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John Schell's tips for Mudgee: Sunday - 12th May 2024

3 minute read

Selections based on a soft track

Picture: Steve Hart

Race 1 - 1:10PM EDUARDO COJUANGCO JR MEMORIAL MAIDEN PLATE (1400 METRES):

4. Taipan Legend ran well when finishing second at Hawkesbury three starts ago. He since was down the track at Gosford before running much better when fourth and beaten just over one length at Newcastle last time out. He has Aaron Bullock to ride here and is drawn to advantage.

Dangers10. Shalmum comes into this on the back of a last start third behind subsequent city winner Pippie Beach. A repeat of that would have her hard to hold out. 7. Ample Time has been placed at Canberra and Taree at her latest two starts and only needs to run up to those efforts to be rated a leading contender here. 1. Commando Jack goes better than his record suggests and is worth including among the main chances.

How to play it: Taipan Legend WIN.

Race 2 - 1:45PM GOOREE PARK WINE BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2000 METRES):

1. Weave That Web wasn't beaten far when seventh in the Orange Cup, then ran well again when second at Wellington last time out. She has a good overall record and should take plenty of beating.

Dangers2. D'Oro Choice is a Coonamble winner and Orange placegetter in two of his last four starts and he tackled the Highway at Hawkesbury last weekend when down the track. This is easier. 3. Rufus Winright has finished second in two recent runs at this track either side of an Orange victory. 4. Dunjenni wasn't beaten far at Canberra last time out and isn't out of this.

How to play it: Weave That Web WIN.

Race 3 - 2:20PM YOUR SONG AT GOOREE PARK 2YO HANDICAP (1100 METRES):

2. Supreme Statement showed improvement when finishing second Tamworth at his second start and from the good gate here he should figure prominently again with Koby Jennings taking the ride from a good barrier. A number of early scratchings will also assist the claims of Supreme Statement.

Dangers8. Real Housewives comes out of the same race as Supreme Statement and is worth some thought, while 10. Unleeshing has had two trials, winning the latest of them, leading into this debut, and bears close watching. 5. Hibiki Harmony is on debut and is from a good stable and bears close watching.

How to play it: Supreme Statement WIN.

Race 4 - 2:55PM GOOREE STUD TOUR COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN HCP (1200 M):

5. Hammoon Summer has been placed in six of her nine starts and comes into this on the back of a last start second in easier grade. She was placed here three runs ago and only needs to run up to that to be a leading contender here.

Dangers1. Hutt Street  hit the line well to finish third at Narromine on debut and looks suited by the extra 100m here with Bullock to ride. 2. Colourahma debuted at Gatton late last year and ran well. He's had two trials leading into this and is well worth including among the main chances. 3. Hefty Prince was down the track at his only start but is capable of a big improvement in this.

How to play it: Hammoon Summer WIN.

Race 5 - 3:30PM GOOREE FARM ACCOMMODATION CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1400 METRES):

5. Tears For Fears is lightly raced with seven starts to her name and she has one win and one placing to her name. She was placed at Gosford in December and has had two runs since resuming from a spell and although safely held in both of them, she is capable of showing sharp improvement in this from the inside barrier.

Dangers3. Cheap Gas comes into this on the back of a last start Wellington win and only needs to run up to that effort to be rated a leading contender here. 12. Miss Monopoly was close-up when third at Narromine when last produced and is worth thought again. 6. Beaconsfield Joy has won her last two starts and while this is a tougher assignment, she is worth including among the chances.

How to play it: Tears For Fears EACH WAY.

Race 6 - 4:05PM GOOREE CUP (1400 METRES):

4. Lockdown Gamble has a great record and has been racing in top form of late. He won at Cowra earlier in the year before finishing third at Newcastle. He then won the CDRA Country Championships at this track before being disqualified, and followed that up with a third at Hawkesbury before bouncing back with a strong win in the Wellington Cup. This looks made to order.

Dangers2. Elson Boy was a winner at Dubbo before fighting on strongly to win the WRA Country Championships at Coonamble. He missed the Country Championships Final due to a minor injury then returned with a strong win at Narromine in the Diggers Cup last time out. He's drawn wide here but should push forward and be hard to hold out. 3. Galaxy Belle is resuming from a spell and was placed at Kembla Grange before being spelled. She should sprint well fresh. 5. Osman is an on-pace runner which won well here two starts ago before finishing third at Hawkesbury last time out.

How to play it: Lockdown Gamble WIN.

Race 7 - 4:40PM KING’S GAMBIT AT NEWGATE CLASS 3 HCP (1100 METRES):

2. De Forerunner is handy on his day and resumed with a fifth at Kembla Grange before being placed at Orange and Bathurst at his last two starts. He's drawn to give this a big shake.

Dangers1. Destiny's Bounty has looked good winning at Cowra and Orange in each of his latest two starts and he is worth plenty of thought again in this while he is in this sort of form. 5. British Statesman ran well at Orange two starts ago before finishing down the track in Highway grade last time out. He can improve against these. 8. Island Legend was placed at Quirindi last time out and can figure in the minor money again with a repeat of that.

How to play it: De Forerunner WIN.

Best Bets:
Race 1 (4) Taipan Legend.
Race 6 (4) Lockdown Gamble.

Best Value:
Race 5 (5) Tears For Fears.