The Insider – Australian Analysis May 28 Edition

A huge weekend of harness racing awaits with the Nutrien Classic Sales Race Series Finals at Wagga, along with the Qbred Breeders Classic Finals at Albion Park.

Both feature race meetings will be held on Saturday, starting with Wagga hosting an eight-race card from 4:44pm AEST. The 2YO pacing finals are worth $200,000 in prizemoney and the 3YO pacing finals are worth $100,000.

The Qbred Breeders Classic Finals are all worth $50,000. The 3YO colts and geldings’ division featuring Fire And Passion, Barsby, Pure Grunt and Sitting On Eight looks a particular highlight on Albion Park’s 11-race meeting.

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Wagga (Saturday, May 30)

Race 1

The 2YO pacing fillies looks a thin race on paper with heat winner Shes A Delaney drawing the car park in barrier eight as she meets runner up Kahula who begins from barrier 10. The pair cleared out from the rest in the prelude with Decoupage finishing third, but she needs to improve as she had a nice run throughout but couldn’t fend off Kahula for second.

KAHULA (10) was the run of the race in the lead up, which was also her race debut, recording personal sectionals of 1:54.4, 55.5, 27.3. Beginning from barrier two on the second row, she can settle closer in the run and can be put into the race here. She looks the hardest to beat from the Emma Stewart stable.

SHES A DELANEY (8) is the logical danger and will need to burn across early to try and get ahead of her main danger. If she ends up behind KAHULA (10) in the run, then I don’t think she can beat her. DECOUPAGE (3) has place claims at best. KOOKY (1) and CANDY GIRL MARLEY (2) draw well and could run a minor placing.

Selections: 10-8-3-1

KAHULA (10) to win

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Race 2

The 2YO pacing colts and geldings saw a terrific heat at Wagga as Smack Bang Bart won on debut at $23 for trainer Courtney Barton and driver Jack Barton. It was the first win for both and now for the final, big-race driver Jason Lee jumps aboard with so much at stake. A quality field of opposition face him, including Intemperance, Cardigan Jem, Disturbance, Tuapeka Gold and Gocciadoro.

SMACK BANG BART (4) could not have impressed any more than he did on debut, sitting parked outside CARDIGAN JEM (10) to win in 1:53.5. With Jason Lee picking up the drive, the lead should be up for grabs and if he can hit the peg line, he is going to take a stack of beating if he shows any progression. The concern is that the heat run could have flattened him a little bit.

CARDIGAN JEM (10) might enjoy either having something to chase or sitting parked and Emma Stewart can peak them for juvenile feature races. Lots of winning hopes here and it’s hard to narrow them down in order as the barrier draw has made it competitive. INTEMPERANCE (5) could get a nice run with some cover in the moving line. DISTURBANCE (12) can run home strongly. TUAPEKA GOLD (13) had no luck last time and should be strong in the run home.

Selections: 4-10-5-12

SMACK BANG BART (4) to win

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Race 7

The 3YO pacing fillies saw Willows Girl narrowly defeat Eye Wish in a dash home in 26.5 seconds in one of the heats. Another saw Go Easy On Me prove too tough winning from outside the leader. The barrier draw makes this an incredible race with third-placed Devious Minds drawing barrier one, Eye Wish has barrier seven, Go Easy On Me barrier 12 and Willows Girl barrier 14 (scratchings of emergencies or others could change this).

DEVIOUS MINDS (1) comes up with the perfect draw for Robert Morris to seek cover on a suitable rival. She has good gate speed and they tried leading in the Group 2 Gold Bracelet Final won by WILLOWS GIRL (14) but that didn’t suit the filly. Her heat run showed that racing with cover and waiting for the sprint lane is ideal. Has each-way claims.

EYE WISH (7) tried hard in the heat and was an excellent run in defeat. She consistently runs well and will likely be driven aggressively early to find a forward position, and possibly the lead. WILLOWS GIRL (14) has the most wins in the field and has won at Group 2 level. She has a terrible draw but is good enough to still win. GO EASY ON ME (12) is versatile and that bodes well for her chances. COMPLETE STRANGER (9) looks next best from the soft pegs run.

Selections: 1-7-14-12

DEVIOUS MINDS (1) each way

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Race 8

Brad Hewitt’s superstar three-year-old gelding has the 3YO pacing colts and geldings’ division at his mercy as he seeks win number 12 at start 13. He won easily in the heat and should win again here at $1.20. Andretti, Cardigan Dan, Nocturnal and Brooklyn Dan will try their best to cause a major upset in the feature.

HOLLYWOOD STRIP (4) should lead and win. Can’t tip anyone into him at the price. ANDRETTI (6) beat him for pace in the heat but didn’t look to be urged to try and cross – so they may try in the final. This isn’t a race that I am keen to get involved in, so prefer to just watch it.

