Murwilumbah tips, best bets, preview and inside mail for Sunday January 29

Finals season has come early this year for ace broadcaster Ray Hadley whose crack filly Sophia’s Lass will find herself in the big league if things go to plan on Sunday.

Hadley’s filly was decidedly underwhelming in her first three starts in life, all of them in Queensland during April and May in 2022.

The Daniel Bowen-trained galloper has been a different horse altogether on this side of the Tweed with two wins and a brave second during her short, sharp spring preparation.

On Sunday at Murwillumbah, the Bowen/Hadley bay takes the first step towards a possible visit to Royal Randwick on April 1 and a tilt at the $600,000 Country Championships Final (1400m).

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!

“She has been targeted to run in the Country Championship race at Coffs but she has got to keep proving herself. She has got to win or run a very good race on Sunday, which I am expecting her to do,’’ Bowen said.

“I had her in last week at Grafton but I just thought this would be the more ideal race. It’s turned out she drew the one gate in a smaller field with only 55.5kg so she is well-placed in the event and hopefully she can use it as a stepping stone to get into the Heat at Coffs Harbour.’’

The NRRA Country Championships Qualifier is the second of the nine Heats, scheduled for Sunday February 18.

While Bowen and jockey Tegan Harrison can take their share of credit in the rise and rise of Sophia’s Lass, she wouldn’t be here without Hadley whose carefully mating between the one-time Randwick 1200m track record holder Better Than Ready and Choisir daughter, Power Flow has proved to be an explosive mix.

“Ray has been breeding a couple these last few years but this is the first time he has bred to a better sire,’’ Bowen explained.

“Better Than Ready threw the Magic Millions winner this year and is starting to go from strength to strength.’’

Bowen’s second runner at Murwillumbah on Sunday is Rose Bouquet who has no equal in the heritage department.

A daughter of War (owned by Hadley’s friend and old boss John Singleton), Rose Bouquet is a member of one of the one of the most prized families in the Australian Stud Book.

A win on Sunday would be most timely given the passing of industry and business giant David Hains who owned, bred and raced Rose Bouquet’s ancestors Rose Of Portland, Rose Of Kingston (the mother of Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule) and Kingston Rose.

Rose Bouquet has only managed to win three of her 27 starts but has placed 13 times.

“She probably shouldn’t have gone around last start from that barrier in the Ballina Cup,’’ Bowen acknowledged,

“Her form before that was absolutely terrific.’’

SHANYE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No.1: Costa Del Oro

Typically racy Pierro mare who we haven’t yet seen the best of in her two starts. Looks ready and able to win.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.8: Sophia’s Lass

Won two and has excuses for her ‘second’ at the end of the three-run spring campaign. Loaded with potential.

VALUE

Race 6 No.2: Casirina

Won five times and placed at 11 of 30 including a ripper third in the Inverell Cup on Jan 1.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1

Race 5: 1, 3, 4

Race 6: 2, 3

Race 7: 3, 4

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

BEN LOOKER has enough horse-power under him to take out the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Mahomes remains winless after 33 starts but this could be the day. The son of Bon Hoffa has raced at this same track and distance three times for two seconds and a third. Granted his last couple haven’t been anything to write home about but he is generally reliable and consistent enough. Mr Monegasque should really be at his peak for this and wouldn’t have to do a whole lot more than the last run at Ballina when and where he was three lengths in front of Mahomes at the finish line. Maxwell Terrace should be super handy the whole way.

Bet: Mahomes to win, quinella 3,5.

RACE 2

Desert Mist is trained by Matthew Dunn who has a phenomenal record here at home; 28.5 per cent win rate which rises to 64 per cent when placings are added. As for Desert Mist, she has a 100 per cent strike rate at the track/trip by virtue of her December 27 (easy) win. Beaten after that but can atone. Sea of Qi led throughout to win very easily at Lismore second-up. Given what he did first-up here, we can safely assume that he is a horse on an upward trajectory. Bee Gees fans take note, Toomuchheaven, was a track/distance winner eight days ago.

Bet: Desert Mist to win.

RACE 3

Sophia’s Lass, a filly bred and owned by Ray Hadley, was fantastic in her three starts in the recent scoring. She won the first two of them and had excuses for the “loss” which was in fact, a brave second here over 1550m with 59.5kg on her back. Brilliant trial winner on Boxing day. Has the draw and the talent to win today. Wizard Of Oz, the $1.1m Magic Millions yearling in 2020, has gone really well for Warren Gavenlock since he swapped Rosehill for Coffs Harbour. Should have derived great benefit from the first-up run as per usual with him.

Bet: Sophia’s Lass to win, exacta 8 to beat 5.

RACE 4

Costa De Oro is straight off the Pierro assembly-line. A $140,000 yearling, she presents as a racy type of mare who has only had two starts to date but there’s no point rushing her with prizemoney the way it is. If she ever brings her trial form to raceday, you’d bet on her making it back to the midweeks and being a force there. Revontulet has hit the line with real purpose at each of her two starts. Getting close to a win. Super Sprockett has accepted for a maiden at Warwick on Tuesday. Form reads well enough to feature at either venue.

Bet: Costa De Oro to win, exacta 1 to beat 8.

RACE 5

Al Ash Lad is a Matthew Dunn trained son of Al Maher who has a record of six starts for four placings, three of those are seconds. He was rolled at Ballina at $1.40 but it was only by a nose and he may have a little excuse or two. Stablemate Supairo is a flashy chestnut who was never in the race on debut at Eagle Farm on Boxing day but from all reports, he just didn’t handle the occasion. He trialled at Ballina 16 days ago and was good. Could win if he brings his real self to the races this time. Dunn trifecta perhaps with To So Few a player.

Bet: Al Ash Lad to win.

RACE 6

Casirini has won five and placed 11 times (seven seconds) from his 30 starts. The Ross Stitt-trained gelding was well down the order in the Armidale Cup on December 11 but ran a big race next time out when a closing third in the Inverell Cup on New Year’s Day. Dorset Coast saves his best for his home track. The Matthew Dunn trained seven-year-old has raced there six times for two wins and a third. The last win was on December 27 and it was over this same trip. Rose Bouquet is the big improver, she had ‘barriers excuses’ in the Ballina Cup.

Bet: Casirina to win.

RACE 7

Nano Star is a fairly lightly-raced mare with 12 starts on the CV for a win and six placings. The daughter of Mikki Isle has been with Helen Page for the last five of those dozen outings scoring 22351. She seems versatile enough which she will need to be given she has drawn 10 of 11. Allay, on the other hand, is blessed with barrier one and she aims for the hat-trick having won at Ballina and Coffs in succession last month. Beppe and Boogie Wonderland are in the mix.