Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - March 22

21 March 2025

Last-start Miracle Mile winner Don Hugo (pictured) and Inter Dominion-winning trotter The Locomotive add their star power to Saturday night’s Menangle meeting.

Group 1 winner Timmy Rictor will continue his comeback when he lines up in the Club Menangle Autumn Gift Final.
Race 1: THE THRILL OF WINNING WITH APG PACE
ROYAL CRUISER (6) has improved with racing this time in, culminating in a win at this circuit and distance last week where he led from this barrier and kept going on to score by 1.5m. Race fit and could go back-to-back. DASHING (7) beat an in-form rival when he returned to the winners' list in his latest outing at this venue and distance. Draws wider but came from even deeper when he was edged out narrowly here two back. MIKI PINS (11) disappointed as a hot favourite last time and cops the outside barrier but was a real eye catcher two back and owns a good strike rate at this circuit and distance so is capable of much better. CHEVRON ART (5) has been racing well and deserves respect off the last-start placing behind Swayzee in the Renshaw Cup. CRAFTMANS CHARLIE (10) draws wide but goes well fresh and ended last campaign with a win at this venue so keep him safe off a couple of trials.
Race 2: HAPPY 80TH BIRTHDAY JIMMY PACE
FRANCO TYSON (1) put together a string of wins at Penrith before coming to town last week where he was far from disgraced in finishing midfield from a wide barrier. The inside draw could see him return to the winners' list. Former Kiwi KAYSANS ROCK (2) disappointed in beating only one home at the local debut but had been trialling strongly prior. He is three from three when second-up so should be improved. Prepared to give him another chance from the good draw. OBADIAH DRAGON (8) draws deep but came from the outside barrier when he kicked off last campaign with a win at this circuit. A solid trial will have him ready for another good first-up showing. ALIBERTO (9) cops a tricky draw but has claims off his win here two back.
Race 3: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE
ITZMINEONTHELINE (8) was a winner at this circuit last month and looks close to another success having placed in his last two outings in this grade at Penrith. Has only once missed the top-three in his last six starts so is reliable and finds a winnable assignment. MONTEFIORE (1) draws much better than last week and was racing very well prior with two wins and a close second in his previous three attempts here, albeit in lesser grade. Can measure up from the ace draw. BARTELLO (4) draws lower than in recent attempts and is a three-time winner at this distance so the step up should suit. SMALTESE (6) has been mixing his form since a fresh win but is capable on his day. VINKE B (9) draws out but hasn't been too far away of late.
Race 4: CRC CIVIL DAVID O'CONNOR MEMORIAL
MARIA ALLEGONDA (9) will enjoy the return to her own sex having finished fourth against the boys last week. Recorded back-to-back placings here last month, one of them when beaten just a head from a similar barrier to this. This is winnable. KIA ORA BEAUTY (7) is racing well having come from a similar barrier to place in last week's Go Girlfriend Final at this circuit and distance. Came from the back row to win a heat of that series two back at Wagga. Going well so can take the next step. OCEANIC ART (5) led from this barrier and finished just behind Kia Ora Beauty in the Girl Go Girlfriend Final. She should be close to her peak third-up. JOELITA (8) draws wide but will find this easier than the last attempt and has claims off a placing here two back.
Race 5: CLUB MENANGLE AUTUMN GIFT FINAL
TIMMY RICTOR (4) did a terrific job when resuming for the new yard after a long spell last week, coming from wider to score by 1.2m at this circuit and distance. That was his sixth win from just seven starts including the G1 Breeders Crown Final as a juvenile. He should only be improved second-up and draws to win again. Stablemate SUPA AMERICAN (9) is a horse on the up, leading from this barrier and digging deep to win here last week. That was his fourth success from five starts this time in. Danger. ISLAND BOUHINIA (1) is a mare in form. Got home narrowly from this barrier last week, giving her three wins and a second from her last four outings. Must respect. NO HEART THROB (11) just missed Island Bouhinia last week and while he draws wider he won his only previous third-up attempt so could be ready to peak. SWEETHEART BART (12) can feature if things go his way from the wide draw.
Race 6: WARDS ACCOUNTING GROUP FFA
DON HUGO (11) looks a class above these rivals after beating the big guns for a brilliant Miracle Mile win last start. Cops the outside draw but came from there when winning a Group 2 prior, also at this circuit and distance. Building an impressive record here that also includes wins in a Eureka and an Inter Dominion Final. Should be too good. IM THE FALCON (7) only beat one home over the longer journey last start but was just over 6m behind Don Hugo in a G2 over this distance prior. Can chase him home again. TERRY (4) came from a wide barrier to place last week. The better draw can see him in the trifecta again. KINGMAKER (8) is also an exotic player off a win the last time he raced over the mile here two back.
Race 7: IRT HORSE TRANSPORT TROTTERS MOBILE
THE LOCOMOTIVE (8) missed the placings in the G1 Hammerhead Mile here last start but copped a wide draw so was far from disgraced when fourth. Draws deep again but he showed his class when going through last year's Inter Dominion Final undefeated, winning the final at this circuit. He can return to the winners' list. LONDON TO A BRICK (4) looks to be getting back to his best, racing wide in a resuming fourth before beating The Locomotive home when runner-up in the Hammerhead Mile. Strikes at 50 per cent at this venue and distance and could be close to his peak third-up. CONSTANTINOPLE (6) was beaten a long way in the Hammerhead but recorded two wins and a second in his previous three outings here so is capable of much better. HANOVER DA MOON (5) steps up in grade but is hard to knock having won three of his past four outings here. DOFF YOUR CAP (7) could improve second-up off a long spell.
Race 8: DAHUA COMMUNITY PACE
MAJOR PERRY (7) is racing well and looks close to a win after another strong showing in good company last week, coming from this barrier for a 1.5m second. He was held up there so should have finished closer and finds a suitable assignment so can break through. JAY OK (10) draws wide but performed well from this barrier when fourth last week and was beaten only 3.7m after racing parked here prior. Building in fitness and could be ready to show his best. CLASSIC MISSION (3) is a newcomer from Victoria to the Darren Binskin yard. Hasn't raced for five months but has been readied by placing in two trials here and draws well. FIRE FOX (11) cops a wide draw but is a two-time third-up winner so could be close to his peak.
BEST BETS:
Race 5 #4 Timmy Rictor – Terrific first up off the long spell and draws better.
Race 8 #7 Major Perry – Building towards a win and gets his chance.