Forbes races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

Moruya trainer Natalie Jarvis has enjoyed great success with former Godolphin horses and heads to Forbes this weekend with a pair of them among her seven strong team.

Kattegat returns to Forbes for the third successive year to contest the Amazing Ben Hall Bullet over 1200m and he is looking for his second win in the race.

The son of Medaglia D’Oro won the race with 61kg in 2021 when it was a Benchmark 66 knows as the Amazing Forbes NSW Showcase.

Last year, the race was upgraded to a Benchmark 74 and he was third to Free State under 62kg.

This year, the race has been upgraded to an Open Handicap and he will carry 59kg with Billy Owen on board.

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“He has been an excellent horse for us and this will be the third year he travels to Forbes for this meeting,” said Jarvis.

“The club has managed to get the race upgraded to an Open Handicap this year which has made it possible for him to come back and not have to carry an enormous weight this time.

“He lives travelling and races well when he comes up the day before the race.

“He has shown that here and earlier this year, he went to Orange the night before and won there.”

Like Kattegat, Manzoni started out in the Godolphin system where he placed in two of his five starts before being purchased by Jarvis and her clients off Inglis Digital last year.

The son of Street Boss hit the ground for his new stable with a narrow maiden win on protest at Moruya in March before completing the tough feat of winning his next start in a Benchmark 58 at the Sapphire Coast.

“That’s what Kattegat did for us as well when we first got him,” she said.

“He’s had a spell since he won those two races and he is first-up on Sunday.”

The four-year-old kicks off his campaign in the Class 2 Handicap over 1100m where he has drawn the barrier 15.

“I would have liked a better barrier but I still think he’s a very good chance,” she said.

While Manzoni has the outside barrier, stablemate Napoleon Solo has come up with the inside gate in Sunday’s feature, the Forbes Cup (1600m).

The gelding was having just his second start for Jarvis when he finished down the track in this race two years ago but he heads into this year’s edition as a last start winner.

Despite being trapped three-wide throughout, Napoleon Solo was able to poke his nose in front on the line at Kembla last week.

“He is in a good place now. He’s looking really good and racing very well,” Jarvis said.

“It was great to see him win last start at Kembla Grange.

“He’s drawn an inside gate which is a huge bonus and Robyn Freeman is coming up to ride.

“He’s a particular horse who only likes a few jockeys and Robyn is one of those riders who gets along with him.

“It’s obviously a hard race but he is in there with a shot.

“He is a good traveller which helps and the horses came up on Saturday and stayed the night which won’t bother him.”

Jarvis is looking forward to seeing Our Kinsmen debut for the stable in the opening event, the Maiden Plate over 1600m.

The four-year-old was formally with Joe Pride and has solid provincial form.

“He has drawn the outside gate but the 1600m starts in a chute with a long run to the corner so I don’t feel that will be a problem,” she said.

“I think he is a good chance on Sunday.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 10: KANGAROO COURT

The Tulloch Lodge gelding went from maiden winner to Rosehill winner in three starts this campaign and was just pipped in between. Drawn perfectly and hard to beat in the Cup.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 5: OUR KINSMEN

Has placed in three of his six starts in stronger races. Debuts for new stable and can break through for his first win.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 2: PRESS FORWARD

Is racing in good form this campaign with his only blip when he stepped up to 1400m two starts back. Back to 1100m suits.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 2 Nos. 6, 11

QUADDIE:

Race 5: 5, 7, 9, 12

Race 6: 2, 5, 8

Race 7: 2, 8, 10

Race 8: 2, 3, 6, 9

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Nick Heywood has a strong book of rides and will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - FORBES

RACE 1

Our Kinsmen is having his first start for the Natalie Jarvis stable. Boxed away for third to Diamond Drummer at Goulburn two starts back then the blinkers came off when he finished sixth to Rico Suave at Gosford on July 22. Blinkers go back on. Pretty Eyed was held back in the pack until the 150m when a 1-3/4-length eighth to Highland Falcon at Moruya before rattling home near the rails for a close third to Chicane at Narrandera three weeks back. Open Sky led and was just beaten home by Pretty Eyed in that Narrandera race. Won’t be gar away again. Soul Night was a length off Epic Poem in a Class 1 at Wellington last start.

