Country crackers for Saturday

Breednet - Friday October 20

The major focus on any Saturday is metropolitan racing but there's plenty of us out there that don't mind a dabble at the support meetings across the country so here's our best bets.

Advertisement
They're racing at Narromine on Saturday.

On Saturday, we’ve come up with a tip at the Newcastle, Bendigo, Gold Coast, Wagga, Narromine and Wodonga meetings.

NEWCASTLE

ISTRIA (Race 8 No. 3) This Godolphin mare looks well placed to break through on Saturday. She’s had two runs back this campaign, both solid efforts in good midweek metro races. First-up she raced too fresh and didn’t have a lot of luck in running when beaten less than a length by the handy Cocoexcel before the second-up run which saw her chase home the classy Slow Burn and Vienna Romance, herself a city winner recently. This is a significant class drop, she’ll appreciate getting out to 1400m and should prove too good.

BENDIGO

PENTIAN (Race 2 No. 6) The race has a bit of depth but that should just help us get some sort of price about the lightly raced Darren Weir-trained Pentian. His debut was solid behind a smart filly, he then stayed at the same trip and couldn’t match his stable mate’s kick in the straight but did keep coming after sitting out three deep the trip. He’s by Pentire so he’s only going to take big steps with every run under his belt and the step up to the mile on the big track looks ideal. He’ll box seat from the good gate and should prove too good. Play quinellas with Boss Tweed that will also love the step up to the mile.

GOLD COAST

COSMIC VIEW (Race 4 No. 8) A three-year-old filly by Mossman, she’s having her first start for the Toby Edmonds stable on Saturday. Didn’t show a great deal in her two Sydney runs but her trial last month indicated she’s going to be something to beat in a 900m maiden on the Gold Coast. She began quickly to take up the running and in the straight when everything was ridden along, Cosmic View’s rider was holding the horse together. Given a little shake at the 100m, she drew clear before being nabbed on the line but if they’d wanted too, she’d have won the trial easily. On Saturday she’s drawn the gun gate and will take some beating.

WAGGA

TAKOOKACOD (Race 1 No. 13) Former Sydneysider having her first start for a new stable. The veteran of just two starts, Takookacod was far from disgraced on debut when beaten 2-1/4 lengths by the handy filly Lipizzan and finishing less than a length from Envy Of All. In her next run she found 1200m on a genuine heavy surface beyond her but it wasn’t a terrible performance, beaten less than five lengths by Wild Heart. Resumes here without a trial and the 1000m looks ideal. Provided she hasn’t gone backwards, she looks placed to perfection to record her first win.

NARROMINE

NORTHERN MYTH (Race 4 No. 9) Not much of a meeting but this horse is well weighted on Saturday under the set weights conditions and a repeat of her latest run will have her in the finish. She’s been going around in class two company so should appreciate coming back to class one/maiden grade. In her latest run she was three wide without cover before taking off prior to the home turn and stuck on gamely in the straight to go down by less than 1-1/2 lengths. Drawn to get a better run this time and the mile appears within reach. Hard to beat in a moderate race.

WODONGA

LIBERTY LAD (Race 4 No. 2) Not the easiest of meetings with Benchmark 58 the highest grade race but we think we can get something out of the Brent Stanley-trained Liberty Lad. He’s only had the seven career starts and if you take out the wet track runs he’s yet to run a bad race. He broke through in good style last start and the way he ran through the line suggests the longer trip will be ideal. Up against a field of horses that are stuck in this grade, he should be able to balance up at the back of the field and run over the top of them.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Recent success highlights Inglis Digital October (Early) Sale
A range of exciting racing and breeding prospects – as well as a number of in-form racehorses and shares in Stakes winners – headline the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
We had three heats for 2YO’s run at Warwick Farm on Friday morning over 815m with winners by Farnan, Ole Kirk and Kia Ora Stud’s first season sire Captivant, while Stay Inside had an impressive trial winner at Murray Bridge.
Captivant Colt Shines at Warwick Farm Trials
Captivant’s burgeoning reputation for producing precocious 2YOs took another leap forward at today’s Warwick Farm trials, with Courthezon powering to victory in Heat 10.
Four Winners for Dennis
Local trainer Robert Dennis won half of the eight-race card at Ascot Park on Friday, culminating with a special win by Sir Sterling in the Vale Tony Dennis (1400m).
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
Mogumber Park hoists wet sail with Marine One
This time last year, the first foals by Mogumber Park stallion Marine One were widely regarded as some of the best types on the ground in Western Australia.