Narromine tips Sunday: Cup win looking Good
Trainer Damien Lane is chasing a second country Cup with Too Good To Be Tru this weekend but just hopes a recent habit doesn't thwart the gelding's chances in the Narromine Cup.
The six-year-old has started to jump slowly from the barriers this campaign while he was able to overcome it at Grafton, it cost him dearly in his other two runs this campaign.
The gelding was held up for run when resuming at Kembla early last month and again at Newcastle last start.
In between those two runs, he was able to win the Maclean Cup at Grafton with a rail hugging ride from last by Ashley Morgan.
"Not much went right the other day at Newcastle. He is just starting to get into a bad habit of stepping slow," said Lane.
"While it didn't affect him at Grafton when he did it at Newcastle, he put himself in a position where he didn't get much luck and it was hard to watch.
"I was at each meeting during the Grafton carnival this year and for some reason, the races were very much on speed affairs.
"That puts a bit more emphasis on his win."
The son of Redoute's Choice has drawn ideally in barrier 3 on Sunday and Grant Buckley has the task of getting him out into a nice position.
"He is pretty well weighted, he's got a good gate and a good jockey on board so he ticks a lot of boxes," Lane said.
Damien Lane is hoping Too Good To Be Tru can begin better than he has been of late as he looks to secure another Cup win. Picture: Grant Guy
"He's a big horse who needs a bit of room and takes time to wind up and get to his top.
"In these Cup races, the tempo is usually solid the whole way.
"I would love to see him bounce out and position himself midfield or better from the good draw.
"He is going super. He just needs to step and if he can just get a little bit of luck in the run, I think he will be in the money somewhere."
Too Good To Be Tru opened as a $6.00 equal second favourite with the TAB behind topweight Two Big Fari.
Lane and Buckley also combine with lightly-raced four-year-old Clendenning in the Maiden Plate over 1300m.
The son of All Too Hard has been a work in progress according to Lane but is starting to put it together.
He ran his best race so far when runner-up behind Invahir at Dubbo three weeks ago.
"He has been a work in progress – he's just very slow maturing," he said.
"He ran into one better than him at Dubbo last start and still did a few things wrong.
"The horse who won has since come out and won again so the form is quite strong."
Buckley will need to be right on his game as the gelding will start from the outside gate.
"The barrier is going to be an issue. He will need a 10 out of 10 ride from ‘Bucko' (Grant Buckley).
"If he can get that luck and slot in somewhere, he is going to be right in the finish."
Lane's third runner for the day is Yehbut in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate over 1600m.
The gelding needs to step up and take advantage of his good draw this weekend according to Lane.
"This is probably D-Day for him. He isn't being beaten far but he probably should have won a race this preparation by now which is a little frustrating," he said.
"He has been a little bit disappointing but he didn't get a lot in front the other day at Dubbo.
"Deelbreaka, is the one to beat but he can race with cover over the mile, he can run well."
ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 1: Musical Affair
Things didn't go right for her when resuming at Scone. Drawn to lead and will take running down.
NEXT BEST
Race 9 No. 5: Skyforger
Stormed home for a smart win at Warren first-up then had to do it tough out wide at Moree last start. Drawn well and can bounce back.
VALUE BET
Race 8 No. 5: Too Good To Be Tru
He finished strongly to claim the Maclean Cup at Grafton two starts back then had no luck last time out. Will be right in the finish.
BETS EXOTIC
Quinella Race 5 Nos: 5, 12
QUADDIE:
Race 6: 2, 4, 7, 8
Race 7: 1, 2, 4
Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 12
Race 9: 1, 4, 5
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Grant Buckley has some nice rides including Too Good To Be Tru in the Narromine Cup.
Grant Buckley can take out the Narromine Cup. Picture: Getty Images
INSIDE MAIL – NARROMINE
RACE 1
Dendina is a first starter by Denman from a half-sister to Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker trained by Brett Thompson. Showed early speed in her Dubbo trial when third against race winners. Carrana Anne was lame after her last run. Nice second at Dubbo before that. Violet And Blue is debutant by Your Song. Wasn't knocked about in her Acton trial. Heza Comet was okay on debut last November. Returns without a trial so watch betting.
