Dubbo races: Tips, best bets and analysis

While the focus will be on Nowra on Sunday and the running of a Country Championships heat, there’s a number of horses preparing for a later qualifying race at Dubbo.

Many racing in Sunday’s Country Championships Preview – Class 4 Handicap (1300m) will be heading for Mudgee’s championships heat on February 28. But first they have to get through Sunday’s assignment and run well to confirm they’re ready for the rich series.

Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson has Amy’s Shadow and Slatey Bay in Sunday’s race and both are first-up. Both horses have won four races to date and Thompson has them ready for good preparations.

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Mikayla Weir will ride Amy’s Shadow for Brett Thompson at Dubbo. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“I like both horses. Whoever gets the most luck on the day will do the best. Slatey Bay is probably a touch further forward in condition,” Thompson said. “My only concern with Amy’s Shadow is the 61kg up against some good horses.”

Pamela and Wild Rocket are two horses Thompson feel could be obstacles on Sunday.

Slatey Bay almost won a provincial Benchmark 68 race before being spelled during the spring to get ready for the Country Championships.

“Kylie Kennedy has some nice horses and Slatey Bay goes well,” Thompson said.

“I was very happy with him last preparation and he kept improving and he ran fourth last start a Gosford and should have won after getting too far back.

“Slatey Bay is by Zariz and they just keep getting better (with age). I’ve had a few and they improved lengths every time they come back in. They’ve been hard to compare him to Amy’s Shadow because he showed a lot early then he went off. We found out he had a few issues which we fixed and we’ve been happy with him since.

“Amy’s Shadow is an up-and-coming horse who hasn’t done much wrong. She’s won two Highways and she goes well fresh. We’ll get a bit of rain and both of them like a bit of sting out of the ground. They’ll both get back so we’ll need some luck in the run.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’S TOP PICKS

DUBBO

BEST BET

Race 6, No.2: So Good To Me

Handy type trained locally who put the writing on the wall with a fantastic recent trial win.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.2: Dubbo Warrior

Did enough in his trial here also on February 1 to signal a bold showing on debut awaits.

VALUE

Race 3, No.14: Super Chance

Kody Nestor-trained filly who took ground off a handy one when runner-up in a maiden here two weeks back.

Trainer Kody Nestor could snare a win with Super Chance. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL — DUBBO

RACE 1

The aptly-named Dubbo Warrior is trained at Wellington but comes to Dubbo on debut. Not that the venue will be unfamiliar as he trialled so well there when runner-up in a recent 1000m heat. Phases has the benefit of race experience from that day when he ran a creditable on-pace fourth at Scone. Look At Yah did enough in his trial at Bathurst in November to entertain.

BET: DUBBO WARRIOR win.

RACE 2

Artie’s Aura makes her debut at home. The Kody Nestor-trained filly beat Dubbo Warrior by 2½ lengths in that February 1 heat so we get to see how the form holds up a race earlier. Verrazougar was doing his best work late in a very fast-run 1000m maiden at Gunnedah timed in 56.80s. Maggies Time is winless after 36 starts and is unplaced here at home in 14 starts but could get into the placings.

BET: ARTIE’S AURA win.

RACE 3

Super Chance is another of the top hopes for Kody Nestor. This Super One filly has placed at three of her five starts and was runner-up past couple, the most recent here behind a handy horse, too. Kogi Lass raced handy in that same race but ended up fifth about 2 lengths behind Nestor’s filly. Jaywalker was more than 6 lengths off Super Chance that afternoon but can get closer here perhaps.

BET: SUPER CHANCE win.

RACE 4

Wild Rocket has won three times in 12 starts but importantly she’s won two of those at Dubbo from 7 visits. She was fantastic first-up in an Open Bm73 here on February 1 coming from last to finish a half-length off the winner. Patrick May was on a hat-trick before he was spelled. Take note that he has won first-up and is trained here. Amy’s Shadow has the highest benchmark in the race and is a Highway winner.

BET: WILD ROCKET each way.

RACE 5

Sons Of Bourke has the distinction of having run in a Country Championships Final. Fast forward to here and Clint Lundholm has the gelding racing at his favourite track over his favourite distance and we know how well he goes fresh. Lundholm holds a few aces, not least King’s Champ — the son of three-time Group 1 winner Yosei. Then there is Dusky Damsel who has won 5 races and 4 are here at home.

BET: SONS OF BOURKE win, box trifecta 1,3,7,9.

RACE 6

Clint Lundholm-trained mare So Good To Me trialled like an absolute bomb here 13 days ago easily holding off Westlink, Jailbreak and co. Granted it was a trial so nothing behind her was out there to make it a drag race but Lundholm’s mare looked awesome. Peloso Lass has only won twice in 19 starts but has placed nine times and better still has raced here twice for a win and a (good) second. Bean Hot and Tags are last-start maiden winners. Bean Hot was very impressive.

BET: SO GOOD TO ME win.

RACE 7

Bacinblac is one for the AC/DC fans being a daughter of Your Song. She was trained by Ron Quinton for her first 15 starts but has been at Wellington with Michael Mulholland for her past two runs. She could peak here now. Pittsburgh deserves a win, or at least is building up to one. Petain is an obvious contender. The value runners may be the stablemates Griffin’s Gaze and Malibu Stacy.

BET: BACINBLAC win.

Originally published asDubbo tips: Thompson’s twin hopes for rich series

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