mack Griffith-trained up and comer Osman to a three length win from barrier 10 – the outside gate. Nestor and Lockdown Gamble have the outside gate in this year's Parkes Cup (1600m) - barrier 14 of 14 – but will jump from barrier 12 under his big weight of 63kg. 'I haven't ridden him in a race before but I have seen plenty of him,' said Nestor. 'Obviously, he has to lump it again and he has drawn wide but he is the proven galloper in the field. 'He's won a Wellington Cup which is a Big Dance Qualifier. The Parkes Cup which is more of a second tier country cup. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE wins the Wellington Cup! Consolation from the Country Championships for @DJSRacing6 as Lockdown Gamble survives a protest from Danish Prince to win the @WellingtonRaces Cup and earn Big Dance ðŸ'ƒ eligibility. Sizzle Minizzle ran a close third. @tabcomau â€' Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) April 14, 2024 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! 'He looks the one to beat on paper, no doubt.' The David Smith -trained gelding heads into the race in terrific form. He resumed this campaign with third to Osman in the Mudgee Cup on February 23 and his next run at Mudgee last Sunday when he won the Benchmark 82 over 1400m with 63kg. 'It was a good, tough win the other day with a big weight,' Nestor said. 'He's got a couple of things against him – his big weight and wide barrier- but he has the class to overcome them. 'His greatest attributes are his last 100m to a furlong along with his toughness and consistency.' Nestor was pleased with the first-up run of Kora Magic at Dubbo two weeks ago and partners the mare again when she contests the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m). The Mark Jones -trained mare led from barrier 11 and was only caught in the last 20m to finish third behind Cumnock and Twilight Rock. 'She was just beaten the other day first-up without a barrier trial. I thought she was really game,' he said. 'She had a good blow coming back in so she is going to improve off that run. 'We have drawn wide again but she has the early pace to offset the gate. I expect her to lead easily and with the circumference of Parkes, it will be a lot easier on her than Dubbo. The Mark Jones trained Kora Magic gives Ronald Simpson an early race to race double! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 5, 2023 'Dubbo is a very open track and you are exposed a long way from home whereas at Parkes, you can skip off the corner and it's not the longest run home. 'She will be thereabouts in the finish again.' Nestor and Queanbeyan trainer Nick Olive have enjoyed a couple of winners together in recent months including Just Go Bang in the Gilgandra Cup and combine with two good chances this weekend. Sooboogeliscious has been just behind the placegetters in two runs back from a spell and looks ready to peak in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m). 'It's a nice competitive race and he is one of the chances,' Nestor said. 'It was a nice run last start and he looks ready to peak third-up. 'He should get a lovely run without doing any work from the inside gate. We just have to pick and choose our runs at the right time.' Midnight Affair will appreciate a drop in grade when she returns to country racing in the Class 2 Handicap (1600m). 'She has been competitive in Highways and better class races than what she is going around in this weekend,' he said. 'We just need an ounce of luck from the barrier. 'Egyptologist is the one to beat but he first-up over the mile. 'I'm just hoping the fitness edge we have can make the difference.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 5 No. 10: COUGARS Will take improvement his first-up fifth. Soft track suits. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 1: LOVE SHUCK Was good late in the Wagga Town Plate. This is easier. VALUE BET Race 8 No. 4: SOOBOOGELISCIOUS Just behind the placegetters in both runs back and ready to peak. QUADDIE Race 5: 4, 9, 10 Race 6: 1, 8, 10 Race 7: 1, 5, 7, 9 Race 8: 1, 4, 13 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Kody Nestor has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. INSIDE MAIL – PARKES SPRING PROSPECT (8) lost the rider pre-race then raced keenly when fifth on debut at Mudgee in December. Has been very good in both trials this time back. Was kept under a hold to beat Egyptologist in his May 4 Dubbo heat. AMORUSO (6) is a debutant by Santos. Led by a big margin and kept on the bridle to win her Apr 1 Tamworth trial by nearly four lengths. CERONS (1) was just behind the placegetters in two recent Queensland runs. Was second in the Maribyrnong Trial on debut. BILLABONG ROSE (8) resumes without a trial. Was momentarily held up on straightening when second to Bondi Prophet at Muswellbrook first-up last campaign. TURNING CIRCLE (13) was a handy third to Oakfield Saturn first-up then raced wide when down the order at Kembla. She didn't handle the Heavy 10 when fourth as favourite at Wyong last start. SWEET KICK (12) was a two length fourth at Sale on debut on Sept 11. Changed stables and well beaten first-up before an improved run when fourth at Dubbo on May 4. MIDNIGHT AFFAIR (2) drops back in grade after running in TAB Highways at her past two starts, the latest a fourth to Canadian Ruler at Hawkesbury's stand-alone meeting. Had a win and two close seconds at her previous three runs in the country. EGYPTOLOGIST (1) was good last preparation when a first-up second at Dubbo before back-to-back wins at Mudgee and Dubbo. Given a shake up when second to Spring Prospect in his May 4 Dubbo trial. NAVAL OFFICER (4) made ground when fourth to Zoomorphic at Dubbo before winning at Wellington. KORA MAGIC (8) led from a wide gate and just run down late when third to Cumnock when resuming at Dubbo. Went in without a trial and will be better for the run. SHERIDAN STREET (6) led all-the-way for a debut win at Gundagai on Apr 6. Began awkwardly and over-raced when always well back at Wagga last start. Can bounce back. THE MOOCH (11) was a close second to All Astern at Queanbeyan last start. Gets a nice run from the draw. COUGARS (10) sat outside the leaders before racing away to a big maiden win at the Sapphire Coast to end last campaign. Copped a decent bumped at the start before working forward to be outside the leader and just faded late when resuming with a fifth to Miss Emma at Wagga on May 2. MICRO MIKKI (4) made his NSW debut with a nose win at Narromine before a good win from Joy Of The World at Wellington both over 1100m. LADY ISHIKAWA (9) resumes for a new stable. Scored back-to-back wins at Newcastle last campaign. LOVE SHUCK (1) hasn't had a lot of luck this campaign. Held up on the bend when second to Fangela at Canberra first-up. Again held up until passing the 200 when third to I Am Lethal in the Town Plate Prelude at Wagga and knuckled on jumping when sixth to Compelling Truth in the Wagga Town Plate. KEIKOKU (10) was help up until near the 70m when seventh to So You Pence at Wagga last start. Should have finished much closer. STARROS (8) tackled a Randwick Highway last start. Nice Hawkesbury win and made ground at Canterbury when seventh to Yiska. LOCKDOWN GAMBLE (1) is backing up from a solid first-up win under 63kg over Stratified at Mudgee last weekend. Has the same big weight again but is the class runner of the field. Did win the Wellington Cup last year. LOOSE LOVE (7) won over 1400m here to start his current campaign. Ran on nicely to finish a nose third behind Dark Vador at Wagga last start. ROUGE MOULIN (9) raced in the Highway at Scone yesterday. SIZZLE MINIZZLE (5) is back from a Queensland campaign. Just behind the placegetters at Eagle Farm his last two. SOOBOOGELISCIOUS (4) sat outside the leader and battled away for fifth at Queanbeyan when resuming before a half-length fourth to Capital Heart at the Sapphire Coast. Ready to peak third-up and gets an ideal run from the inside gate. RAYMOND'S REWARD (1) is shooting for a hat-trick after a handy win at Armidale followed by an al-the-way win at Gunnedah. MISS CAPRICORN (13) was badly crowded on jumping and settled a long way back when seventh to Zoomorphic at Dubbo last start. Nice win there the start before.
