Scone horseman Rod Northam has called on his talented former apprentice Reece Jones to guide most the stable’s fortunes on Sunday and is confident his team is ready to perform to a high level.
Northam has four runners at the Muswellbrook meeting with Jones riding three of them including the progressive Meet In Brazil while Grant Buckley partners the other, Himorher, who clashes with her stablemate.
“Reece is riding very well at the moment. He’s been able to get on a few better horses and he has shown his worth with a treble at Rosehill and a double at Randwick the last two Saturday,” said Northam.
“He was just getting a little bit forgotten there for a while with some of the other apprentices riding winners in Sydney but he rides just as well as anyone.
“It’s good to have him on board this weekend.”
Meet In Brazil finished down the track in her first two starts but has really come on from those experiences and has placed at her last two starts.
She worked home strongly from midfield to finish runner-up behind Lago’s Daughter at Gunnedah on May 2 before a handy third to Divine Rendezvous at Moree two weeks ago.
“I think she is a chance, for sure,” Northam said.
“She has been trying hard but hasn’t had a lot of luck at her last couple of starts.
“She has drawn a good barrier on Sunday and I think she will run a really nice race.
“Hopefully she can settle closer from barrier 3.
“She has had to come from back in the field in her races so far but from the draw, she will be able to get a softer run and hopefully the gaps open up and she gets her chance.”
Stablemate Himorher left Northam perplexed with her failure at Scone last time out but he hopes a gear change will see her run to what she showed on debut at Muswellbrook back in February.
“It was a head scratcher that run the other day. I haven’t been able to figure out what went wrong. I couldn’t find any problems from her,” he said
“I have put the blinkers on her this week to help her concentrate a bit more and hopefully that will do the job.
Second Half resumes from a spell at Muswellbrook on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos
“She has drawn an ideal gate in barrier 6. It will just give her a little bit of room which she will appreciate and hopefully we can see what she’s got.”
Northam expects to see an improved performance from five-year-old mare Sepearl when she steps out for her second start in the Maiden over 900m.
The five-year-old finished well down the track at Scone on May 10 after being backed from $71 into $21.
“She had trialled well at Muswellbrook before her first start,” he said.
“I just wonder if she is an 800 metre or 900 metre horse that’s it.
“She drops back to 900 metres on Sunday and this is a weaker class of race so they are two positives for her.”
Northam’s final runner for the day is Second Half who kicks off his campaign in the Class 2 over 1450m.
The son of Adelaide raced in terrific form last preparation notching two wins and two placings in five runs.
“He’s a nice horse who is a real trier; a very honest horse,” he said.
“He’s going into the 1450 metres without a trial which is a bit of an ask but I think I’ve got him fit enough to run well with nice improvement to come.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 2 No. 4: SECRET REVOLUTION
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding broke his maiden with a win at Hawkesbury before a solid third to Contemporary at Scone. Will take beating.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 1: TITRATION
The gelding raced wide throughout when third in a Highway at Hawkesbury before a third in higher grade here last time out.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 3: OFF DA HIZZLE
She was a debut winner albeit a dead-heat and was good in her next two starts. Can kick off her second campaign on a positive note.
BEST EXOTIC
Race 5 Quinella Nos 1, 2
QUADDIE:
Race 4: 6, 9
Race 5: 1, 2
Race 6: 1, 3, 4
Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 5
Ashley Morgan is the jockey to follow at Muswellbrook. Picture: Bradley Photos
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:
Ashley Morgan has some nice rides for the day including World Alliance and Titration.
INSIDE MAIL – MUSWELLBROOK
RACE 1
Satin And Silk was a three length fifth behind Platinum Jubilee in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes on debut. Returned from a spell with a second to Gaylebeck at Newcastle on Feb 4 before heading for another break. Has two trials under her belt and gate 1 is a plus. Stablemate Getty was a half-length second in the Magic Millions The Debut before a fifth to Bases Loaded on the Kensington rack on Feb 3. His two recent trials have been good will be a major player here. Perennial showed plenty of speed to lead his Gosford trial on May 26 and was strong through the line in scoring by three-quarters of a length. Will make his presence felt.
