A relation to the great Black Caviar can continue her winning form when she heads to Narrandera. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL.
Magnolia Belle has shown she has the makings of quite a nice racehorse winning two of her six starts but she is still learning her craft according to the Albury horseman.
A close relation to Beer’s own Highway winner Sunrise Ruby, Magnolia Belle’s fourth dam is Scandinavia, the dam of Group 1 winner Magnus and grandam of the champion, Black Caviar.
The four-year-old blitzed her rivals by nearly four lengths when resuming on a soft track at Wagga in February before failing to handle the first track there second-up.
Following a ley-up, she returned on May 12 with an all-the-way at her home track on May 12.
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“I think she is my best chance for the day,” said Beer.
“She is a nice horse who I think is up to Highway grade.
“She just has a bit to learn but she loves wet track.
“The plan is to run on Sunday and then hopefully head for a TAB Highway after that.
“She has drawn ideally in barrier 1, she gets in with a really good weight after Fiona’s claim and I think she will be terribly hard to beat.
“The last time she raced her, she ran second to Lipstick Swing who has turned out to be a pretty handy horse. She won an Open Handicap at Albury the other day.”
In the Open Handicap over 1600m, Beer is hoping former New Zealand gelding Silverdale Chief finally gets some luck go his way and he can break through for a well-earned win.
The five-year-old has recorded two placings from six Australian starts but his efforts have been much better than they appear on paper according to Beer.
“I have never had worse luck with a horse joining the stable,” he said.
“His first run for me at Wodonga was really good but then had no luck in the Corowa Cup and after nearly winning the Albury Cup, he collapsed with heat stress after race.
“His next two runs were disastrous; things just didn’t go right for him and then we were on the wrong side of a photo finish last start.
Swagger (left) looks a great chance on the wet track at Narrandera on Sunday. Picture: Grant Guy
“He has got to be due for some good luck.
“He gets into this race with 55kg and the heavy track won’t be an issue; the wetter the better for him.”
Another former Kiwi, Swagger, has been a great servant of the stable winning five of his 21 starts in Australia with five second placings.
He lines up in an open Benchmark 58 and despite a big weight, is one of the leading contenders.
“He has been a great horse for the stable and he loves these wet tracks,” Beer said.
“He ran a terrific race first-up but I ran him a bit too soon second-up and rode him a bit closer to the speed at Wagga last start.
“He has won a few races for apprentices with claims. While has a big weight on Sunday, 66kg, he gets the 4kg claim of Alysha Warren.
“He has only missed a place one on heavy ground so I expect her will be right there in a pretty even sort of race.”
Beer has three other runners in the same race and can make a case for all of them.
“Okami Miss was terrific first-up then was just looking for a little bit further.,” he said.
“Archaron has good Victorian form and has jumped out quite well while The Herald really surprised me in a jump out the other day and he loves the soft conditions.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 8: MAGNOLIA BELLE
Lightly-raced mare from the Mitch Beer stable. Nice win first-up. Hard to beat again.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 8: DUPRIDE STAR
Nice efforts to place at her two runs back from a spell and ready to peak third-up.
BEST VALUE
Race 5 No. 1: SMART POPPY
Just behind placegetters at past two runs over 1200m and 1300m. Steps up to 1400m where at his best.
BEST EXOTIC
Daily Double Race 5 No. 1 and Race 7 No. 8
QUADDIE:
Race 4: 3, 7, 9
Race 5: 1, 2, 9
Race 6: 1, 8, 9
Race 7: 3, 4, 8
Danny Beasley has some good chances at Narrandera. Picture: Getty Images
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Danny Beasley has a handy book and should come away with a winner or two.
INSIDE MAIL – NARRANDERA
RACE 1
Starpoppy was gutsy in defeat when third to Dorami at Wagga after racing three-wide. She was held up in the straight on debut when fourth to Angelic Reward at Seymour. Apollo Mission came from back in the field when beaten a nose by Red Hill here last week. Only has to run up to that to be a chance. Stablemate This Is The Moment was well beaten on debut but showed his true form with a solid second behind Dorami – with Starpoppy third – after carting the field up at Wagga on June 13. Big chance but has drawn the outside gate. Di Di Mau set up a three or four length lead before finishing fourth to Dorami at Wagga.