Bet: Our Kinsmen to win

RACE 2

Masters raced keen in front and set up a two length lead before being caught late by race favourite Dolly Bird at Goulburn two starts back. Was trapped out five-wide on the speed and was game in finishing third behind Need For Greed and Imaloverboy who came from off the speed at Wagga on June 13. Returns from a let-up and drawn the pole. Santorini Sun was injured when down the track at Moruya on Jan 2. Form prior was good and expect a bold run first-up. Hot Extraction was okay when fourth after leading on a heavy track at Wellington last start. Back on firm ground should help. Finite will be fitter for his first-up run after a long break.

Bet: Masters to win

RACE 3

Pozesana had her first start for new trainer Gayna Williams at Bathurst where she was a length fourth behind Manhattan Baby over 1100m. Steps up to 1300m here which looks suitable and drawn to get the ideal run. Painite dropped back 100m in distance when fourth to Dupenny at Dubbo last start. Close up when placed at her previous two starts. Platinum Asset will be improved by her first-up third at Taree on June 27. Was runner-up at her previous second-up run. Felix Pereon went back from the outside gate and ran on well for fourth at Wagga last time out.

Bet: Pozesana to win

RACE 4

Hobbsy rolled along in front and was just caught near the line by Bringbackthebears who came from last when resuming at Moruya on June 30 before dominating with a near two length win from Fifteen Black at Nowra two weeks ago. Can go back-to-back. Former Queenslander Invahir was also narrowly beat two starts back at his first run for Clint Lundholm before a good all-the-way win at Dubbo on July 28. Has the advantage of an inside draw. A Boy Named Soo broke his maiden last time out after racing back and wide at Bathurst on July 25. Drawn to get a better run this time. I’m A Shaker is better than his latest two runs.

Bet: Hobbsy to win

RACE 5

Veteran grey My Blue Jeans lines up for start 100 here and can mark the occasion with his tenth win. Brough up win nine three starts back at Goulburn in this grade and over this distance. Followed with a handy fourth in stronger company at Moruya before being held up in the straight when fourth at Goulburn last start. Sooboogeliscious scored a handy win over 1425m at Moruya on June 30 before a third to Defcon One at the same course two weeks later. Sheer Elegance had to duck back in close to the 100m mark to find room when a length fifth to Just Go Bang when resuming at Narrandera and wasn’t fully tested. Electric Storm has place claims.

Bet: My Blue Jeans each-way

RACE 6

Kattegat was forced to race three-wide throughout and wasn’t disgraced in finishing a 3.5-length fifth behind the unbeaten Dancing Alone when resuming over 1000m at Kembla on July 20. Was a winner two starts earlier on April 14 before a ninth at Canterbury. Won this race two years ago and placed last year with bigger weights. Boom Boom Basil broke through with a narrow victory from Pure Fuego at Dubbo last start to make it five wins from 15 starts; two of this at this trip. Blitzar hasn’t won for a while now but hasn’t been far away either. Hit the line strongly at Canterbury last start. Seventh Seal has placed in nine of his last 10 starts. Won’t be far away again.

Bet: Kattegat to win

RACE 7

Kangaroo Court has made a quick progression from maiden winner at Kembla to Rosehill winner over the exciting Howgoodareyou at Rosehill on July 22 and can jump to open class with a win in the Forbes Cup. Ruban Bleu was a little unlucky to take out the Narrandera Cup when forced wide on the bend and he flew home late. Will be closing strongly again. Dr Evil covered ground when a 2.5-length fifth to Oakfield Waratah in a Midway at Randwick two starts back. Was making ground along the rails but had to be steadied late when a close up ninth to Forecaster at Randwick last start. One Aye won this race last year and is finding form again.

Bet: Kangaroo Court to win

RACE 8

Press Forward went back-to-back at Wellington and Dubbo over 1100m before stepping up to 1400m when down the track at Dubbo on June 26. Better run last start dropping back to 1200m when second at Warren. Manzoni won his first two starts for his new connections in March before a break. Drawn wide but will run well first-up. I Like Big Putts is coming off a big win at Warren on July 18 and will figure prominently. Spinosaurus is backing up from his fourth at the Sapphire Coast last week where he was wide throughout.