Bet: Satin And Silk to win
RACE 2
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Secret Revolution defied a betting drift to close off strongly and score a neck win from Star And Bars at Hawkesbury on Apr 13 before a length third to Contemporary and Selous at Scone’s stand-alone meeting. Drawn to get the run of the race and will be hard to beat. Euphrates Dream had the inside running and staged a great dual with the in-form No Statement when resuming at Kembla on May 13. Was clearly headed in the straight before fighting back to go down by a nose. Shezanalister overcame a slow start and charged home to score a nice win at Queanbeyan when resuming on May 14. Closed off last campaign with a tough win at Bathurst on Dec 6. Outreach To Henry is coming off a last start win at Port Macquarie.
Bet: Secret Revolution to win
RACE 3
Martedi tracked the speed and battled away when third to impressive winner Rapbidash on debut here on May 21. Trialled nicely ahead of that run. Drawn out but with improvement and his natural speed, he is the one to beat. Meet In Brazil was specked from $21 into $12 when second to Lago’s Daughter at Gunnedah on May 2. Followed up with a handy third to Divine Rendezvous at Moree on May 18. Will be in the finish again. Chestime is backing up from Wellington last Sunday. Was caught three-wide and had to be eased near the 800m. Previous run when fifth at Tamworth was very good. Gets a better run from gate 2 and don’t underestimate. Himorher was disappointing last start but previous two runs were good and she can run an improved race.
Bet: Martedi to win. Quinella/trifecta 1, 7, 8
RACE 4
World Alliance makes his debut off the back of some smart trial performances. The son of Rubick sat wide on the speed and was held together in winning in Warwick Farm heat on May 9. Held back early and worked home nicely late for third in his Hawkesbury trial on May 22. Can make full use of gate 1 and start his career with a win. Hot Sundae had some handy form last campaign including a fourth to Iowna Merc and a close second at Newcastle. Invest In Love has placed four from seven. Makes her race debut for the Nathan Doyle stable after a handy third in her Gosford trial on May 26.
Bet: World Alliance to win
Titration can be rewarded for his good form with a win on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos
RACE 5
Titration is knocking on the door for a win having placed in each of his three starts back from a spell. Was wide throughout at Hawkesbury in a TAB Highway when third to Penthouse before a handy third to Lucifer’s Reward in a Benchmark 66 here last time out. Drops back to a Class 2 and looks tough to beat. Daksha was a handy third at Newcastle back before a two and quarter-length sixth at Tamworth. He will also appreciate the drop in grade. Charlotting was beaten a long neck by Starlink at Bathurst on May 25. Was runner-up at his previous start at Parkes. Second Half is resuming from a spell without a trial but is a consistent performer and will make his presence felt.
Bet: Titration to win
RACE 6
Off Da Hizzle dead-heated with Saks On Fifth on debut at Gosford back on Dec 28. Sent for a spell after her fifth to Major Beel at Newcastle on Feb 4. Resuming here after a Rosehill trial win on May 19. Suited by the inside gate and hard to beat. Mon Pierre finished fourth to Ringdembells on debut at Kembla after leading before scoring an impressive win y nearly four lengths here on May 21. Looks the main threat. Extra Smart will take improvement from her first-up third to Remember Jack here on May 21. Drawn nicely and hasn’t missed a place in three goes at the distance. Chiky Chiky Mama has only won once in 12 starts but has placed a further 10 times. Will figure prominently again
Bet: Off Da Hizzle to win
RACE 7
Ceasefire placed runner-up in his first two runs back from a spell and wasn’t far off the placegetters at his next two. Hasn’t had a lot go his way in those runs. Is due for some luck and will go close from the good draw. Rising was hampered near the 200m when eighth to Phearson at Randwick last Saturday. Was two and a half-lengths off Super Helpful at Scone’s stand-along meeting before that. Hit The Target is resuming from a spell looks set for another good campaign following his Tamworth trial win on May 15. Kedah didn’t have a lot of luck first-up. Don’t treat lightly.
Bet: Ceasefire to win