SAN SEBASTIAN (2), ANDRETTI (6), CARDIGAN DAN (7) and BROOKLYN DAN (13) look the main dangers to the dominant favourite, but they may be running for a minor placing.

Selections: 4-7-13-6

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Albion Park (Saturday, May 30)

Race 2

Qbred Breeders Classic Finals night and first up is the 3YO colts and geldings. Pure Grunt, Barsby, Sitting On Eight and Ideal Bronski were the heat winners, but the run of the series so far might have been Fire And Passion who raced outside the leader in 1:52.1. He comes up with barrier one for the final and will be hardest to beat.

IDEAL BRONSKI (11) and FIRE AND PASSION (1) smashed the clock in their heat as the hit the line locked together, just a half-head separating the pair in 1:52.1, 55.5. This was easily the fastest heat of the series and with barrier one, FIRE AND PASSION (1) should prove hard to beat. He is a good frontrunner and should be leading here.

BARSBY (6) or IDEAL BRONSKI (11) should race outside the leader and that position will make it harder for them to topple the favourite. Outside of that trio, it would be a huge upset to see someone else win as there is a distinct class and speed edge to the trio.

Selections: 1-11-6-8

FIRE AND PASSION (1) to win

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Race 5

The 3YO fillies’ final looks set to be dominated by trainer Chantal Turpin who has Ruby Rhayne Bow and Stripes engaged. The pair won well in their respective heats. Cherries On Tip won in slow time in comparison to the Turpin runners. First emergency Amylee could threaten the leading pair if she gains a start – she ran a disappointing fourth in her heat but can be forgiven for one poor run.

STRIPES (5) is the filly that Pete McMullen has opted to drive for the race and she should spear across searching for the front. Expecting the map to be her leading with RUBY RHAYNE BOW (2) on her back. STRIPES (5) has shown the most ability to date and will prove hard to beat here after winning in 1:53.8. She has previously saluted in 1:52.0m 54.5 from the breeze.

ZEEZEEZOOM (9) has place claims in the race and AMYLEE (3) is an each-way prospect if she gains a start – she lacks early pace so won’t stop the favourite from crossing if she does gain a run.

Selections: 5-2-9-4

STRIPES (5) to win

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Race 6

The 2YO colts and geldings’ final will see heat winners Yippee Kiyay and Bet Hes Sweet collide and the barrier draw has fallen in favour of both – Yippee Kiyay has the inside draw and Bet Hes Sweet has barrier two if the emergency doesn’t gain a run. Parisian Hustler has also drawn the front line after a very brave heat defeat, while the same can be said for Bettor One. Finally, Hunt For Glory was an excellent run but must overcome barrier 11. Sit back and enjoy because this race looks a ripper!

YIPPEE KIYAY (1) has the speed to lead but could take a sit on BET HES SWEET (3) because there will be pressure coming with PARISIAN HUSTLER (5) and BETTOR ONE (6) both engaged.

PARISIAN HUSTLER (5) looks the value as the map could work out well by going forward and obtaining some 1 out 1 back cover on BETTOR ONE (6). Shane Graham’s gelding has won two of his four starts and was brave when finishing a narrow third from the death seat. With some potential cover here, he could have the last crack at them.

Selections: 5-3-11-6

PARISIAN HUSTLER (5) each way

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Race 7

The 2YO fillies’ final sees Chantal Turpin with the dominant hand as Shine Like Me draws barrier four after her heat victory, sprinting home in 26.4 seconds. Stablemate Rebecca Rhayne Bow won the other heat in a much quicker mile rate of 1:54.3, but they came home in 29.1 seconds. Pete McMullen will drive Shine Like Me and Tom Callaghan is set to steer Rebecca Rhayne Bow. Harper Delight was a shock defeat in her heat at $1.15 and must be respected.

SHINE LIKE ME (4) will try to find the lead as she draws best of the main hopes. If she finds the fence, she will prove extremely hard to beat, otherwise she could be vulnerable. Her price is looking short enough at $1.80.

REBECCA RHAYNE BOW (10) and HARPER DELIGHT (9) are the obvious dangers in the race. Every other runner is still a maiden, which makes this a big test for them. TACTIQUE (2) wasn’t good enough in the heat, finishing fourth after a nice soft trip but she gets Angus Garrard for this and looks to have place value claims. I would suggest only having something very small on the win, but this is mostly a place suggestion as she has an economical run and tries to cling onto a top three spot.

Selections: 4-10-9-2

TACTIQUE (2) each way

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For complete Saturday night harness racing fields, click here.

by Trent Orwin for Harnesslink