Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - September 7

6 September 2024

 

WA star Never Ending will have to overcome a wide draw and a strong field if he is to win the world’s richest harness race - the TAB Eureka at Menangle on Saturday night.

Some of Australia's top pacers will also vie for the night's other big prize – the G1 Len Smith Mile where Major Moth (pictured) gets the inside draw in his bid to extend a winning streak.
Race-by-race preview of Menangle, Saturday September 7
Race 1: ULTRA AIR PACE
CURLY JAMES (6) was a beaten favourite but performed well as runner-up in last week's return to Sydney, beaten 1.5m by a smart miler. Draws wider but he is yet to miss a place at this distance and he finds a winnable assignment so goes on top. CANTFINDABETTORMAN (4) will be fitter for last week's placing when a metre behind Curly James, his first outing for five weeks since his fourth in the Group 1 Blacks a Fake in Brisbane. Draws inside the top pick this time so is a chance to turn the tables. STAR MAJOR (7) is in form with back-to-back wins at this circuit and distance, coming from this same barrier to score by 1.4m in his latest appearance. Must respect winning form. PERFECT STRIDE (1) made a successful switch from Victoria when scoring well here last week. Came from a much wider barrier there so should enjoy the inside draw.
Race 2: CARLTON DRAUGHT PACE
TERRY (3) enjoyed the drop back to the mile last week when he led from a wider barrier and kept going to score by 1.3m, making it two wins from his last three outings at this circuit. Has the speed to take advantage of this draw so can back that up. OUTSIDE FIGHTER (2) is flying having recorded his fourth successive win at this venue when toughing it out by a nose last week. This is stronger but he draws closer to the pegs and winning form is hard to knock. MY ULTIMATE SNOWY (1) was held up last week but scored from a wider barrier than this two back so is a player from the ace draw. CAPTAIN TOM (5) had been racing consistently before coming from a similar barrier to score a well-deserved win here last time. He can play a role again. MAJOR MAJOR (8) will be fitter for the resuming second so progression is likely.
Race 3: COBBITTY EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE BLUE - 3YO COLTS & GELDINGS FINAL (GROUP 2)
DANGEROUS THREATS (9) is a progressive colt who is racking up the wins, making it five from five this campaign when cruising home by 8.6m in his heat to complete a winning hat-trick at this circuit. Draws deeper but came from this barrier when scoring by a handy margin two back. Can add to the winning streak. KICK THE SWITCH (1) made a winning return to Sydney when digging deep to get home in his heat. Came from much wider there so the ace draw gives him every chance to back that up. LETTUCE NIPYA (8) cops a tougher draw tonight but is going well with back-to-back wins here, the latest by a big margin. Winning form must be respected. OUR GOAT (7) has ground to make up on Lettuce Nipya when runner up as favourite last start but completed a winning hat-trick in scoring here earlier in his campaign so is capable.
Race 4: COBBITTY EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE BLUE - 2YO FILLIES FINAL (GROUP 2)
THE SWIFT ONE (3) came from a couple of spots wider when taking out her heat at this circuit and distance last start. She has enough gate speed to be prominent from this favourable draw so has winning claims again. VIOLET HANOVER (9) is a lightly-raced but progressive filly who made it two wins on the trot when taking out her heat here last start. Draws deeper but she is on the up. PERSONIFIED (11) added to a string of placings when runner up to Violet Hanover last start. Draws wide but she is consistent. OUR ULTIMATE JANE (1) was well fancied when fourth on debut. She is open to improvement and is aided by the ace draw. BABY YOUR THE ONE (10) draws deep but got close to The Swift One last start and is honest.
Race 5: COBBITTY EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE BLUE - 3YO FILLIES FINAL (GROUP 2)
SOAP OPERA (12) headed south in winning form and made it two in a row in her heat at this circuit and distance, finishing strongly to score by 1.7m. Draws deepest but also came from the outside barrier in the last-start victory so can land the hat-trick. AROMET GIRL (2) found form with a second-up win at Wagga two back before leading and sticking on for second to Soap Opera last start. Race fit and the low draw can see her give a sight again. MY BULA BUS (9) was strong in winning her heat last start after racing three wide without cover, her second victory from her last three starts. Not the best of draws but she is going well. BOUGANVILLEA (3) improved to finish second to My Bula Bus last start and draws lower so can progress further third-up.
