Moruya races: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday

Trainer Matthew Kelley will go from “the new kid on the block” to “overnight sensation” if things pan out in Sunday’s Country Championship Qualifier at Moruya.

Kelley, 25, has only been training for six months with a string that numbers just 10.

Three of those will line-up in Sunday’s SERA Heat including his first Randwick winner, I’ve Bean Tryin’, progressive filly Invertational and underrated mare Prophet’s Pride.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

Kelley is a second generation trainer following in the footsteps of father, David, who trains (one horse) at Cooma, the unofficial capital of the Snowy Mountains.

“When I lived at Cooma with mum and dad, I was a qualified builder for a fair few years,’’ Kelley told The Sunday Telegraph.

“Dad and I would have one, maybe two horses in work, they were ‘self funded’ funded, we owned them and all the costs came to us.

“They were pretty slow.

“We took them to the picnics and to the non-TABs and tried to get them to win whatever races they could win so we never had any good horses.

“I moved to Canberra to try and a make a bit of a go at training because I enjoyed it so much at Cooma but you can’t make a profession in a little country town like that.’’

Kelley’s background as a builder has helped him lay a foundation as a trainer.

The two trades aren’t that different.

“I never shortcut anything,’’ Kelley said.

“I always do my one-percenters and then the results will follow.’’

Kelley’s best chance of winning Sunday’s race, according to the pundits, is last winter’s TAB Highway winner, I’ve Bean Tryin’.

The gelding, who bears a striking resemblance to his dam’s sire, Lonhro, has won four times in his 10 starts with three placings.

I’ve Bean Tryin’ is unbeaten second-up and arrives at Moruya off an eye-catching fourth at Warwick Farm on Australia Day.

“The 1200m was always going to be too short for him but he rattled home,’’ Kelley said.

“His last furlong was good, nice and strong, so after that trial here at Goulburn the other day, he is more than ready for the 1400m.’’

I’ve Bean Tryin’ is no stranger to wide draws, it happened again this weekend with Kelley’s gelding handed 17 of 18 (prior to scratchings).

“It reads bad but with his racing pattern, it shouldn’t hurt him too much especially at Moruya because when it gets wet it plays into the hands of backmarkers coming out wide,” Kelley said.

“We won’t get much say in that but that’s where we are going to be,’’ Kelley said.

Stablemate Invertational meanwhile is aiming for her fourth consecutive win at start seven on Sunday albeit against a better class of opponent.

“Obviously everyone would be sceptical being a three-year-old filly up against the older horses on a big occasion as well but I think she is very progressive,’’ Kelley said.

“I think she is untapped and we definitely haven’t seen her full potential yet.

“If I was a bookmaker, I would be very wary of her.’’

Kelley’s third runner in the Qualifier is the $34 shot Prophet’s Pride with Ellen Hennessy in the saddle.

A daughter of the Caulfield Guineas winner and direct descendant of 1945 Melbourne Cup winner, Rainbird, Prophet’s Pride has been with Kelley for the last four of her 11 career starts.

“Every race we have put her in, she has been more than competitive,’’ her trainer said.

“She has never been tested at this grade but I think she think will hold her own.’’

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.2: DODGEBALL

Deserves some reward for recent efforts and the Jones/Joseph team have found him (another) perfect race.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.3: HEDGE FUND

Promising horse from the Kerry Parker yard; gets back but can really charge home. Has talent.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No.11: NOMARA

Been a bit costly at times but if and when she puts it all together, she could make it to the midweeks.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 6,7,11

Race 6: 3,12

Race 7: 5,7,10

Race 8: 6,8,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Quayde Krogh has the task of steering I’ve Bean Tryin’ in Sunday’s crucial Country Championship Qualifier.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Dodgeball is building up to a win. We said the same last start when he raced at the Sapphire Coast and while his supporters had to settle for second, he was every bit as good as the winner. The Jones/Joseph camp have once again found the Kiwi-bred son of Vadamos a perfect race, it’s up to the horse now. Heir Jordan got back and made some ground late when fifth of 10, beaten circa two-lengths a Nowra over 1400m last start. Wants the mile now big time. Walk Up Start has drawn to be prominent throughout.

Bet: Dodgeball to win

RACE 2

Montebello’s Charm’s only two runs were in May last year when David Payne had him. He ran fourth on the Kensington track on debut and something was clearly not right in the other one at Randwick. Fast forward to the present and he is with Danny Williams. Sounds odd but he ran a “good last” behind I’ve Bean Tryin’ in a Feb 16 trial. Former Godolphin housed galloper Manzoni makes his stable debut for Natalie Jarvis of a recent trial win at Nowra. Trained here now and has drawn well. Flying Impala likewise has trialled, and drawn, well.

Bet: Montebello’s Charm each-way

RACE 3

Too Sharp has been creditable to say the least in his two starts so far. He was in the market both times and while beaten on each occasion, he was pretty willing when the whips were cracking, The wide draw is some concern for him perhaps but he came from last at the Sapphire Coast to run fifth so he can finish off. Headstock has run well at his last three, all of them at the provincials. Drawn one, so should get a favourable run. Twobobrob has talent. Rolene is better than her CV reads.

Bet: Too Sharp to win, box trifecta, 8,7,9,15

RACE 4

Stormy Witness is a lightly-raced and clearly promising/talented filly whose three runs so far are (in order) fifth, second and a first. That win was a narrow one but she drew nine and had to pass more than half of the field to get there. Nice horse. Her main danger could be her veteran stablemate Rent A Rock. Five of his seven career wins are circa the mile and better yet, he has won two of four with one third at the track/trip. Zedly is in great order and had a smashing draw.

Bet: Stormy Witness to win, Rent A Rock to place

RACE 5

Nomara is going to be midweek class, at least. The Matthew Smith-trained filly has raced four times for a win, a second, a third and a fourth. Go back to her debut and you’ll see that she was a nose second to Cinderella Days in a Newcastle 900m maiden. Prince Nicconi, the horse who one finished third to his Group 1-winning stablemate Prince Nicconi is well equipped to win a race of this kind. Puerto Rico has a tidy CV. New stable, new area – bears close attention.

Bet: Nomara to win

RACE 6

Viking Power was the eye-catcher in his first-up run at the Sapphire Coast on Jan 29. The Paul Murray-trained gelding was $31 into $26 at Hawkesbury on Valentine’s Day but was eased down, beaten 22 lengths, and later found to be suffering cardiac arrhythmia. Trialled since of course. Look out for a big run at big odds. Merc is racing in fantastic shape just at the moment. He ran second to Participator prior to that last start win at the Sapphire Coast. El Prados has won two of four second-up.

Bet: Viking Power each-way

RACE 7

I’ve Bean Tryin’ is unbeaten in his two second-up starts, one of those was in a TAB Highway at Randwick where he beat Running Bear who goes really well by the way. Fast forward to this prep and I’ve Bean Tryin’s first-up run at Warwick Farm was an absolute beauty. He is bang on for this. I think it’s down to him and Eastern Glow without it being a two-horse race. Form reads well, he wins more than he loses and he has Highway form. Inveratational is the up and comer and unknown talent of the field.

Bet: I’ve Bean Tryin’ to win, quinella 5,7

RACE 8

Discreet Miss has raced five times for a win and a third. She is absolutely 100 per cent looking to get back up to the seven furlongs having finished off well in a 1200m Class 1 at Goulburn on Feb 16. Jess Taylor rides this mare often and rides her very, very well. Jalmari has burnt more punters than most horses but they’ll be plenty lining up again behind on Sunday. Can see why but just need to see him do it first. Win, that is. My Girona and Mittat have claims.