The decision to wait for Cessnock on Friday for a Kim Waugh-trained gelding looks a winning move whilst a horse that provided yet another chapter in the Punters Hard Luck Story Book last start is set to make amends.
Waugh accepted with two runners for the class two handicap at Wyong on Thursday relying on Oxford Magic who duly saluted landing a $3.30 to $2.35 plunge.
The stablemate scratched from Thursday, Prince Dylan, heads our best bets at Cessnock.
RUBEL (Race 1 No 8)
I had the money spent after tipping the Angela Davies-trained Rubel at Cessnock last start but alas another chapter to the Punters Unlucky Story Book was written which must now be challenging A la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust which is the longest book ever written according to Guinness World Records.
Rubel was leading at the 150m mark and looked set for victory.
The Racing NSW Steward’s Report explains what happened at that point.
"- approaching the 100m the filly attempted to hurdle a discoloured section of the track and as a result became badly unbalanced after making heavy contact with the running rail.”
Obviously Rubel dropped out from that point officially finishing over nine-lengths from the winner.
Rubel was required to trial which she did successfully at Beaumont on September 29.
Happy to give her another chance but this writer won’t be planning what to do with the winnings until correct-weight is declared.
TABLE TWO (Race 3 No 1)
The Brett Partelle-trained Table Two will be having his fourth run back from a long spell when he lines up in the The Advertiser Class 3 Handicap (900m) and is ready to win.
Table Two had three 900m wins on his resume and a similar number of runner-up finishes from 10 starts prior to an injury enforced 675-day break between races.
After finishing down the track at Gosford in his first two runs back Table Two put the writing on the wall last time out when just over a length from the winner in the Hurricane at Newcastle on September 16.
Table Two looks close to his best and represents value at $6 in early markets.
PRINCE DYLAN (Race 6 No 1)
Prince Dylan faced a tough task to defeat his stablemate at Wyong yesterday but the Wine Country Motor Inn Benchmark 60 Handicap (1150m) today looks an easier assignment.
Prince Dylan is chasing back to back wins after an all the way victory in a benchmark 62 handicap at Hawkesbury last start and doesn’t look badly treated in a country benchmark 60 with 3kg more.
Prince Dylan is drawn to get all the favours in the run from barrier two and I expect he'll settle third or fourth on the fence behind the leaders.
Run of the race stuff should she Prince Dylan get home.