Bet: Dendina to win
RACE 2
Little Ditty raced midfield and had to go back to the rails to get a run when a 2.5-length fifth to Quick Floss when resuming at Dubbo three weeks ago without a trial. Should take good improvement from the run. Break Over led that same race when fourth after a check at the 100m. Has since finished second at Gilgandra to Cool Ruler. Poppy's Girl placed five from six last campaign. Kicks off without a trial but must be respected. Railway Avenue is a Shamus Award gelding on debut. Trials have been okay.
Bet: Little Ditty to win
RACE 3
Hammoon Summer tracked the speed and battled away for second to Stefi Magnetica second-up before a second to All Too Sneaky at Dubbo last week. Drawn well and can go one better. Chookster made steady ground from well back when sixth to Masters at Forbes. Flew home for third to Quick Floss before that. Clendenning is slowly starting to put it together and was a handy second to Invahir at Dubbo. Casual Mood is a five-year-old by Adelaide on debut. Keep safe.
Bet: Hammoon Summer to win
RACE 4
The Big Seal returned from a spell with an all-the-way win over this trip at Gilgandra two weeks ago carrying 63kg. Drops to 56.5kg here. Arimathea raced a little keen in the early stages behind the leader when a length second to Kora Magic under 60.5kg when first-up Bathurst back in June. Carries 57.5kg after the claim of Braith Nock. Bring The Rabble also led all-the-way last start over 900m at Coonabarabran. Castlebar Road has placed both runs this distance and was third at his only run here.
Bet: The Big Seal each-way
RACE 5
Deelbreaka has been a model of consistency this campaign and was rewarded with a breakthrough win at Newcastle last time out. Has changed stables and now with Clint Lundholm. Drawn ideally and can go back-to-back. Former Victorian mare Zest For Life raced behind the leader battled away for third to Invahir when resuming from a break at Dubbo on July 28. Will be better for the run and placed twice at this distance. A Boy Named Soo broke through for his maiden win after covering ground at Bathurst two starts back before a third to Invahir at Forbes. Yehbut has place claims.
Bet: Deelbreaka to win
Deelbreaka is shooting for back-to-back wins. Picture: Bradley Photos
RACE 6
Lipstick Lil was held up for a run and checked at Warren two starts back and should have finished closer. Had to chase the leading group who skipped away before finishing second to Divine Sinner at Dubbo last week. Been top two in three runs this distance and will be prominent again. Shikishi was safely beaten when fourth to Invahir last start but was a handy second at Bathurst before that. Scorpius was a solid winner at Dubbo before just going down behind Young Heart at the same track last week. Hampton Cove dropped in grade and broke through for a win at Gilgandra last start.
Bet: Lipstick Lil to win
RACE 7
Aaron Bullock lost an iron in the straight aboard Musical Affair as she was looming up at Scone first-up. Was very consistent last campaign and will take running down here. Sin City Belle raced keenly when seventh over 1618m at Dubbo three weeks ago. Good win from Hemsted at the start before over 1418m. Fabulous Choice won at Tamworth and Scone before falling by a short head behind Ringside at Moree in his bid for hat-trick. Ringside has claims on that Moree win.
Bet: Musical Affair to win
RACE 8
Too Good To Be Tru came from last with a strong run along the fence to claim the Maclean Cup at Grafton during the carnival. Held up for a run in the straight behind Prime Impact at Newcastle last start. Drawn well and is a leading contender. Two Big Fari hasn't won for quite a while but has been competitive in town and had a wide run in the South Grafton Cup behind Cepheus. Notabadidea was just beaten by Island Press at Wellington before a fourth to Just A Brother in the Forbes Cup. Toulon Factor was fourth to Island Press at Wellington after racing wide. Handy second to Johnny Dash at Gunnedah last start.
Bet: Too Good To Be Tru to win
RACE 9
Skyforger came from just worse than midfield to score a two length win at Warren at his first run for the Lundholm stable. Was trapped wide and made a move forward from near the 800m when seventh behind Jungle Fever at Moree last start. Drawn well and can bounce back. Our Gigi Rocks is better than her seventh to Boston Rocks when resuming at Wyong. Smart win on debut at Port Macquarie and not far away there second-up. Lord Bob won his maiden over 1350m at Wyong on July 15 before fading over 1500m after leading at Newcastle. Back in distance. Kelilah dwelt at the starts the was held up in the straight when fourth over 1018m at Dubbo last start. Step up in trip will suit.
