Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - September 14

13 September 2024

Last week’s Len Smith Mile placegetter Max Delight gets a class drop but a wide barrier when he backs up at Menangle on Saturday night.

The program also features four qualifiers for next week's $50,000 Carousel Final.

Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday September 14

Race 1: AINSWORTH - AGTSLOTS.COM LADYSHIP PACE

LIBBY LOU (2) is a smart filly resuming. She won a Gold Bullion heat at this circuit two back and was last seen when runner up in the final of that series at Melton in May, beaten 1.5m. She possesses good gate speed so can take advantage of the low draw. Has placed in all three previous fresh attempts and should be ready to go off a solid trial. SWEET AGENDA (4) led and toughed out a win at Penrith last start to continue her strong form that included a Listed placing in the Norms Daughter Classic here two back. A repeat of that performance would stack up strongly here. SWEET COCO (7) draws wider than in the last-start second but had come from the extreme outside to win her previous two outings so is going well. MAJOR FIRE (9) strikes at 50 per cent when fresh and should be ready to fire again off two trials, winning the latest.

Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE

REGAZZO DI TILLY (6) will enjoy a class drop having tackled stronger company in his last two Sydney starts. Led and faded in last week's Stockade but there was plenty of merit in the prior effort when midfield in a Eureka qualifier. With his A-game he can win this. CRAFTMANS CHARLIE (8) finished in front of Regazzo Di Tilly in the Stockade and was consistent before that with a win and three placings from his previous four outings here. Draws wide but is in good form. OUTSIDE FIGHTER (7) cops a wider draw than last week but is flying having won his last five starts at this circuit. Toughed it out from a similar barrier two back so must rate highly again. CAPTAIN TOM (5) wasn't far away from this draw last week to follow a nice win at this venue. Go well.

Race 3: CLUB MENANGLE SUTTON MCMILLAN FFA

MAX DELIGHT (10) backs up after a big effort to place in a high quality field in last week's Group 1 Len Smith Mile. He draws much wider but has the gate speed to get across and has been in terrific form, winning his previous three starts at this circuit. Only has to hold his form to go close. CURLY JAMES (9) continued his consistent form when he led and fought well to go under by just a head last week. He draws out but has enough gate speed to push forward. Big chance to atone. CLASSIE WASHINGTON (1) did a good job to come from the extreme outside and finish only 5m from the winner last week. He is much better served by the ace draw. WHEREYABINBOPPIN (8) is another drawn wide but his form reads well, placing last week and scoring here three back. Respect.

Race 4: CONGRATULATIONS DON HUGO WARATAH SERIES FINAL

SAINT KARAMARA (6) has been racing consistently and added to a string of top-two finishes with his last-start Newcastle win, coming from this same barrier and digging deep to score narrowly. He can continue the strong form. RETURN SERVE (2) made an encouraging return to racing when he chased along the sprint lane to miss by just a nose at Wagga. He has won second-up before so should be improved and will enjoy the lower draw. BACKWARDS FIRST (1) led from a few spots wider when runner up last start at Bathurst so has the gate speed to take advantage of the ace draw. CATCHINGCONFIDENCE (10) cops a wide barrier but has claims off a Tamworth win two back.

Race 5: ULTRA AIR CAROUSEL HEAT 1

ULTIMATE BIRD (12) draws wide again after finishing down the track last start but that was in a stronger contest and he had been racing well before that with a string of wins and placings. Owns a good record at this circuit and finds a more suitable assignment. AMERICAN HAMMER (10) returns to the city with good form at Penrith, scoring back-to-back wins before a nose second in a higher-graded event last time. Draws deep but can measure up in this line-up. KAITOA (4) steps up in grade but draws nicely and is going well with placings in his last two outings here, last time beaten just over a metre. WINONA WRITER (11) will enjoy a class drop on recent outings having scored the last time she attempted this class here last month.

Race 6: PRYDE'S RACING CUBE CAROUSEL HEAT 2

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY (9) left Brisbane off a strong victory at Albion Park last month and backed that up with a 4.2m win at this circuit a fortnight ago. That was in a higher-graded race so while drawn deeper she is well placed to land the hat trick. Former Kiwi DOM TORETTO (4) was a beaten favourite when third at his local debut but he came from a much wider barrier so will relish tonight's draw. That was his first outing for a month so he should have come on. OUR SUNSET DELIGHT (7) flies fresh winning four of five attempts and should be ready to fire again off three trials, winning his last two. SMOOTH BUZZ (11) draws deep but owns a strong record at this distance and must be respected after winning his last two outings at Bathurst.

Race 7: SUCCESS STUD FOR SPELLING YOUR HORSES CAROUSEL HEAT 3

DUKE OF SCOTLAND (11) is a capable former Kiwi who has been making strong progress in Brisbane, winning his first three Australian starts and coming from a back row draw for a 1.5m second when last seen at Albion Park. Freshened since but kept up to the mark with a trial win and has the talent to overcome the wide draw. CATSEYE BEACH (5) resumes off some strong Brisbane form having ended last campaign with an Albion Park win in January. He draws well and has been readied for his return with a trial win at this circuit. DONEGAL LUTHER (12) draws deepest but also had a wide barrier when beaten just a nose here when fresh. Proven second-up so can progress. VINKE B (8) has claims after missing by just a head from a similar barrier last start.

Race 8: LATHER UP - AT WOODLANDS STUD IN 2024 CAROUSEL HEAT 4

MICK DANGER (10) comes off a strong showing to finish midfield against much tougher company in last week's Stockade. He had looked close to a win when placed in his previous three outings at this circuit. Draws wider but is nicely placed with the class drop. POWER UP (5) did a good job to come from a much wider barrier and record a 6.4m win here last start. He takes a step up in grade but that is offset by a lower draw so can perform well again. HUTA (6) has produced two solid efforts since a strong win at Bathurst. He draws wider but is going well. LITTLE DEMON (8) led to win last start at Newcastle so can push forward and play a role again.

Race 9: CORDINA CHICKEN FARMS PACE

UNFAZED (9) - pictured - draws wide but has been racing well from similar barriers, missing by just a neck as runner up two back before a 3.8m fourth last time. He looks well placed in this line-up so has winning claims with even luck. GLENLEDI ELVIS (3) has been solid in two outings since a spell, the latest from a much wider barrier. Won his lone third-up attempt so should be close to his peak and is much better served by the low draw. DOUBLE ACT (6) hasn't been too far away in some decent races of late and there was plenty of merit in his last-start second. Contender. HY VOLTAGE (5) faded last time but is a player off a placing from the outside barrier two back. BLACK ONYX (4) has won three of four attempts at this circuit and distance so must be respected up in journey.

BEST BETS:

Race 7 #11 Duke Of Scotland – Progressive pacer who has the ability to overcome a wide draw.

Race 8 #10 Mick Danger– Performed well in strong company last week and will enjoy the class drop.