Race-by-race tips and previews for Sunday's Parkes meeting

(Selections based on a soft track)
Race 1
6. Amoruso is a three-year-old filly having her first start and she comes into this having easily won a trial at Tamworth. She scored by almost four lengths in that hitout and gets her chance to launch her career with a victory. 1. Cerons has two placings from six starts and has had two unplaced efforts in Queensland since finishing second in the Tamworth trial behind Amoruso. He's drawn wide here but has the talent to make an impact. 8. Spring Prospect debuted with a fifth at Mudgee back in December and has had two trials leading into this resuming run, winning the latest of them at Dubbo. 9. I Don't Think So was first-up from a long spell when finishing fourth at Dubbo and shouldn't be taken lightly.
How to play it: Amoruso WIN.
Race 2
13. Turning Circle started favourite when finishing fourth as favourite at Wyong last time out. She was safely held in that event but will find this easier and looks perfectly suited to break her maiden. 14. Winning Reign ran third placed at Dubbo when last produced and can make an impact again. 3. Outcast Soldier finished second in that same race at Dubbo and also can be thereabouts in this company, while 8. Billabong Rose is racing well and has the advantage of gate one.
How to play it: Turning Circle WIN.
Race 3
1. Egyptologist resumes here on the back of two trials. He won at Mudgee and Dubbo at his last two starts before a spell and looks primed to run well first-up over the mile. 4. Naval Officer is on the quick back-up after hitting the line well to win at Wellington on Tuesday. 9. Remadosi wasn't beaten far in the Murrumbidgee Guineas at Wagga last time out and is worth plenty of thought, while 2. Midnight Affair ran well at Hawkesbury in Highway company at her latest outing.
How to play it: Egyptologist WIN.
Race 4
2. Princess Halo was a Sapphire Coast winner three starts ago and has since finished midfield in both runs. She can bounce back to winning form here. 6. Sheridan Street won well on debut at Gundagai as favourite before tackling the Wagga carnival and never being a factor. She can lift on that in this company. 7. Swilken Bridge is handy at best and can give cheek from the good draw, while 11. The Mooch has been placed in two of her latest three starts and can figure again.
How to play it: Princess Halo WIN.

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Daily Telegraph

17 hours ago

• Daily Telegraph

Kembla preview: Wild Thoughts set to shine despite draw

Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Local trainer Kerry Parker is optimistic of a good days racing, not just about the chances of his home track quartet but also his lone city runner. Parker has a good opinion of lightly-raced three-year-old Wild Thoughts who made his debut at Kembla back in January when third behind Modella. Put away, the Proven Thoroughbreds-owned son of So You Think has returned in very good order with an all-the-way trial win on his home track last month. 'That was a terrific preparation for him last time in,' said Parker. 'He trialled nicely at Warwick Farm and then ran well on debut before going for a spell. 'It was good education for him and this is now the start of his first real preparation.' Parker's confidence was dented a little when Wild Thoughts drew barrier 11 in the Midway Maiden Handicap (1200m). 'Unfortunately, he has drawn a bad gate so he is going to need some luck. 'We will just have to ride him conservatively early with cover. 'If the race is run at a suitable tempo, I expect him to finishing strongly and make his presence felt.' Parker was tickled pink with the first-up run of Tom Cruising when runner-up behind Miss Stalwart at the Sapphire Coast over an unsuitable distance. He feels the son of American Pharoah is in with a great chance when he steps up to his ideal distance in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) where he has drawn barrier 3. 'It was the first time I have ever run him over 1200 metres and it was a sensational run,' he said. 'I only took him there because it looked a nice race to start him off in on soft ground on a big track. 'He zipped up the inside really well in the straight. 'He has come back this time in a good frame of mind and is feeling well so I have no problem stepping him out to a mile which is more to his liking. 'I expect him to run really well again.' Why Why Why ran well on debut when third to Jared at Goulburn and followed up with a two-and-a-quarter length sixth to Shalaa Jet at Wyong. With a big drop in weight thanks to the 4kg claim of stable apprentice Ryan Bradley, the three-year-old gelding should be very competitive in the Maiden Plate (1600m). 'He is still learning his trade. He's only a little fella so getting the four kilo apprentice on will definitely help him,' Parker said. 'I was really pleased with his first run at Goulburn. 'We probably tried to ride him a bit cute and make use of the inside barrier at Wyong last start. 'They ran along the first half of the race pretty slick and he was under pressure a fair way out. I think they ran something like nine lengths faster than the other mile race for the first half (mile). 'He kept grinding away and wasn't beat that fare so he still went alright.' Bradley will also partner the stayer Cosmos Factory who resumes in the Class 1 Handicap (1400m). 'Naturally he will be better as he gets out over more ground but it looks a nice enough race for him,' said Parker. 'With that weight off his back, he could run a place in a race like this with no surprise.' Parker's day starts off at Randwick with consistent mare Callistemon in the Midway Handicap (1600m). 'Callistemon and Let's Go Again have been running on alternate weeks and placed in the last four (Midways) between them. 'It would be nice if the luck turns our way and we can knock one off.'

