A first glance at the career statistics for a former Victorian having her first start for Angela Davies at Cessnock on Monday would suggest the mare needs a heavy track to produce her best but a deeper analysis would suggest that it may not be the case.
Angela Davies has figured in this column many times, as recently as Sunday and it is worth repeating what we told our readers yesterday – see story here.
As a rule, Davies only takes horses to the races when they are ready to win and in suitable races.
Fresh from a winning double at Port Macquarie on Sunday, Angela Davies-trained gallopers figure prominently in our best bests once again.
NICCORAMA (Race 3 No 6)
Niccorama will be having her first start for Davies in the East Bowling Club Benchmark 55 Handicap (1150m) after previously being trained in Victoria by John Salinitri winning two of her 13 career starts to date.
With both wins coming on heavy ground many would assume the daughter of Nicconi is a wet-tracker and will be waiting for another day with a good track posted for Cessnock on Monday but digging deeper that may not necessarily be the case.
Niccorama is first-up on Monday and both the wins came at the same stage of previous preparations and both wins were in the distance range of Monday's assignment.
Niccorama certainly seemed to go okay on a good track leading all the way to win a Gosford trial on August 25 accounting for Mighty Lucky who added merit to the trial finishing runner-up at Rosehill on Saturday.
With the Davies polish and $6 available in early betting it is worth the punt to find out if Niccorama is more than a wet-track horse.
RUBEL (Race 5 No 12)
Niccorama's stablemate Rubel has the early speed to overcome a wide draw in the Jungle Juice Cup Race Day October 13 Maiden Handicap (1150m).
Rubel led on debut before finishing third at Tuncurry and looks to have superior early speed to any of her rivals on Monday.
Whilst it was only a Tuncurry maiden the form from the race has held up well, the winner Gold Skye ran second in a Scone class two on Friday, the fourth horse, Warrambungle has subsequently won a Taree maiden whilst the second and fifth horse finished runner-up at their next outing.
With the benefit of race experience Rubel gets her chance to record a maiden win.
D'LAST ZA (Race 4 No 3)
Back to a 900m scamper gives the Mick O'Neill-trained D'Last Za the chance to return to the winner's list in the Cessnock Leagues Club Class 1 Handicap.
D'Last Za made light work of his rivals winning a Coffs Harbour maiden over 800m with his only other run at a distance less than 1000m resulting in a second at Newcastle chasing home Latin Boy who has now stretched his winning sequence to three.
D'Last Za found class two company beyond him stepping up to 1000m from a wide gate at Ballina last start but back in trip and distance and a perfect barrier draw gives D/Last Za every chance to bounce back on Monday.
