Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - June 6

5 June 2026

 

The inside draw gives boom mare Captains Mistress (pictured) every chance to repel the challenge of Miracle Mile, Eureka and Inter Dominion winner Don Hugo in a terrific clash in Saturday night’s JD Watts Free For All.

Promising former Kiwi Zeus Lightning later heads a high quality three-year-old event that also features the unbeaten The Niteshift and progressive filly Senses.
Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday June 6
Race 1: LIVAMOL WITH BIOWORMA PACE
SOUTH SEAS ROCK (2) has been down the track since kicking off in Australia with a win in this grade but has switched to Seaton Grima since last seen and was good in a recent trial when runner-up to topliner Don Hugo. Draws well and drops in class so could bounce back to winning form. DANCE WITH CARMER (1) worked when racing parked last start but had led from wider barriers to win two of his previous three outings so has the early speed to take advantage of the inside draw. GLITTER AINT GOLD (4) led and faded last time but had been very consistent with a string of placings prior. He deserves another chance. PERFECT STRIDE (8) came from the outside barrier to miss by just a neck at this circuit and distance last start so respect.
Race 2: IRT YOUR HORSE OUR PASSION PACE
CYNICAL (1) is a progressive gelding who stretched his winning streak to six when he led from a couple of spots wider and kept going to score by 6.5m at this circuit and distance last time. Takes a step up in in grade but has plenty of upside and possesses the early speed to take advantage of the inside draw. SINALOA (7) was last seen when midfield in the Riverina Championships final in April and put together a string of placings prior, highlighted by a third in the Chariots of Fire. Readied with two trials and flies fresh with three wins and a placing from four attempts. SAO PAULO SIMBA (5) had to work when resuming as favourite and only beat one home but he has a fine record at this shorter distance, recording four wins and two placings from seven attempts so look for improvement. VITE MONET (8) draws much wider than when runner-up here last time but came from this barrier to win three back at Bathurst. DOUBLE IT HARRY (9) may need some luck but has won three of his last four.
Race 3: TAB PACE
HAPPY TOO YA (1) faces a stiffer test tonight but he is flying having put four wins together. Led in each of those so has the gate speed to take full advantage of the inside draw. REWATCH (10) is a handy colt who has joined Luke McCarthy since a second here three weeks ago. Has only once missed the top-two in his last five outings and is good enough to win with even luck from a wide draw. MONTEFIORE (2) resumes off some decent form including a win at this circuit and distance two back. Readied with a trial and is aided by a good draw. LAYDEN (7) is a player after a solid fourth from a similar barrier here last time while RIVERA LOU (5) chased an in-form rival to place last start and came from this barrier when he scored four back at this circuit and distance.
Race 4: CLUB MENANGLE WARATAH FINAL
FRANKIROMAR (5) has returned in terrific order, winning her two Newcastle outings off a spell. Led from a wide barrier to cruise home fresh then sat back but finished too strongly at her latest appearance, getting home by 4.2 metres. Should be at her peak so could land the hat trick. RONZEL SONNY (4) pushed to the lead and kept kicking when runner-up last start. Won two of his previous three starts so has been going well. Can push forward again from this draw so could give a sight. GEM N EM (7) draws wider but did a good job in scoring a last-start win by 1.5 metres at Wagga. SNAKE OIL (11) continued his consistent form when runner-up to Gem N Em last start. Draws wide but is proven at this circuit and distance and has more upside than many of these.
Race 5: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU JD WATTS FFA (LISTED CLASSIC)
