Mudgee tips: Lundholm has good idea for Dance prospect
Trainer Clint Lundholm is hoping Notabadidea can use Sunday’s Mudgee card as the perfect launching pad into next week’s Big Dance qualifier at Dubbo.
Notabadidea will chase back-to-back Cup victories when the eight-year-old contests the Mudgee Florist Black Nugget Cup (1400m).
The son of Highly Recommended saluted in the Narromine Cup at Narromine last time and Lundholm has a third Cup assignment on his radar if everything goes to plan at Mudgee.
“It’s a stepping stone for him rather than going three weeks from the Narromine Cup, we will run him here before the Dubbo Cup,” Lundholm said.
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“Over 1400m it should help get the fitness in his legs before Dubbo.
“The horse is going good and it’s a pretty even race. He has beaten about half the field before and seems to be holding his form very well.”
Finishing top-two in the Dubbo Cup would qualify Notabadidea for the Big Dance and Little Dance but the gelding would still need a ratings boost to get into the first of those two races.
Lundholm would love to see Notabadidea get his chance in one of the November features.
“He’s been in Sydney and been there and done that and was sent out to us to obviously target the country Cups,” Lundholm said.
“Something like the Little Dance, he wouldn’t be out of place in a race like that.
“He runs well in these country Cups. He is racing as good as ever so it would be nice to see in a race like that for sure.”
Lundholm has five runners across the Mudgee card with classy mare Zounile among his better chances.
The daughter of Zoustar was runner-up at Narromine last start and can go one better in the Bryne’s Jewellers Class 1 Handicap (1200m).
“Zounile went super the other day I thought,” Lundholm said.
“She is a mare that has always shown a bit of ability at home but she’s a bit of a fiery one and she lost her form.
“We couldn’t get her right in the barriers so have done a bit of work with her with Kylie Kennedy out at Narromine and trained her up a bit out there.
“She has really settled in and that was her first run after that the other day and she seems to have responded to it well.”
Stablemate Irene Of Athens will go in search of consecutive wins when she lines up in the Perfectly Sorted Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1850m).
“Irene Of Athens is a deadset stayer,” Lundholm said.
“We took her out there to try and get a win on the board and to get some confidence.
“This is Class 1 over 1850m looks ideal for her after she showed potential over 2000m plus last time. Now she has won a race she might be able to go on with it.”
Lundholm‘s final two runners are Obey and Kirameki,
Obey has drawn barrier one in the Kristie’s Boutique Benchmark 66 Handicap (1200m) while Kirameki will finally looked to shed her maiden tag in the Cherry Red Maiden Plate (1500m).
“The draw doesn’t really Obey because she is a mare that settles off the speed and really rattles home,” Lundholm said.
“Her past couple of runs are what we’ve been looking for. She is up in the weights but it looks a nice race with her.”
“Kirameki is a 26 start maiden and just can’t win a race. She is always thereabouts but I just don’t know if she has the will to win a race. But she is so consistent.”
MITCH COHEN’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 4 No.8: CASUAL MOOD
Promising galloper lining up for her second start. She should relish getting out to 1500m with a good draw.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.7: SAILOR
The Kris Lees-trained gelding has a wonderful winning record and can add to that here from the perfect draw.
VALUE BEST
Race 6 No.7: NETTLES
After having one start as a juvenile, she returns as a three-year-old here. Her trials suggest she’s come back an improved galloper.
BEST EXOTIC
Race 2 Quinella - 2,6
QUADDIE
Race 4 - 6, 8
Race 5 - 3, 5, 7, 8
Race 6 - 4, 7, 11
Race 7 - 1, 3, 5, 10
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Veteran jockey Darryl McLellan is closing on 1700 winners and can add to his tally at Mudgee.
