Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - November 23

22 November 2024

 

Talented former Kiwi South Coast Arden (pictured) gets the coveted inside draw for his return to Sydney in the Nick Robin Free For All, feature race at Menangle on Saturday night. 

Promising juvenile trotter Lotus Louise will seek to add to a string of wins when he lines up in the Arizona Blue 2YO Trot Final.
Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday November 23
Race 1: ULTRA AIR PACE
WHISKEY CAVALIER (11) continues to race well, placing in his three starts since winning at this circuit and distance. Will have to overcome the outside barrier but was also drawn wide when edged out by just a nose here last start. Big chance to go one better. TERRY (5) has been tackling stronger company of late but was a winner the last time he raced in this grade so will enjoy the class drop. He gets his chance to return to the winners' stall. MICK DANGER (10) draws wider than when beating Whiskey Cavalier last time but that win took his record at this distance to four from six so he must rate highly. MAJOR MAJOR (7) draws a few spots lower than when midfield last week. That brings him into calculations.
Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE
ROCKNROLL HAMMER (4) makes his first appearance since the Brisbane winter carnival where he tackled some strong races but did manage a win at Albion Park. Proven fresh and has been readied with two trials, placing in both. Well placed for a winning return. MAEBEE (2) is racing well and has the hoof on the till following a string of top-four finishes. He was brave when he came from the extreme outside to go under by head here last week. A much better draw gives him the chance to go one better. COOL NIGHT (1) was a solid fourth when drawn a few spots wider here last week. Led to win from this draw at Newcastle last month so can give a sight. MIKI PINS (5) was a beaten favourite when fourth here last time but has upside so is worth another chance.
Race 3: ALLCOTT THUNDER RACE PACE
IDEAL MARQUESS (7) had put the writing on the wall with back-to-back placings before recording a well-deserved win by 3.2m here last week. Yet to win at this longer distance but has placed in four of five attempts. Draws wider tonight but this looks another winnable assignment. SPECULATING (8) was only 4m away last time and had produced some good efforts before that including a win from a similar barrier to this. Up to a distance where he owns a good record so can go well again. THE REAL MCCOY (5) was just over 5m behind Ideal Marquess when he clocked in fourth last week but draws inside that rival tonight. That gives him a shot at turning the tables. TITIAN RAIDER (6) has claims off a win three back and a solid showing for fourth last week.
Race 4: CORDINA CHICKEN FARMS LADYSHIP PACE
GO OH MICKY (7) brought her winning form to the city last time, pushing forward to lead from this same barrier before scoring by 1.3m. Takes a step up in grade but that last victory was her seventh on the trot so she is hard to knock. MAJOR FIRE (10) cops the outside barrier but she is in fine form, winning her two outings against the boys at this circuit and distance since joining Jarrod Alchin. Scored despite racing three wide without cover two back so can do it the hard way if she needs to. Big chance again. PROMISELAND (9) draws deep but deserves respect off a string of placings, the latest at Listed level. This is a suitable assignment. MARIA ALLEGONDA (4) gets her lowest draw of the campaign so far and she is going well, winning fresh before chasing Go Oh Micky as runner-up last time. ZENXENA (5) brings good form Brisbane, placing in a G3 for the mares last start. She could measure up.
Race 5: PRYDE'S ENERGYPAK PACE
JIMMY JAMES MAGUIRE (8) is a newcomer to the Grima yard from New Zealand and brings sound form, placing at Addington when last seen five weeks ago. Draws wide but was tuned up for this with a trial win. Looks nicely placed to kick off in Sydney with a win. DOM TORETTO (5) led and faded to midfield over the mile last start but there was merit in his effort for second over this longer journey two back. Hasn't missed a place over the distance so the step up suits. JOELITA (6) made a mess of the start last time but there was plenty of merit in her closing second here two back. Chance with manners. HAS THE COURAGE (7) could be close to another win having come from similar draws to this to place in his last two outings here.
Race 6: CLUB MENANGLE NICK ROBIN FFA (LISTED CLASSIC)
Talented former Kiwi SOUTH COAST ARDEN (1) made a winning return to Australia when leading from a much wider barrier to score by 1.2m at Bathurst. That was his first outing for more than six months so he'll be better for it and he owns a decent record at this circuit. Has the gate speed to take advantage of the ace draw and it gives him every chance to win again. STAR MAJOR (4) has worked his way back into form, racing parked when placed at Listed level two back before digging deep to score from a wider draw here last time. Go well again. GAWN (6) overraced and faded in his first outing for the Grimson yard but has trialled well since. He is suited back to the mile having recorded two wins and a placing from three attempts at the distance. ARDENS ACE (9) draws deeper tonight but is worth including given his consistent form.
Race 7: CLUB MENANGLE ARIZONA BLUE 2YO TROT FINAL
LOTUS LOUISE (5) is a progressive colt who came from this same draw to score by 1.5m at this circuit and distance last time out. That took his record to four from five, the lone defeat coming when fourth in a Group 1 at Melton. He stands out as the class runner in this line-up. SAN JUAN MOUNTAIN (3) has chased Lotus Louise as runner up in his last two outings and did get much closer to him last time. Making progress and race fit fourth up so it wouldn't shock to see him turn the tables. JACKIES GIFT (4) chased well at big odds to place in the G2 Breeders Crown 2F Final at Melton last week. Deserves respect off that. PRINCE ZIGGY (2) broke last time but there was merit in his debut placing behind Lotus Louise so could feature if he gets it right.
Race 8: SUCCESS STUD ALL YOUR HORSE BREEDING NEEDS PACE
Looks a good race for OUR UNCLE JIM (5). He has been far from disgraced against stronger opposition of late, coming from wider barriers than this at his last couple. This is winnable. PORT AU PRINCE (7) is proving costly for his supporters but there was plenty of merit in his effort here last week when beaten less than 2m. He draws wider but there isn't a lot of depth to this so if things go his way he could put another win on the board. SAHARA SIROCCO (9) enjoys a class drop on his last attempt and did perform well for fourth in a higher-graded race than this here three back. Draws deep but is good enough to play a role with even luck. MAJOR JELLIS (8) is another drawn deep but he'll find this easier than his fresh assignment and is a two-time second-up winner so looking for improvement.
BEST BETS:
Race 5 #8 Jimmy James Maguire – A trial win will have him ready to kick off in Australia with a win.
Race 6 #1 South Coast Arden – Looks nicely placed to back up the resuming win.