At Goulburn’s last race meeting home ground advantage proved crucial with the locals winning four of the eight races.
History could easily repeat on Tuesday with the tablelands turf once again fiercely guarded by several strong home track hopes.
Danielle Seib can set the tablelands tone early with Son Of Rubick ($2.15 TAB Fixed Odds) clear favourite in Race 1 the Goulburn Australia Country Boosted Maiden Plate. The three-year-old has banked minor money in two starts to date at this track. Seib also has Wexford Miss ($11) finding her ideal trip second up in the quaddie closer (Race 7).
The stable is in obvious ‘up and about’ form of late with four winners and four minor placings from its last ten runners.
Tash Burleigh recently welcomed a new addition to the family and the celebrations could continue with Xspiritous ($5.00 -Race 3) and Flying Flossy ($10 – Race 7) presenting as better than average chances on exposed form.
Matt Dale may have naming rights to Race 5, the M J Dale Racing Class 1 & Maiden Plate but early markets suggest the stable also has a mortgage on Race 6 with So You Pence ($1.60). The lightly raced So You Think mare a clear pre-post elect courtesy of a ‘’2 1 2’’ record from just three career starts.
Scott Collings is training at a healthy winning strike rate of 32% for the calendar year to date. He sent Ticklebelly on her way to a brave shot at Country Championships glory as part of a winning double at the last Goulburn meeting.
Shelly’s Ace ($8) and Maybe Maureen ($10) form a two-pronged assault for Collings in Race 3, the Kurrinda Bloodstock B58 Hcp. The former neatly fits the horse for course profile having notched a win and two minor placings from four outings on her home track.
Pat Murphy saddles up two runners in Race 6, a solid B58 Hcp Country Boosted contest over 1200m supported by Kirks Bridge Farm.
Murphy produced “The Right Rein’, literally, a fortnight ago, the same named horse headlining a stable quinella. Flying the flag on Tuesday is the rock-hard fit Prince Papa ($10) whilst Rileycat ($9.50) resumes without a trial but showed upside aplenty last campaign. No home track favours with barriers though, drawing twelve and thirteen respectively.
Other tablelands trainers such as Danny Williams and Mary Bray also lend their weight to the ‘shop local’ scenario for punters at Tuesdays meeting.
Looking outside postcode 2580 for a winner the Michael Freedman stables travels three strong chances up the Hume including new recruit and debut winner Wedding Planner in Race 1 ($2.60F), Twinkling Star ($2.20F) in Race 4 and Empress of Japan ($7) in Race 7. Whilst
regular Goulburn visitor Alysha Collett take the reins on two genuine hopes in Deep Emotion ($6.50 – Race 4 – John Thompson) and a horse with plenty of upside in Minnehaha Falls ($3.90- Race 7 -Neasham / Archibald) who goes Goulburn in preference to Hawkesbury last Saturday.
Goulburn’s track is currently rated a Soft 6 with perfect Autumn days forecast leading into race day with Race 1 timed to go at 1.35pm.
Photo: Bradley Photos
