The Insider – Australian Analysis April 23 Edition

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The Group 1 Fremantle Cup highlights this week’s harness racing with the time-honoured race being run at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

One week after the $1.25 million The Nullarbor, most of the same field are back for round two, including Max Delight who captured that big slot race.

Heats of the NSW Oaks and the Listed Robin Dundee Stakes will be run at Menangle on Saturday.

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Gloucester Park (Friday, April 24)

Race 5

The Group 1 Fremantle Cup (2936m) is over the extreme staying trip and Magnificent Storm once again received a favourable barrier with gate one. The stable will be hoping for a change of luck as he has contested two Fremantle Cups and finished back in the field in both. His great rival Minstrel has drawn wide as he chases a second Cup after winning it in 2022. Mighty Ronaldo is also a previous Fremantle Cup winner.

MAGNIFICENT STORM NZ (1) will lead just as he did in The Nullarbor (2536m) when finishing third to MAX DELIGHT (5). It was a strong tempo throughout and Aiden De Campo will be hoping for a slower tempo earlier over the long distance. GOLDEN LODE NZ (10) will be trying to punch through and hold the leader’s back. MINSTREL NZ (8) will almost certainly make a move for the breeze at some point in the race.

BULLETPROOF BOY (11) didn’t enjoy being off the track last start and James Herbertson may opt to take the pegs here. Whether he ends up three back on the pegs or trails the Tasmanian TRIEDTOTELLYA (2), I am expecting a much better run from the Scott Ewen-trained 11-year-old this week. Looks a nice each-way prospect.

MAGNIFICENT STORM NZ (1) and GOLDEN LODE NZ (10) have strong claims from the pegs, while MIGHTY RONALDO (4) and MAX DELIGHT (5) will be hoping there is pressure in the race because they can swoop and capitalise. GEE HEZA SPORT NZ (12) didn’t race in The Nullarbor but with a soft trip, he can let down strongly and it wouldn’t be a shock if he won at odds. UBETCHA TIGERPIE (7) has a bad draw but sometimes that can be a blessing if those drawn favourably declare war in the run. This is a tough race and I’ve left out winning prospects in my selections as I can’t put them all in.

Selections: 11-1-4-5

BULLETPROOF BOY (11) each way

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Menangle (Saturday, April 25)

Race 5

The Listed Robin Dundee Stakes (1609m) will grant the winner entry into the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on May 2nd. A terrific field of mares has been assembled here and there is class and talent everywhere. Cool And Classy has a winning streak of four in Queensland, Tokyo Rose has won four of her past five starts, Arrive has also won the same as Tokyo Rose, while Eye Keep Smiling is the proven star of the field, boasting 28 career wins from 45 starts. Throw in up-and-coming four-year-old mare Beach Diamond, a Breeders Crown winner, and this race is sure to deliver.

ARRIVE (8) is racing in excellent form for Chantal Turpin and Pete McMullen, winning her past three starts. She is showing a lot of versatility, winning races from outside the leader, as well as sitting back and making one run. In a race full of depth here, her versatile racing pattern makes her appealing. Three starts back she ran home in 53.4 seconds and constantly breaks 55 seconds for her final 800m.

TOKYO ROSE NZ (7) will be trying to force her way to the lead, as she can run 1:49 mile rates around Menangle. She has beaten Ripples and EYE KEEP SMILING (10) at her past two starts. EYE KEEP SMILING (10) has been the benchmark mare in New South Wales for a couple of seasons and despite the horror draw, she is good enough to win if things pan out. COOL AND CLASSY (3) and POST PAINTER NZ (4) are racing well at Albion Park and they have each-way claims, while BEACH DIAMOND (9) is the intriguing runner – she is capable of running a sizzling quarter of 25.4 at Melton.

Selections: 8-7-10-9

ARRIVE (8) to win

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The next three races are heats of the NSW Oaks, being run over a mile this time, and this is a very strong edition of the three-year-old fillies’ series. There is winning form everywhere in the form guide and we will dissect all three heats now.

Race 6

A difficult NSW Oaks heat to decipher with Chantal Turpin’s duo STRIPES (3) and ALWAYSBJOY NZ (10) smashing the clock at Albion Park. The latter is very quick off the arm and Pete McMullen may be tempted to try and blast over, but risks being wide as WILLOWS GIRL (5) and RIPPLES NZ (6) have drawn underneath.

With not a great deal of confidence, I will throw STRIPES (3) on top as she has won her last three starts. McMullen will drive the stablemate but the second placing from STRIPES (3) against ALWAYSBJOY NZ (10) was impressive as she was parked without cover in 1:52.1 and finished just 1.6m from her stablemate. She gets a good draw here, Will Rixon picks up the drive and she seems to be getting better with racing – she won by a huge margin two starts ago in 1:52.0.

WILLOWS GIRL (5) has won her last three, including the Group 2 Gold Bracelet Final (1730m) over RIPPLES NZ (6) and both are good enough to win the heat. It would be an upset to see one of the top four not winning here.

Selections: 3-5-6-10

STRIPES (3) to win

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Race 7

HAVTIMETODREAM NZ (5) was second behind Sparkling Sea in the Listed JL Raith Memorial (1609m) at Menangle on March 14. She then went back to the trials at Albion Park, obliterating the clock in 1:49.5 to win by 20m over FFA pacer Speak The Truth. He couldn’t keep up with the filly and it could be an ominous warning for rivals here. If Pete McMullen can get the filly to run anything like that trial here, she should be winning the second heat.

ARK SEA (11) has won five of her seven starts, technically first past the post on six occasions (one disqualification), and she will need to be her brilliant best to win from the car park draw. She has the best race sectionals on paper and is the obvious threat in the race. RAVISHING RUBY NZ (4) is the unknown horse at this level after mostly racing in Tasmania where she was impressive for Emma Stewart.

Selections: 5-11-4-2

HAVTIMETODREAM NZ (5) to win

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Race 8

ARRHYTHMIA (10) makes the trip from Victoria for Emma Stewart and she has won eight of her 10 starts. Last season she won the Group 2 Vicbred Super Series 2YO Fillies Final (2240m) and Group 2 Breeders Crown 2YO Fillies Final (2240m). Cam Hart will send her forward searching for the front from either SENSES (2) and FAKE FRIENDS (6). If she finds the lead, she is going to be extremely hard to beat.

SENSES (2) could be behind the leader or three back on the pegs and she should run a strong race, although she is more of a place hope if the favourite finds the top. FAKE FRIENDS (6) galloped out in the Golden Easter Egg (1609m). Prior to that she won in 1:51.9.

Selections: 10-2-6-8

ARRHYTHMIA (10) to win

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For complete race fields, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink

This big race preview content was first released to The Insider subscribers. Don’t wait days for the edge on the latest news. Get our previews, selections, and insights early by joining our free newsletter The Insider.