Bet: Starpoppy to win
RACE 2
Bobotov pulled up lame after finishing third on debut before a handy length and a half second to Zoe Shark at Corowa two weeks later. Held up on straightening when fifth to Century Fox at Albury on Mar 23 before a spell. Gets a nice run from the inside gate. Open Sky was a safely held fourth on debut at Wagga on Jan 5 before an improved effort when a half-length third to Zedly at the Sapphire Coast on Jan 29. Drawn out wide but must be respected. Your Not The Boss has been just behind the placegetters in both run this time in. Blount County has claims on his second to Miss Helmut here last week.
Bet: Bobotov to win
RACE 3
Wilbury, the half-brother to Group 1 winner Home Affairs, started his career with Anthony and Sam Freedman where he placed in two of his five starts including a second to Superset at Moonee Valley in February. First-up from a spell and steps out for new trainer Mitch Beer. Was doing his best work late in his Albury trial on May 22. Freakshake is a debutant from the Donna Scott stable who won his Wagga trial on June 13. Whiteheart was a handy second at Wagga two runs back on Jan 5. Resuming from, a spell without an official trial. Schiller Salute placed at Tatura last start and can place again.
Bet: Wilbury to win
Wilbury (right) can win first-up for new trainer Mitch Beer at Narrandera. Picture: Getty Images
RACE 4
Silverdale Chief is racing well without a great deal of luck. Raced keenly when a length fifth to Star Buyer under 63.5kg at Albury on May 22 before going down by a nose to Thistledo at Wagga 12 days ago. Drops down to 55kg and has gate 2. Thistledo had placed at Young and Wagga before breaking through with his narrow win at Wagga last start. A good chance again. Amarantz made ground from near last when resuming with a sixth to Demitasse in a 1400m Highway at Randwick on May 27. Was beaten just under four lengths by Cliff House in a Highway at Randwick on June 10 over 1500m. Step up in trip suits. Ghost Doctor should be included in the multiples.
Bet: Silverdale Chief to win
RACE 5
Smart Poppy is building up to a win after a couple of handy efforts over 1200m and 1300m at his last two starts. Was doing his best late when fourth to Allaboutroy at Wagga last start. Will appreciate stepping up to 1400m Tauty has been off the scene for over a year but showed handy ability before the lay-off. Placed in five of her first six starts including a win at Pakenham in March last year and was seventh to Chartres in the Sires Guineas at Caulfield two starts later. Trialled well last week at Tatura. Mahjing carried 59kg when third at Bendigo and 63kg when seventh at Tatura his last two starts. Drops to 52kg with the claim and placed five from eight on the heavy. Bold Triumph is not without a chance.
Bet: Smart Poppy each-way
RACE 6
Dupride Star has been very good in both runs back from a long spell and is ready to peak. Led and beaten three-quarters of a length when third to Kaurava at Wagga on June 2 before a safely held second to Nats Enough at Wagga on June 13. Swagger raced wide without cover under 60kg but proved too good for Nats Enough in a Benchmark 58 at Albury on May 22. Battled away when fifth to Bullet Wing in a Benchmark 74 at Wagga on June 2. Back in grade and gets a 4kg claim from Alysha Warren. Improper was a handy third to Shame For Fame at Wodonga last start. Has been freshened for the drop back to 1200m and won’t be far away again. Shame For Fame is backing up from her fifth at Bendigo last Sunday.
Bet: Dupride Star to win
RACE 7
Magnolia Belle led and scored by nearly four lengths to claim her maiden victory at Wagga when resuming from a spell back in Feb 9 before a wide run when ninth there on Mar 6 before a let-up. Kicked off latest prep with a nice all-the-way win from Star To Fall at Albury on May 12. From barrier 1, she will prove tough to beat again. One Way Street resumes from a new trainer Louisa Dove. Was a nice winner at Port Macquarie at her last start back in January. Deep Space hasn’t raced since March last year. His two recent trials have been very good and expect a bold showing first-up. Rapid Ruby has been freshened since changing stables. Blinkers go back on.
Bet: Magnolia Belle to win