INSIDE MAIL
RACE 1
Omians is a lightly-raced daughter of Odyssey Moon that finds the perfect race to get her second win on the board. The Scott Singleton-trained mare already boasts a win to her name this preparation and finished runner-up over the mile at Scone her past two. She hit the line last time like a horse that will relish this 1850m assignment. The same goes for Subscribe Me. He’s still a maiden but has placed in three of his six starts. He will be one of the strongest late. Irene Of Athens got the maiden out of the way at Gulargambone and should take plenty of confidence from that success as he steps up in trip.
Bet: Omians to win.
RACE 2
Lipstick Lil is a seven-year-old now but she’s been holding her form quite well recently. The daughter of Dubleo was an excellent winner at Dubbo last start over 1200m and while she’s up in grade, she drops 2kg off that performance to 56kg. She’s a winner at her only previous start at this track and trip. Sussu is one of several dangers in a competitive race. Her record of four wins from nine starts is the best of any horse in this race and she’s coming off a win at Dubbo. The 1200m is the question mark for her. Dashka is dropping back from a mile to this six furlong assignment but has the talent to win.
Bet: Lipstick Lil to win. Quinella 2,6.
RACE 3
Zippy Power is by 2014 Melbourne Cup winner Protectionist so you’d imagine the mile assignment will be as short as he wants it. Kris Lees has given him two trials to prepare for his return where he strikes a winnable race. The 2kg claim of Ben Osmond helps him gets in with a more manageable 60.5kg. Oh No Bro has been ultra-consistent this preparation with five placings and a win from his past seven starts. That victory came over the mile while he’s gone close at the same trip at his past two so he only needs to hold his form to be competitive. Gibbed is first-up for 48 weeks but has raced well fresh in the past.
Bet: Zippy Power to win. Quinella 1,3.
RACE 4
Casual Mood will be lining up for her second start after doing more than enough in her debut. The daughter of Cox Plate winner Adelaide went through her gears and did her best work late to finish the placegetters heels over 1300m on debut at Narromine. Stepping up a further 200m looks ideal from a handy draw in barrier five. Superabundant has to be considered after placing over shorter trips at his past two. He’s drawn awkward but should still be one of the strongest late. Sensei Jack has already had 44 attempts to break the maiden but has placed in nine of them. He’s one for the wider multiples.
Bet: Casual Mood to win.
RACE 5
Always On Show is returning from a break with two trials under her belt. She only just missed in an Evening Star race at Canterbury last time and finds herself back in country grade here. Although she’s yet to win first-up, she has placed on three occasions and can run another big race here first-up. Notabadidea is coming off a win in the Narromine Cup. He rarely runs a bad race and only needs to hold his form to be competitive again. Hit The Target’s best form is more than good enough to win this. The nine-year-old hasn’t beat a runner home at his past two but trainer Stephen Jones admits he’s had legitimate excuses and can bounce back,
Bet: Always On Show to win.
RACE 6
Nettles lines up in the most competitive event on the card. The Overshare filly is one of three Annabel Neasham-trained gallopers among the acceptors and gets the superior barrier one draw to her stablemates. She did enough in her most recent trial effort to be competitive in her second race start. Stablemate Rock ‘N’ Reign will have his first start and has trialled up really well. The 11 gate will be the major concern for him on debut. Bjorn Baker’s is also nominated for Queanbeyan but can be competitive if the stable heads this way while her stablemate Bonita Queen went to Hawkesbury on Saturday instead.
Bet: Nettles to win.
RACE 7
Tawfiq Star got the maiden out of the way with a determined win at Goulburn last time and can repeat the dose here. He still has plenty to learn but appears to have more than enough talent to step into Class 1 grade. With stablemate Moritz Girl in at Hawkesbury on Saturday, he can do forward again and take plenty of running down. Bokeem has a win and three placings from eight starts. He should take plenty of improvement from his last-start fourth at Bathurst. Illusive Star returns to the scene of her maiden victory back in April. She‘s had a quiet trial for her first up assignment and looks a place chance here.
