Wellington preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Kody Nestor could have rightfully expected a favourable draw for All American son The Bald Eagle in the last at Wellington – after all, he has kicked in some of his own cash to sponsor the race.

Instead, the former Team Hawkes resident was dealt barrier 14 of the 15 acceptors making his mission all the harder.

The Bald Eagle began his career at Sale in Victoria on day two of the 2017/18 season finishing well the order.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

Subsequent to that however, he managed to win four times for Team Hawkes including two back-to-back wins at Canterbury in the early stages of the 2019/20 season.

The now six-year-old bay has been stationed at Dubbo for the last five of his total 31 career starts with some good showings including a placing in the Diggers Cup at Narromine and close-up fifth in the Satellite at Parkes two weeks ago.

“The horse has been going along fairly, he is one of those old customers that maybe a change of scenery has done him the world of good,’’ Nestor said.

“I would like to see him put a win on the board shortly but he is racing in good heart. He will roll forward from out there, he will have no other option, and 1400m should suit him a little bit better than the 1200m the other day.’’

Kody Nestor hopes The Bald Eagle is on the money. Picture: AAPSource:AAP

Whereas The Bald Eagle’s wide draw is a serious inconvenience, stablemate Music Miss’ 16 alley in her race is bordering on disaster.

The daughter of Your Song turned in a magnificent first-up fourth at Parkes 14-days ago coming from gate 1 of 12 and last on the turn to finish fourth.

“I thought she was near a good thing on Sunday if she had of drawn a pea,’’ Nestor said.

“I am going to have to go through the form and have a look how to ride her. I don’t know whether going forward is going to be the right option from out there so she might find herself back a fair way and she might need a touch of luck from there.’’

Thankfully for Nestor, it’s not bad news, with one of the camp’s leading lights – Forseti, gifted barrier five in the One Stop Automotive Handicap (1400m).

Forseti, who was bred at Segenhoe Stud in Scone, is a well-related son of Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win.

His grand-dam is Purde who won the Group 3 SAJC Auraria Stakes in Adelaide prior to consecutive fourths in the Oaks and Derby there for David Hayes.

Originally trained by Bjorn Baker, Forseti has run five times for Nestor highlighted by a win over his handy stablemate Dobbin at Narromine last month followed up by a creditable fourth at Moree.

“I am quite confident with him there on Sunday,’’ Nestor said.

“The horse hasn’t gone backwards by any means. He just got out of ground there a touch at Moree and when he got out he hit the line quite well.

“The 1400m around Wellington from a good barrier should suit him quite well.’’

SHAYNE O’CASS’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.5: CARRY ON CATHY

Won a trial in fantastic style before failing in the Wellington Boot Prelude in mid-March. Back in business now and ready to go.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.8: MIGHTY MINNIE

Signalled another win was imminent with that closing second at Parkes 14-days ago. Should be coming on late again.

VALUE

Race 3 No.7: ARE YOU CERTAIN

Led and collared late in a 1400m race here on May 11. Will just need to be her game early to offset that wide alley.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 4, 6

Race 6: 2, 4, 6, 9

Race 7: 1, 3, 6

Race 8: 1, 4, 7, 10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Boom apprentice Damon Budler can post his 10th winner for the month of May if he can boot home the highly fancied Rob Potter trio.

INSIDE MAIL: WELLINGTON

RACE 1

Carry On Cathy was impressive winning her trial at Hawkesbury on February 26 before finishing a poor second last (after leading) in the Wellington Boot Prelude at Coonable on the Heavy 8 surface three weeks later. Spelled, no trial this time, but it is only 900m. Beau Factor is a Kody Nestor trained gelding who has been very good in his two runs this time in. He wouldn’t have to improve much on them to win this. Gorgeous I Am is a speedy daughter of I Am Invincible drawn a ‘peach’.

Bet: Carry On Cathy win.

RACE 2

Mighty Minnie is a Mark Milton bred/owned/trained filly and a half to Harley Fat Boy who goes around in the fourth race today with solid prospects himself. As for Mighty Minnie, she turned in the best run of her eight star career thus far when a closing runner-up at Dubbo. Tenango has strung together two seconds, the last one was in a deep-ish maiden here on May 11. Superior One has drawn well and is way better than what we saw from him at Tuncurry

Bet: Mighty Minnie win, quinella 8,12.

RACE 3

Are You Certain ran the best race of her life when she resumed here on May 11 finishing second. She led that day and was only collared late. Sticky draw this time but well in contention. Charlie Flyer has only placed once in 11 starts but she has been reasonably close-up behind the placegetters on quite a few occasions. Had the trial to bring her fitness up a bit. Dissisoul remains winless after 20 starts but this is a nice race for her.

Bet: Are You Certain win.

RACE 4

Oakfield Prince’s already sound prospects soared when the Bruce McKenzie owned galloper drew barrier one. You would think that he would be able to lead from there with Digger McLellan to run this along as he sees fit. Does look hard to beat. Harley Fat Boy has only won once on 16 starts but he has placed seven times. The son of Husson always gives his backers value for money in terms of effort. Dissenter is headed towards a peak performance.

Bet: Oakfield Prince win, exacta 1 to beat 3.

RACE 5

Forseti was originally trained in town by Bjorn Baker but has been with Kody Nestor for five of his eight career runs. In that time as a Dubbo resident, Forseti has a win and a second as well as a fourth, fifth and sixth. The last run at Moree was a monster effort and he beat Dobbin before that so all’s well. Shecago was very strong indeed when she won at Parkes last start coinciding with her first run over the 1400m. Got the draw she needed. The Drover has claims.

Bet: Forseri win, exacta 3 to beat 6.

RACE 6

Sky Mission is a ten-year-old gelding trained in Canberra by Rob Potter who told us on Friday that he feels the horse has never been going better. It’s hard to argue with that based on his incredible trial win at home; he won by seven and a bit and came home in 32.93s – wow. He’s a fast horse but so is Time For Pace who is battle hardened by comparison and what’s more, is on a hat-trick. Fox Spirit is handy and from a very astute stable.

Bet: Sky Mission win, quinella 2,4, Daily Double 1st leg (2), 2nd leg (7).

RACE 7

Brothers Of Antrim is lightly-raced and somewhat promising three-year-old. The Doug Gorrel trained gelding has raced just three times, winning on debut in January. He resumed with a fantastic and close second to Monterey Zar (who goes super) in the last race of the two-day Wagga carnival. Polyxena gave her all when finishing runner-up on the Acton on May 21. Rob Potter has found a very nice race for her today. Music Miss will need something special from the draw now.

Bet: Brothers Of Antrim win, quinella 1,3, box trifecta 1,3,6,7.

RACE 8

Achi Baba is by Helmet whose last race by the way was behind Frankel in the Queen Anne. Achi Baba was himself once owned by Sheikh Mohhamed and actually had his first two trials (ran third each time) to Astern. Fast forward from then until now and the Grant Marshall trained gelding has been a terrific horse for his ‘new’ owners. He can win this. The Bald Eagle won two in town for Team Hawkes and is close to a win now for Kody Nester.

Thiswilldous and Herzegovina are in the mix.

Bet: Achi Baba win.

Originally published asWellington tips: Kody set task to win his race

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