News.com.au

07-06-2025

• News.com.au

Sapphire Coast preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, June 8, 2025

Trainer Anthony Mountney is banking on King Charles' love of the Sapphire Coast track to overcome a jump in grade and a tricky inside draw. King Charles has built a strong record on the southern New South Wales track with two wins, two seconds and fourth from five starts. His charged home to win two runs ago before a second to The Unique Star who has since won at Warwick Farm during the week. While those two runs were in Benchmark 58 races over 1007m and 1010m respectively, he steps up to 1212m in the Benchmark 66 Handicap where he drawn barrier 1. 'He really does race well at the track,' said Mountney. 'The wetter the better it would be for him. I would look for a really wet track somewhere else for him but he just enjoys the track there so much. 'There is a bit of speed in this race so that should allow him to get off the fence. 'The draw down low in the gates isn't ideal for him. He's a horse who likes to come out wider down the centre of the track. 'He's a funny horse. He's got form over 1000 metres and two wins over a mile but hasn't got anything in between. 'He is strong late and has won on the soft there before including two starts back although he is a heavy track specialist. 'His confidence is up and I expect him to run well. He just needs to get away from the rail.' While Mountney would love the track to be in the heavy range for King Charles, it's the opposite for stablemate Vis I Do who would appreciate a dry track. The five-year-old failed on the wet at his only run at the Sapphire Coast two starts ago before a solid length second behind Grinzinger Moon on a Good 4 at Albury last time out. 'He failed at his last start here because it was a heavy track and he just doesn't handle wet tracks,' he said. 'I took him to Albury and I thought he ran a fabulous race back on top of the ground. 'He didn't get to follow the right horse into the race while the leader was doing it's own thing. 'With the right run into it, I think he could have stretched the winner.' That was over 1175m but the gelding drops back a little in trip when he lines up in the Class 3 Handicap (1010m) although Mountney isn't too concerned. ðŸŒ' Grinzinger Moon brains them and makes it four straight at Albury! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2025 'He is coming back in trip but I don't think that will worry him,' he said. 'I have kept him very fresh and his work has been super.' Mountney also has two three-year-olds making their race debut together in the Super Maiden Handicap (1212m) and expects both to acquit themselves very well. Luminesce rolled forward to take the lead and held on to win her first barrier trial at Kembla on May 12 before sitting back and wide when last without being pushed in her second heat on Wednesday. 'She is a filly with a fair bit of quality and one we have had a fair bit of time for,' Mountney said. 'Naturally she is still learning and can do things wrong. 'If she has her mind on the job, she will be very strong in this race.' Pancake Pete also had his only trial at Kembla on May 12 when held into the straight when fifth. 'He's has been working particularly well at home with Jacob's Time. He breezed up lovely on Friday morning,' he said. 'He will probably be the longest odds of all my horses but he is worth a little each-way bet.' ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS BEST BET Race 5 No. 8: VEGAS DREAM Winner and a close second in his two runs at the track and distance. NEXT BEST Race 3 No. 4: LOAFER Nice second at her NSW debut and can go one better. VALUE BET Race 7 No. 1: OWN THEM Brazilian Derby and Hong Kong 2000m winner. Will appreciate the step up in trip and drop in grade. QUADDIE Race 4: 1, 2, 3, 5 Race 5: 2, 8 Race 6: 3, 4, 11 Race 7: 1, 4, 5 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW RICHARD BENSLEY looks a good chance to land a winning double. INSIDE MAIL – SAPPHIRE COAST RACE 1: BEGA CUP 2 DAY CARNIVAL JAN 31 - FEB 1 2026 COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1413m VIVEK (6) ran a handy third over 1300m at Moruya first-up then was checked a couple of times in the straight losing his momentum when seventh over 1410m here on May 4. Dropped back to 1010m and was wide throughout when seventh here three weeks later. Back to 1413m suits. CONJOIN (1) is backing up from a well beaten 10th at Goulburn last week. Has placed five times including a half-length third on a Soft 7 here. IDEELIC (2) will improve off his first-up fourth over 1280m on the Canberra Acton track on May 23. SESTO (2) raced greenly on debut when fifth to the progressive Sparklenglitter who remain unbeaten in three starts. Raced outside the leader and boxed on for third to Consorting One over this track and distance three weeks ago. MCTOMINAY (1) is on debut. Was second in two Victorian jumpouts before moving to the Luke Pepper stable. Led all-the-way to win his trial here on May 18. MOVER AND SHAKER (6) appreciated a drop back in trip and to country grade when a closing fifth at Canberra last start before a spell. Wasn't pushed when fourth in his recent Kembla trial. LOAFER (4) changed stables mid-preparation and made her NSW debut for the Scott Collings yard with a half-length second behind Choice Witness at Corowa on May 19. Drawn well here and can go one better. CYCLONE RUPERT (2) has been on the heels of the placegetters at his last four starts, the latest a fourth behind A Pound Of Salt in a 1200m TAB Highway at Randwick two weeks ago. Drops back to 1010m here but will figure prominently. MISS SCOOP (7) has a win and two placings from three runs here. Will be thereabouts again from the inside draw. SHE'S IN OVERDRIVE (3) began fairly from the inside gate and settled down a little worse than midfield before working home for second behind Consorting One over 1010m on debut here on may 18. Will be better for the experience and looks like she will appreciate the step up to 1212m. INCHYRA (2) ran in the Super Maiden here over this distance that same day and closed nicely through the pack from last to finish second behind Platinum Ridge. Drawn to settle closer. LUMINESCE (5) was good winning her May 12 trial at Kembla and wasn't pushed in her heat there on Wednesday. VEGAS DREAM (8) led all-the-way to beat Star Bling over this track and distance on a Heavy 9 before returning a month later with a nose second behind Capital Heart. Stepped up in grade when sixth behind Equilibrist. Drawn ideally. CAPITAL HEART (2) resumed from a spell without an official trial with that all-the-way win from Vegas Dream. Raced in TAB Highways last campaign including a two length sixth to Everido and Sunchyme at Kembla on The Gong Day. KING CHARLES (14) loves racing at this track where he has two wins over 1000m, two seconds and a fourth. Yet to place in seven runs at the 1200m but has won over 1600m. MAJOR DESIRE (11) hadn't placed in three first-up runs until kicking off this preparation with a length second behind the in-form Hell Of A Fox over 1212m here three weeks ago. Will appreciate stepping up in distance. Runner-up at his only other run here over this trip. PLATINUM RIDGE (4), the half-brother to stakes winner Opal Ridge, was given a long spell after a debut seventh at Muswellbrook last July. Worked forward to lead and held out Inchyra to score by a length when resuming here three weeks ago. KOTAICHI (3) raced wide when down the track in the Highway at Hawkesbury two run ago before a fourth to Hell Of A Fox at Goulburn last start. OWN THEM (1) found the 1200m too short when resuming in a Bm 74 at Wagga on May 2. The Brazilian Derby winner came to Australia via Hong Kong where he was a winner over 2000m and won at his first start here in a Bm 66 over 1300m at Goulburn. Will appreciate the step up to the mile and drop back in grade. REMADOSI (4) was beaten less than three lengths by Dupli Kate in the MTC Guineas at Wagga before a short half head second to Naval Officer at Parkes. EVOKES (5) closed strongly from near last to win comfortably here two runs back. Made up a lot of ground at Goulburn last start.