Race 6: THE BOTTLEMART STOCKADE
DANGEROUS (3) put the writing on the wall with a strong showing here last week, settling well back from a wide barrier but chasing well for second in a Eureka lead-up. Will enjoy a much lower draw and should be nearing his peak third-up so can strike. REGAZZO DI TILLY (1) is another much better served by this draw after coming from deep and finishing midfield last start. He was runner up in a G2 in Brisbane two back. Should enjoy a soft run so is a major player. DOUGS PLATTER (6) has been racing consistently with a string of top-four finishes since landing a win at this circuit and distance last week. Not too far off Dangerous when fourth last week. Go well again. OLIVER DAN (4) did some work last week but draws lower and the prior form was strong. Building in fitness so could peak. DE GOEY (10) draws out again but did well to miss by a nose when hampered by a flat tyre last week so respect.
Race 7: TAB LEN SMITH MILE (GROUP 1)
MAJOR MOTH (1) made it three from three since joining the Grimson yard when he led from wider and kept going to score by 3.7m in his first visit to this circuit last start. Back in distance but won the only time he attempted the mile and the ace draw gives him every chance to maintain the unbeaten record for the stable. SPEAK THE TRUTH (3) is a smart pacer who made a winning return from a wider draw here last week and flies second-up with four wins and a placing from five attempts so should only be improved. Has raced at this circuit and distance four times for three wins and a Miracle Mile placing. Big threat. CATCH A WAVE (6) is a past Miracle Mile winner at the circuit and distance and showed improvement when runner-up at Melton last start. Has won four of six when third-up so can peak. BETTER ECLIPSE (10) draws wide but is a player after coming from the back row to beat Catch a Wave when resuming. MACH DAN (7) goes well at the mile and must be respected off back-to-back Melton wins.
Race 8: THE TAB EUREKA
DON HUGO (10) has really emerged this time in work and was terrific through the Brisbane carnival where he was a brave and luckless second in the G1 Rising Sun before beating older rivals from the back row last start. That was over 2680m so he is tough and he owns a good record at this distance. Freshened since but was kept up to the mark with two trial wins. Big chance with even luck from the wide draw. Boom WA pacer NEVER ENDING (14) arrived with a terrific strike rate and was a real eye-catcher in his first local run when steaming home for second from the widest barrier. Draws out there again but with even luck class could get him home. SURE THING CAPTAIN (5) has led to win his last two starts and draws to push forward again so could prove hard to catch. WISPER A SECRET (6) beat Don Hugo in winning the Rising Sun and draws better than when third to Sure Thing Captain last week. Contender. EYE KEEP SMILING (4) has a strong record at this distance and draws well so is worth including.
Race 9: COBBITTY EQUINE NSW BREEDERS CHALLENGE BLUE - 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS FINAL (GROUP 2)
MATT GREGORS BOY (3) is a progressive colt who returned to his winning ways last start when he led from this same barrier and kept going to score by 3m at this circuit and distance, his third success from just four starts. On the up and should be at his peak fourth-up so could be hard to stop. SOHO DARKNSTORMY (4) looks to have returned a much-improved colt having kicked off his campaign with a maiden win by 3.5m at this venue. He is open to improvement on that so could go on with it. HAPPY TOO YA (1) kicked off his career with a Leeton win before leading and kicking on for second to Soho Darknstormy here last start. Has upside and is aided by the ace draw. ZERON (10) draws deep but deserves respect after hitting his peak with a third-up win in the heats here last time. WALTER WARLOCK (6) made a solid return when runner up to Matt Gregors Boy and can progress.
BEST BETS:
Race 1 #6 Curly James – Racing well and this looks his chance to return to the winners' list.
Race 6 #3 Dangerous– Nice effort last start and can peak third-up from a favourable draw.