Brilliant mare CAPTAINS MISTRESS (1) took her record at the Menangle mile to six from seven when coming from wider to land a similar race to this last start. Blessed with abundant speed and she'll get to use it from the inside draw. The one to beat. DON HUGO (5) was a terrific third from the outside barrier when last seen in the Miracle Mile in March. Hasn't missed a place in 16 tries at the circuit and distance, winning eight. Two-time fresh winner and a trial win suggests he is back in good order. HI MANAMEISJEFF (2) has 3.3m to make up on Captains Mistress through the last-start second but he draws much lower and he is another who loves racing over the mile here. RIPP (3) led from wider to find winning form last start. This is tougher but he draws well so is a first four hope along with CHASE A DREAM (10) who disappointed last time but is capable of better.
Race 6: PRYDE'S EASIFEED PACE
MAC BON (4) is an accomplished pacer who hasn't raced since a brave fifth from a tough draw in the Breeders Crown Final at Melton in December. Strikes at 50 per cent at the mile and should be ready to go off a couple of trials. LOUIE LOU I (3) has the hoof on the till after seconds from wide barriers in his two outings at this circuit and distance since switching from Victoria. Better drawn tonight so could break through. Dual Group 1 winner SOHO AMERICANO (1) is much better served by the inside draw having come from the extreme outside first up. Has recorded two wins and two placings in four second-up attempts so should be improved. CHICAGO BART (6) is in good form having won three of his last four starts, one of them from a similar draw over this circuit and distance. LETS TURN IT ON (5) has won three of five previous fresh attempts and has trialled well so keep safe.
Race 7: YABBY DAM FARMS 3YO PACE
ZEUS LIGHTNING (6) is a progressive former Kiwi who was a class above his rivals when cruising home by 13.5m first up, taking his strike rate at this circuit and distance to 50 per cent. Had form around Hollywood Strip last campaign including a second to him at Listed level and a fourth in the NSW Derby. That is strong form and he looks bound for better things. THE NITESHIFT (11) is a promising gelding unbeaten in three starts, two of them coming circuit and distance. Draws very wide but overcame a similar barrier in his last outing and while that was seven weeks ago he has easily won a trial since. SENSES (5) is a talented filly who charged home for second two back in the NSW Oaks before beating the boys last time. Draws wider and there is more depth to this but she is on the up. ALERT BAY (4) will be fitter for his resuming second from wider here last start and was runner-up to Zeus Lightning in a Derby heat prior. ENJABONARLO (7) must be respected off back-to-back wins.
Race 8: BE HAPPY MACH @ WINGATE FARM LADYSHIP PACE
SUNSET STRIDE (10) has joined Rickie Alchin since she led and boxed on for a 1.5m third in a higher-graded race at Wagga last start. Has won third-up before so should be close to peaking and while she draws wide she came from a similar barrier to win over this distance the last time she raced here. WHERES MY REASON (3) will enjoy a low draw as she has been performing well from tough barriers, winning from the second row two back before coming from wider to miss a handy filly by a nose last time. DRAW A DREAM (8) has had eight weeks off since a stint in Queensland where she performed well without winning. Has trialled and the form she showed as Group 1-winning youngster would win this. ISLA ROCHELLE (9) draws wider but could be close to a win off back-to-back placings at this circuit and distance, the latest against the boys.
Race 9: ULTRA AIR TROTTERS MOBILE
LONDON TO A BRICK (7) was first up for more than three months when he came from this barrier for a 3.6m third at this venue. Should be better for that and has a decent record at this longer distance so has winning claims. CONSTANTINOPLE (8) scored back-to-back wins here in April and was good last start when he led from this barrier and fought well to go under by head. All of those were at the mile but he also owns a good strike rate at this longer distance. Big chance. WATTS UP PARTYTIME (6) has been a bit off his game of late but he has some big wins on his resume and did beat Constantinople when scoring at this circuit and distance earlier in his campaign. SPEEDY LOVER (4) wasn't too far from the placegetters last start and may be better suited up in distance having won over the trip three back. BENNIE AND THE JETS (2) brings some good form from Victoria and draws to be competitive.
BEST BETS:
Race 1 #2 South Seas Rock – Draws well and a strong trial suggests he can find winning form.
Race 7 #6 Zeus Lightning – Progressive three-year-old who impressed first up.