Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - August 10

9 August 2024

 

A showdown between Group 1 winning mares Aardies Express and Major Delight in the Norms Daughter Stakes is a highlight of the Menangle meeting on Saturday night.

Victoria Derby winner Petracca also adds some class and interest to the program when he chases a return to the winners' list.
Race 1: WOODLANDS STUD STALLIONS - THE MARKET LEADER PACE
SERG BLANCO (9) has been taking on handy company at Melton this time in and put the writing on the wall in his latest outing when beaten only 2.2m into fourth. Draws wide but should be at peak fitness and this looks a winnable assignment with even luck. MACH DA VINCI (11) draws deepest but had enough speed to lead from a wide gate last time before boxing on to finish midfield. He can push forward again and his best form measures right up. BOOTS ELECTRIC (8) broke when resuming but did a good job when placed from this barrier here last start. Can progress further. BLACK ONYX (4) has been solid in two starts since a spell and can be competitive again from a low draw.
Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE
LIKE A WILDFIRE (11) brings strong form from Melton where he has won three of four starts this campaign, all of them from back row draws. Raced wide in the latter stages but proved too strong by 1.5m last time. Draws widest but is good enough to overcome it. KANENA PROVLIMA (1) returns from the Brisbane carnival where he led and stuck on well as runner up at Albion Park last start. Has the speed to take advantage of the ace draw so could be hard to get past. LOYALIST (10) produced a couple of solid efforts in Brisbane and chased home a subsequent Group 1 placegetter when he finished third at this circuit three back. Draws wide but can make an impact from there. OUR MONEY ROCKS (9) showed improvement in his last-start fourth and races well third-up so can progress further. WHEREYABINBOPPIN (2) has the gate speed to be prominent from this draw.
Race 3: HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY GLEN WHITEMAN PACE
PETRACCA (6) is a dual Group 1 winner of last season who has been a beaten favourite in both starts at Melton since a nine-month spell but has finished less than 2.5m from the winner each time, the latest as runner-up. He'll be fitter for those outings and has won two of three second-up attempts so can show his best tonight. DOUGS PLATTER (2) made a winning return from a let-up here last week, working forward from a wider draw to lead and score by 2.3m. That took his strike rate at this circuit to 50 per cent and a good draw gives him every chance to back that up. PITCH PERFECT (4) led from a similar barrier and drew away to score by 9m here last time. Must respect off that along with SURFERS DELIGHT (7) who will be approaching peak fitness and went under narrowly from a similar draw here two back.
Race 4: ACCESS GROUP SOLUTIONS SECURITY SERVICES PACE
CASH AND BLING (1) was held up so should have finished closer when midfield here last week. Risks traffic issues again from the inside draw but his prior form was strong with a win and two placings from his previous three attempts here. This is winnable if things go his way. WHATABOYJACK (7) worked forward to find the front before going on to score a 2.6m win at this circuit and distance last week. Draws a few spots wider but he is going well. DIEING ART (4) tackles the boys tonight but did a good job against the mares last week to come from a wide barrier for a 1.5m third. CAULONIA COURAGE (8) draws deeper tonight but his form at this venue is hard to knock, recording back-to-back wins before a 1.3m second last week.
Race 5: CLUB MENANGLE NORMS DAUGHTER STAKES
AARDIES EXPRESS (8) returns from the Brisbane carnival where she won a G3 two starts back before a brave second in the G1 Golden Girl after drawing wide and working. Has the speed to get across from this barrier and is unbeaten at this distance. Classy mare who will be hard to stop. MAJOR DELIGHT (9) scored a fresh win at Listed level from the widest barrier at this circuit two back and since then proved too classy at Melton. She owns a strong record here, winning five of seven attempts. Another with the enough speed to push forward from out wide. Big danger. MY MOONLITE DREAM (3) produced some good efforts during her Brisbane stint, winning twice at Albion Park and clocking in third behind two smart mares there last time. The good draw can see her competitive. TREACHEROUS GALL (4) takes a step up in grade on last week's win at her Australian debut but goes well second up and has upside. SWEET AGENDA (1) brings solid form from Brisbane and could feature from the ace draw.
Race 6: HARNESS BREEDERS NSW PINK DIAMOND STAKES
RENEWAL (6) is a smart filly who has extended a run of top-two finishes into this campaign, scoring second-up in Tasmania two back before coming from the back row when beaten 3.6m against older mares last start at Melton. She has raced here twice for a win and a Group 1 second last season. Goes very well at the mile and is race fit now so looks nicely placed. Unbeaten filly CHEEKY KISS (7) extended her perfect record to five when she returned from a let-up with a 9m win at Bathurst despite racing wide from a back row draw. Won her lone attempt at this circuit and distance two back. Hard to knock. A LOT OF LUVIN (5) is a consistent filly who added to a string of wins and placings with a last-start Penrith success and was runner up when tackling the boys here two back. DIVINE GIRL (1) led for a resuming win at Bathurst so can give a sight from the ace draw.
Race 7: BUBBA GUMP PEST CONTROL PACE
IDEAL MARQUESS (3) raced parked from this draw for a 4.6m win at this circuit and distance two back then stepped up in distance and drew wide when placed here last week. He looks better off back to the mile and has winning claims. There was merit in the latest effort of SHEFFIELD SPARKY (5) when just behind the placegetters. He draws a few spots wider but can pay a role again. POWER UP (8) draws wide but looks close to a win off back-to-back placings at this venue and came from a similar barrier for third to Ideal Marquess two back. KILLARA SAMURAI (4) was fair when midfield last week but is a player off his second from a wider barrier three back.
Race 8: AGT SLOTS TROTTERS MOBILE
THE LOCOMOTIVE (8) -pictured - relished the drop from Group 1 level when he returned to this circuit for a dominant win last week, coming from a 20m handicap and working to the front before drawing clear to score by 9m. That saw him unbeaten after three attempts here. He looks tough to stop. TORO STRIDE (7) was fourth to The Locomotive when off the same mark last week but had won his previous two outings here and he goes very well at the mile so the distance drop should suit him. CALIGULA (9) broke and raced wide so did well to finish second from this barrier last start. Manners can be a problem but he was dominant in victory over this distance three back. SUPER SERVICE (3) was a touch off his game over the longer distance last week but had won his previous two attempts from mobile starts and draws well so could bounce back.
BEST BETS:
Race 6 #6 Renewal – Talented and looks nicely placed back against the fillies.
Race 8 #8 The Locomotive– Impressive last week and can maintain his perfect Menangle record.
MENANGLE FORMGUIDE - CLICK HERE