Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - March 7

6 March 2026

 

A low draw should give flying mare Captains Mistress every chance to use her speed an add to her winning streak in Saturday night's Group 1 Chariots of Fire, feature race on a star-studded Menangle program.

The meeting also features qualifiers for next week's Miracle Mile and NSW Derby with topliners Leap To Fame, Don Hugo, Kingman and Swayzee among those doing battle.
Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday March 7
Race 1: HORSPORT REHYDRATION FFA
KINGMAKER (7) has the hoof on the till after placing in his three starts so far this campaign. Chased topliner Don Hugo when beaten less than 4m into second last week and comes back to a distance where he owns a good record. Should be hitting his peak fourth up so can break through. RIPP (10) draws wide but came from a similar barrier to finish only 2.4m off Miracle Mile hopeful Pinseeker last time. That was his first outing off a let-up so should be better for it. NERANO (8) didn't fire during his stint in WA but is back in the Jason Grimson yard and his best form measures right up here. I BREAK THE LINE (2) came from the back row to find winning form at Newcastle last start. This is stronger but he draws to advantage. CAPTAIN BELLASARIO (11) is up in grade but racing well, winning two of his past three starts at this circuit and distance.
Race 2: KA CLEANS & FLUSHES NSW DERBY HEAT 1
SHOWMETHETANLINES (3) drew much wider and worked when parked so was far from disgraced when midfield in the Simpson Memorial last start. Was racing well prior and owns a 50 per cent strike rate at this circuit and distance. Should get every chance from a much better draw. SOHO TRUMP (8) beat Showmethetanlines home when a resuming third in the Simpson Memorial then led from a low draw and was too good last start, giving him two wins and a placing from three attempts at this circuit and distance. Tougher from this draw but he is a talent. REWATCH (6) came from wider for a resuming win here. This is stronger but he'll be fitter and looks to have returned in good order. EYENEEDTHAT (1) progressed off a midfield effort at Listed level when resuming to finish runner-up in Victoria last start. Building in fitness and is aided by the ace draw.
Race 3: NEUTRA-SYRUP NSW DERBY HEAT 2
Talented colt FIRE AND PASSION (1) brings an impressive strike rate from Queensland and the stable usually has success when travelling. Came from wider to win first-up, his first outing since a Group 1 win at home last August. It should have improved him and he has the speed to take advantage of the ace draw. USYK (3) is two from two this time in, leading to beat older rivals at Wagga last start. That took his career strike rate 50 per cent and he draws to be prominent again. He looks an each way hope as does MESSAGE BANK (9) who cops a wide barrier but will be fitter second-up and showed good ability last season, highlighted by his Group 1 Gold Crown win. SOHO CHARMER (7) won his lone second-up attempt so should be improved by his resuming effort where he came from this barrier for a midfield finish in the Simpson Memorial. YOTTIE (4) is a query having ended his juvenile season with a string of Bathurst wins. Trialling well and has upside.
Race 4: IRONVITA NSW DERBY HEAT 3
There was plenty to like about the Australian debut of the capable Kiwi ZEUS LIGHTNING (6) who chased boom colt Hollywood Strip when runner-up in the Simpson Memorial. Has switched to the powerhouse Jason Grimson yard since and has trialled well in that time so should have come on. FUGITIVE (8) is another well-performed former Kiwi who kicked off for Mick Stanley with a win over older horses at this circuit before working for a 1.6m third in the Caduceus 3YO Classic at Melton. Cops a wide draw but has ability so could overcome that. EMPEROR (5) is still lightly-raced but is a horse on the up having led from this barrier to win at this circuit and distance last start. Gets to this level early in his career but clearly has talent. SOHO PARK AVENUE (7) got back in the Simpson Memorial but worked home well for fourth. Fitter and his strike rate at the mile stands at 50 per cent. MOVE IT LOU (2) got close to a handy one in Brisbane at his Australian debut. Draws well and has upside.
Race 5: INTERNATIONAL ANIMAL HEALTH SPRINT
LEAP TO FAME (4) comes off a narrow and very brave second in the Hunter Cup after working hard. Terrific in three prior Victorian wins, two at Group 1 level. He is more dominant over further than this but his strike rate at the distance is strong and he has a Miracle Mile win on his resume. The low barrier should give him his chance. Last-start winner DON HUGO (1) has fared even better at the draw and he has the speed to take advantage. Held the lead and made Leap To Fame work when beating him in last year's Miracle Mile here. He'll look to do it again. HI MANAMEISJEFF (5) is a Menangle mile specialist, winning 10 of 13 attempts. Came from the outside barrier to beat Don Hugo over the distance last month. Could upset the top pair. SPEAK THE TRUTH (3) brings winning form from Queensland. Draws well and won one of these qualifiers two years ago prior to his Miracle Mile placing. Include. Tough draw for CAPTAINS KNOCK (12) but he has been terrific on the country cups circuit of late.
