A half-sister to Cox Plate champ Savabeel is aiming to finish her career with a win at Queanbeyan on Sunday before heading to the breeding barn. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
The daughter of Vancouver out of Savannah Success will have her final race start in the We Support Two Squadron SASR Class 1 & Maiden Plate (2000m).
Aggrandize is owned and raced by Gerry Harvey with the mare to take up residency at Baramul Stud to begin the next phase of her career later this year.
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Cleary only took over the training of Aggrandize at the beginning of this preparation and got a win on the board at his first start for the stable at Braidwood picnic races.
She has raced consistently since and Cleary believes she is capable of doubling her tally on home turf.
“If she is given a good ride by an experienced jockey in Nick Souquet, she really gets her chance,” he said.
“She is being retired after Saturday and heads back to Barramul.
“I got her Jason Coyle just to win a race with her and we won a race with her.
“I said to Luke McDonald (Baramul racing manager) we will keep her ticking over for another month or two. She has paid her way but she deserves to win another race.”
Cleary intends for Aggrandize to go back from barrier 11 while he elected to scratch stablemate Red Hot Sass.
Red Hot Sass will line up a race earlier in the Peter Sharp & Audrey Sharp Class 3 Handicap (1600m) where she will be chasing back to back victories after saluting at the Sapphire Coast last start.
“I didn’t want them taking on each other,” Cleary said.
“She won really well at the Sapphire Coast and it was a well deserved win.
“With 55kg after the claim of Jett Stanley, who is actually related to me, his dad is my cousin.
“He actually hasn’t had a ride for me before so I’m looking forward to it.”
Gerry Harvey is the owner of Aggrandize. Picture: Luke Marsden
Meanwhile, Aggrandize isn’t the only one of Cleary’s horses racing in her final preparation.
Stablemate Samindi is a half-sister to former country star Victorem and will get the chance to put another win on her resume in the HMAS Harman Navy Benchmark 58 Handicap.
“Samindi will run good from the barrier, which will probably end up being barrier 1 and if she can run top two she will win horse of the year (at the track),” Cleary said.
Cleary will field a two-pronged attack in the opening event with Angel Academy joined by Old Newmarket in the Queanbeyan RSL Subbranch Maiden Handicap (1460m).
Cleary believes Angel Academy is one of his best chances on the card after placing in four of her five starts to date.
“Angel Academy gets her chance,” he said.
“She has been racing really consistently, she gets in well at the weights after the claim.
“Too Sharp will be hard to beat but it’s got to carry the 59kg.”
“Old Newmarket has been a tad frustrating and is the sort of horse that is eventually going,”
“He is the sort of horse that is eventually going to want 10 furlongs but it’s a shallow race so hopefully he can earn a big fat cheque for his owners.
Alpine Lady is another of Cleary‘s chances after producing an improved showing at Canberra last start.
He is hoping the filly can go on with the job in the Army Class 1 Handicap (1460m).
“Alpine Lady ran well the other day, I rode her off the speed but I’ve got a really good respect for Barb’s horse in that race,” he said.
“She will be ridden back and for luck.”
Cleary added he thought first starter Soul Lady had a ‘nice future’ ahead of her debut in the Steve Conroy Memorial Maiden Plate.
MITCH COHEN’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 5 No.1: LOOK ONLY
On the short back up after only narrowly missing out in town during the week. She should be too good.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 No.2: ZOUATICA
It took a good one to beat him last start. He can go one better in this.
VALUE BEST
Race 4 No.5: MOOSHAKA
Excelled over the 1000m trip with a win at Canberra last time. She can repeat the dose here.
BEST EXOTIC
Race 5: Exacta 1-3.
QUADDIE
RACE 4: 3, 4, 5
RACE 5: 1
RACE 6: 1, 2, 3, 6
RACE 7: 1, 3, 4, 6
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jett Stanley is thriving since moving to Annabel Neasham’s stable and can continue his good form at Queanbeyan.
INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1
Too Sharp has made a reasonable start to his racing career with three placings in six attempts. The son of Bull Point had to come from a long way back in a competitive 1200m event at Wagga last time, finishing 4¾ lengths off the winner in fourth. He will find this easier and is fit enough now for the seven furlong test. Angel Academy is certainly the main danger. She‘s only missed the placings once in five starts and gets her home track here. Iz A Gem can fill out the placings after finishing third at the same track and trip last time.
Bet: Too Sharp to win. Quinella 1,3.
RACE 2
It took a smart one in the form of the unbeaten Sister Moon to run down Zouatica first-up at Wagga but he can go one better here. He’s a nice enough son of Zoustar that will win plenty of races in the bush. Expecting apprentice Jett Stanley to take bad luck out of the equation, go forward and take a power of running beating from in front. Temple Garden is a well bred son of Snitzel that definitely has talent. The Matthew Stephens-trained gelding has run credible seconds at his past two that should land in the box seat and keep the leaders honest late. Alpine Lady was better suited when getting back and surging home last time and can do the same here.
Bet: Zouatica to win.
RACE 3
Agony Aunt is a home tracker lining up for start two. The Mike Petrovic-trained filly did more than enough on debut to suggest she will be very competitive here. She was caught three deep but battled on for third at this venue and can capitalise on a better draw here, particularly when the emergencies come out. Hot Sundae is from the prominent Bjorn Baker yard and has trialled well in the lead up. The wide gate makes her life tricky but she’s a chance if she gets the right run. Soul Lady is a two-year-old taking on the older horses and has a nice trial under her belt before her debut.
Bet: Agony Aunt to win.
RACE 4
Mooshaka relishes the 1000m and get it again in this. The Nick Olive-trained galloper excelled winning over the same trip at Canberra last time and returns to a track where she has raced well before. She’s never missed the placings in three runs here and gets in great with 57kg after Coriah Keatings’ claim. Accrue is stepping back from 1200m to 1000m after winning well over the former last start at the track. There’s no reason why he won’t feature in the finish if he runs up to that form. Lord Remy led them up to break the maiden last time at Moruya. He’s one of the chances again.
Bet: Mooshaka to win.
RACE 5
Look Only should be a cut above her opposition if she brings her A game. She was a winner in town two back before finishing a close fourth at Kensington on Wednesday. That’s easily the best form for this should trainer Fabian Azzopardi pull the trigger and back her up five days after that Sydney run. Easy Rosie is easily best of the rest. She was fourth in a couple of Country Championships qualifiers earlier this preparation before winning nicely at Canberra last time. After the 4kg claim of Emma Ly, she gets in with just 52.5kg. Zariz No Other is better than what he showed last time at this venue.
Bet: Look Only to win. Exacta 1-3
RACE 6
Jimmy Manolo is a consistent five-year-old that finds himself in a winnable race. The Matthew Smith-trained galloper was a winner two back at the mile at Nowra before failing to run up to market expectation last start at Muswellbrook. Willing to give him another chance back in trip in a race without a lot of depth. Red Hot Sass is only coming off a maiden win at the Sapphire Coast but there was a bit of merit to the performance. She was doing her best work late in that assignment so the step up to a mile now looks suitable. The Mediator can mix his form however he does come off a determined win at Wellington.
Bet: Jimmy Manolo to win.
RACE 7
Aggrandize heads to the breeding barn after Sunday. A half-sister to the Cox Plate winner Savabeel, she was only narrowly beaten when a close second around this track and trip last time. She will be there to win on home turf and expecting her to be among the strongest late. Tyrol has continued to race consistently since breaking the maiden two back. He got a 2000m run under his belt last time so should be fitter for that effort. Primary Purpose is stepping up to 2000m for the first time at just his third start. She looked like the sort of mare that would relish more ground when running on over the Canberra mile last time, finishing 2½ lengths off the winner.
Bet: Aggrandize to win.