Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - July 20

19 July 2024

 

Multiple Group 1 winner Major Delight (pictured) will add some class to Saturday night’s Menangle meeting when she resumes in the Listed Garrards Stylish Memphis Stakes.

The program will also see the running of four heats of the Winter Gift.

Race 1: ALLIED EXPRESS TAXI TRUCK SERVICES PACE

MACH DA VINCI (1) is improving with racing this time in and put the writing on the wall here last start when he came from a wider barrier for a 2m third. Owns a decent record at this longer distance and gets his chance from the ace draw. OUR MONEY ROCKS (5) makes his first appearance since last December's Inter Dominion series where he was just 1.2m behind Leap To Fame when third in one of the heats and went on to qualify for the final. He strikes at 50 per cent when fresh and will be ready to go off a trial win. PETES SAID SO (9) led to win over a mile here last start. He draws deeper but is going well enough to play a role again. JAY OK (8) must be respected having extended a string of placings when runner up to Petes Said So last week.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE

FIAMMA (5) returns to Sydney and looks close to a win after two Melton outings since a let-up, last time coming from the back line for third. She strikes at 50 per cent at the mile so looks nicely placed. JILLIBY NITRO (4) did a good job for third in stronger company last week, giving him two wins and two placings in his last four starts. Drew deeper and raced up to four wide but was too good two starts back so must rate highly. ARDENS ACE (3) has the hoof on the till having come from wider to miss by a head last week, his fourth placing from his last five starts. DOUBLE ACT (8) enjoys a class drop on his fresh effort and has won two of three second-up attempts so expect a better result.

Race 3: SUCCESS STUD - SPELLING HORSE SERVICES PACE (HEAT 1)

There was plenty of merit in the latest effort of CAPTAIN RITCHIE (4) when he drew widest and raced outside the leader but stuck on for fourth. Has a terrific third-up record with two wins and a placing from three attempts so can peak from the low draw. IM ROCKIN IT (6) is racing in fine form having raced wide for an easy win two back at Wagga before proving too strong here last time. Draws a couple of spots wider but he is going well enough to land the hat trick. CORBIE STUMBLER (9) scored from this barrier two back at Newcastle before another strong showing here last week, beaten 1.6m into second. Draws deeper but he is in good form. ULTIMATE BIRD (10) is another with a wide barrier but he is hard to knock having finished runner up in both starts since winning here and strikes at 50 per cent at the circuit and distance.

Race 4: HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY RAY PIPER PACE (HEAT 2)

OOGA CHAKA (6) was too strong in his first outing for the new astable at this circuit and distance last week, racing outside the leader before digging deep. Draws a similar barrier and is a big chance to back that up. SHEFFIELD SPARKY (8) made Ooga Chaka work for it here last time, pushing him to just a neck when runner up. He draws the same barrier so can be in the finish again. CAPTAIN TOM (10) led to win two back in the country before a good showing for second at this venue last week. Draws wider but is racing well enough to play a role again. TITIAN RAIDER (12) draws deep but there was plenty of merit in his last effort for a 2.2m third so deserves respect.

Race 5: CORDINA CHICKEN FACTORY OUTLET PACE (HEAT 3)

DIEING ART (3) did a good job against the mares here last week when she came from a wider barrier for a 6.5m fourth. That was her first outing for close to two months since a Penrith win so she'll be better for it and is aided by a low draw. BARTELLO (7) had a wide draw last start so prepared to forgive that result. He had been in fine form before that with a string of top-two finishes at this circuit including a hat-trick of wins, one of them from a wider barrier than this. Can bounce back. SHADES OF HEAVEN (2) wasn't too far from the placegetters last start and draws well so could feature along with ROCLEA IMAGE (1) who had recorded back-to-back placings here prior to the latest outing and draws for a soft run.

Race 6: GARRARDS STYLISH MEMPHIS STAKES (LISTED CLASSIC)

Multiple Group 1 winner MAJOR DELIGHT (11) resumes having ended her last campaign with a win here in May. Starts from the extreme outside barrier but also drew deepest last start and had enough speed to cross and lead, taking her record at this circuit and distance to four from six. Has only once been beaten in five fresh attempts and will be ready to go off two trials. MORE GOODA (3) continues to race well having extended a string of top-three finishes when she led and stuck on for a 6m third last week. Draws closer to the pegs and with race fitness on her side is a danger. CARRERA SUNSET (4) has come from wider barriers since winning here three back but owns a 50 per cent strike rate at this circuit and distance so must rate highly. LITTLE BLISS (7) has been racing against the boys including a placing two back so is suited against her own sex.

Race 7: KING OF SWING STANDING AT COBBITTY EQUINE FARM PACE (HEAT 4)

MY ULTIMATE CARTER (4) performed below market expectations last start but he came from a wider barrier and was tackling a longer distance so it may pay to be forgiving. Raced parked when he scored a second-up win over the mile two back and will be at peak fitness now so can bounce back from the lower draw. VINKE B (3) takes a step up in grade but is in fine form having won his last two outings at this circuit, the latest from a wider barrier. The good draw can see him play a role again. HEZ DUSTY (8) cops a wider draw but has been consistent of late with a string of top-four finishes. WAYOUTWEST (7) had recorded a string of wins and placings before the latest attempt so is worth including.

Race 8: AINSWORTH GAME TECHNOLOGY TROTTERS MOBILE

HOT TO TROT (10) has been freshened since he broke when well fancied in a G3 last start and was a strong winner two back when he crossed to lead before going on to salute by 8m. Has the speed to overcome the wide draw and looks tough to beat if he gets it right. SHEZA PLEASURE (7) rounded off a stint in Brisbane with a fourth at G2 level two back and was solid when filling the same position here last week. Draws deep but she has built a handy record here and this suits. SUPER SERVICE (2) made a winning start for the new stable with a narrow win at this venue. Freshened since and is up in grade but draws well. ELECTROJET (3) is another tackling a stronger race but she did a good job to come from a wider barrier and win here last start.

BEST BETS:

Race 3 #4 Captain Ritchie – Goes very well third-up so can peak aided by a better draw.

Race 4 #6 Ooga Chaka– Well placed to back up the first-up win for the new stable.