Race 6: BIOWORMA SPRINT
THE JANITOR (1) had a taste of the big time when a very close third to topliners Don Hugo and Leap To Fame when last seen in December's Blacks a Fake in Brisbane. Comes into this fresh but races well that way and has been readied with two trial wins. Has won here a couple of times before and should get his chance from the ace draw. KINGMAN (8) drew poorly and had little luck but was still brave in the Hunter Cup. Back to the mile but has a decent record at it and strikes at 50 per cent here. Brilliant in a couple of big wins late last year and could roar back into winning form. RAKERO ROCKET (5) was gunned down as a hot favourite in last week's Newcastle Mile but had clocked terrific times in winning his previous two starts at this circuit and distance. Last-start Hunter Cup winner SWAYZEE (12) is better known over further and faces a task from the outside barrier but is all class. This is much tougher than what PINSEEKER (2) faced in his last-start win but he draws to be competitive.
Race 7: LIVAMOL CHARIOTS OF FIRE (GROUP 1)
CAPTAINS MISTRESS (3) stretched her unbeaten record for Jason Grimson to five when leading from wider to score by close to 10m in last week's Paleface Adios. That made it four from four at the mile and her other wins since switching from NZ had been by huge margins of between 18 and 25m. Has the speed to take full advantage of the low draw so it is hard to see how they stop her. HESITATE (11) has been kept fresh since his resuming win in the Bonanza at Melton. The wide draw hurts but he is three from three when second up and was good enough to place in last year's Eureka. DOUBLE LOU (1) worked to the front from wider when winning the Hondo Grattan narrowly last start, his third success in four tries at this circuit and distance this time in. The ace draw should see him competitive. MY ULTIMATE BARNEY (2) will find it hard to turn the tables on Captain Mistress through last week's third but he enjoys a better draw. FINAL DEADLINE (9) just missed from this draw last start. Include.
Race 8: ELECTROMIX ELECTROLYTES WARATAH SERIES FINAL
FARFALLA STRIDE (3) was a big improver second up, coming from the back row to score by 3 metres at Wagga. Has the benefit of a much better draw and is a two-time winner at this circuit and distance. Goes very well third-up with a win and a placing from two attempts so should be peaking. FLYING COLOURS (2) was brave in victory last start, racing parked but digging deep to score by a neck at Blayney. A good draw can see him in the finish again. Hard to knock the consistency of SPIRIT KING (5) who added to a string of wins and placings when coming from this barrier to score at Newcastle last time out. Each way player along with GLENEAGLE RULER (9) and REFUSAL (11) who both draw wide but have the ability to win if things pan out their way.
Race 9: SOOTHA SAPLING STAKES (LISTED CLASSIC)
Luke McCarthy's Huntsville colt DON HUNTER (2) looks a readymade two-year-old having impressed in winning his last three trials at this circuit and distance, cruising home by a big margin in the latest. Those hitouts will have him ready to go and the low draw gives him every chance to kick off with a win. PASSION AND PAIN (9) draws wide but had a similar barrier when runner-up at his debut two back then progressed to win the Sapling Final over this distance at Newcastle last time. May need some luck but has upside as does THEMIDNIGHTEXPRESS (4) who kicked off his career with a Victorian win, leading to score more than 2m at Maryborough. Could progress along with RISEABOVETHEREST (3) who draws nicely and did well to score after racing parked on debut.
Race 10: PRON8URE PROBIOTIC TOUGH MONARCH TROTTERS FFA
WATTS UP PARTYTIME (8) kept his manners in check and was impressive at Newcastle last start, racing parked before cruising home by close to 17m. Kicked off his campaign with a win the last time he raced here last month. Strong claims again. CONSTANTINOPLE (7) has been consistent with a string of top-four finishes since winning here in January. Came from a 20m handicap in a last-start fourth and was runner-up from this barrier prior. Strikes at 50 per cent at this circuit and distance and has the ability win with his A-game. Manners let French import KRISTAL JOSSELYN (6) down at his Australian debut but he had been trialling strongly at this venue prior so is worth another chance. HIDE AND SEEK (9) draws wide but brings decent form from Brisbane where he has put together a series of top-four results. Could measure up. SPEEDY LOVER (5) is another that has been racing consistently and is worth including.
BEST BETS:
Race 1 #7 Kingmaker - Building nicely into his campaign and last week's second to Don Hugo should have him ready to win.
Race 4 #6 Zeus Lightning - Good behind a boom colt at his Australian debut and should have come on from that.