The Age

04-06-2025

• The Age

Tough conditions set to suit rugged Rebel's Edge

Rebel's Edge is as tough as old boots, and gets conditions to suit tackling the feature Wingham Cup at Thursday's rain-hit Taree meeting. On an expected Heavy 8 or 9 rating, the Muswellbrook-based six-year-old is primed to capture a seventh career win at his 53rd start, deep into a drawn out and sparingly raced campaign. Stabled with Cassandra Stummer, Rebel's Edge is on an 11-day back-up after a game closing effort from last in the tougher Benchmark 78 Gunnedah Cup, finishing only five lengths from the winner despite that torrid run. And that already looks a strong country form line, given second-placed Fiorsum Fred was coming off a dominant Highway win at Scone on the Stand-Alone Saturday meeting on May 17. Prior to the Gunnedah run, Rebel's Edge was only a bit over three lengths from a smart winner of the Country Cup over 1400m, run on the opening day of the Scone Cup carnival. Over the testing mile at Taree, connections quickly booked leading jockey Aaron 'Raging Bull' Bullock to ride. While he hasn't won for nearly a year, Rebel's Edge has a sound wet track record, with four of his six career wins coming on either soft or heavy tracks. But there's no shortage of well-placed challengers here on the Mid North Coast. Wyong five-year-old Wealthy Investor has placed in two from three runs this prep against deeper opposition; tough mare Veandechance reloads four weeks after failing to run home in a BM 82 over 1435m on the North Coast; while progressive home tracker Otium is out to capture a fourth win from just 17 starts.