Racing and Sports Menangle Mail - May 3

2 May 2025

 

Classy mare Eye Keep Smiling will have to overcome some talented interstate rivals if she is to add to a winning streak and earn a place in next week’s Queen Elizabeth II Mile via Saturday night’s Robin Dundee Stakes at Menangle.

Emma Stewart looks set to have a strong hand in next week's NSW Oaks with the Victorian trainer lining up the favourite in each of Saturday's heats.
Race 1: WOODLANDS STUD - WE SELL WINNERS PACE
I BREAK THE LINE (8) did a good job to come from the back row and place in the Riverina Championships Final at Wagga last start. Should be reaching peak fitness fourth-up and while drawn wide he finds a winnable assignment. NO HEART THROB (5) put the writing on the wall with back-to-back seconds before leading from a similar draw to win in this grade last time. Building an impressive strike rate at this circuit and distance. Big chance again. MIKI PINS (7) has been freshened since disappointing last time and is capable of much better having come from this barrier for second here two back. CHEVRON ART (6) continued his consistent form when he led from this draw and boxed on for second to a smart one last week. Can give a sight again. RYANS GANGSTER (9) draws wide again but added to a string of wins and placings when coming from a similar barrier for third last week. Respect.
Race 2: BESTINBEDS.COM.AU PACE
QUIET STORM (1) continues to race well at this circuit, placing in all three outings since recording back-to-back wins. Has come from wider barriers in each of those so the ace draw gives him every chance to return to the winners' stall. SWEET ON LEXY (3) is smart three-year-old who led from a similar draw and dominated last start at Forbes. Has won here before and can measure up to the older rivals again. SPRINGFIELD AMORE (8) is a progressive colt who missed narrowly when resuming from a year on the sidelines before winning easily at Wagga. Draws out but is on the up. Former Kiwi KAIRAKI DELIGHT (7) continued his consistent form from across the Tasman when he kicked off in Australia with a win at Coolamon. Has upside so could work through his grades. FRANCO TYSON (9) draws wide tonight but deserves respect off back-to-back wins.
Race 3: TAB WE'RE ON PACE
STORMTIDE (2) was a big improver in his second outing since a stable switch when he came from a much wider barrier for a 1.8m second. The low draw gives him the chance to go one better. MACH DA VINCI (11) had been struggling to find his best for a while but returned to winning form here last time, working from the wide barrier before scoring by 3.8m. He may be able to go on with the job now. MAJOR MAJOR (10) put the writing on the wall with an improved showing for third two back before scoring a 3m win here last time. Draws wider but is going well. MICK DANGER (7) backs up after missing narrowly here on Tuesday. Consider. CRAFTMANS CHARLIE (4) will be fitter for recent racing and from a lower draw could show something like his best.
Race 4: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY PACE
MAX DELIGHT (11) was a beaten favourite when back to the mile last time but the effort to place still had merit as he had to work hard to find the front before sticking on. Draws out but a repeat of his effort to beat Swayzee over this longer distance here two back would see him hard to stop. TERRY (8) had been thereabouts before beating Max Delight to find winning form last week. Draws wider but could go on with it now with the confidence high. JAY OK (9) must rate highly after coming from a similar draw to score here last time, his second win from his last three starts. PETES SAID SO (10) draws wide but could be close to a win after back-to-back seconds, the latest from a similar barrier. CYA ART (6) hasn't been too far from the placegetters of late. Include.
Race 5: THERESE CORDINA ROBIN DUNDEE STAKES (GROUP 3)
Classy mare EYE KEEP SMILING (10) made it four wins in a row with a dominant performance in the Regional Championships Final at Wagga last start, drawing on the back row but working around the field to take up the running before scoring by close to 8m. She draws wide but has a terrific record at this circuit and distance, winning eight of 13. Must go on top. MY MOONLITE DREAM (9) showed what she is capable of when runner-up in two Inter Dominion heats late last year. Yet to win fresh but a trial win suggests she is in good order. RAKERO REBEL (12) did it tough so was far from disgraced when midfield last week. Draws wide again but had put together a string of wins prior so deserves another chance. RENEWAL (11) is an accomplished mare first up for the Morris yard. Yet to miss a place fresh and has won three of five attempts here. Readied with two trials so keep safe. SAHARA BREEZE (5) could progress off a resuming win from the back row at Melton.
Race 6: ASHLEES BABE NSW OAKS HEAT ONE
Smart Victorian filly IVSEENHEAVENSLIGHT (4) made it two from two this time in with a dominant performance in the Nutrien Equine Classic 3F Final at Melton last start, drawing on the back row but working around the field to find the front before scoring by 4.4m. She can push forward from this more favourable draw so looks hard to stop. GUNNA RELOAD (3) is in good form, winning both rounds of the Gold Bracelet series at Bathurst including the G2 final before placing in the Golden Easter Egg here last start. She draws to play a role again. PRECISE (12) is lightly raced but shows promise. Won well from the back row on debut at Bathurst before breaking early when runner-up last time at Wagga. Still learning and starts from the outside barrier but has upside. MY LITTLE BO (7) returned to winning form when second-up at Bendigo last start and has recorded a win and a placing in two visits to this circuit. Respect.
Race 7: SUMMERTIME PREMIUM POULTRY NSW OAKS HEAT TWO
ILL BE GONE (3) placed behind a Group 1-winning stablemate in both rounds of the Nutrien Equine Classic series to follow a resuming win from a wide barrier when resuming at Geelong. Has race fitness on her side now and draws to advantage. SOHO AMERICANO (9) is a smart filly who has placed in both starts since putting five wins together including the G3 Raith Memorial here. Draws out but missed narrowly from a similar draw when tackling older mares last week. Can threaten. SUGAR PIE HONEY (10) is a reliable filly who is a G1 winner at this venue and has already won a couple of races this time in. Missed by just a head when off this same barrier in the Golden Easter Egg here last start. Must rate highly. NAMAKA (12) draws out but found wining form in easier grade last start and owns a good strike rate at this circuit. Queensland filly REDS ABLAZE (7) hails from a top yard and went to the paddock off a string of top-two finishes in Brisbane. Respect off a trial win.
Race 8: CORDINA CHICKEN FARMS NSW OAKS HEAT THREE
Breeders Crown winner LET HER ROLL (10) draws wide but continued her terrific juvenile form with a win from the back row when resuming at Melton. Draws out but is two from two when second up so should be improved and owns an impressive strike rate. Has the class to overcome the draw. COOL AND CLASSY (2) was a beaten favourite in Brisbane last start but that was against older rivals and it should have brought her on. Runner-up from a wide barrier when resuming here two back in her lone visit to this circuit. Aided by a low draw and is two from two when third-up so should be near her peak. BEACH DIAMOND (3) is a progressive filly from a top yard. Won her first two starts before drawing poorly for a second to a smart one in the Nutrien Equine Classic Final last start. Right in the mix from this draw. OUR SPECIAL MEMORY (9) comes in fresh and draws wide but her best would see her competitive. MISS ARI (5) is worth including off a resuming win from a back row draw in Victoria.
Race 9: HYLAND HARNESS COLOURS TROTTERS MOBILE
HARRY STAMPER (9) brings good form from Victoria where he had been racing consistently before landing a well-deserved win in his latest outing at Melton. Draws a couple of spots wider but won the NSW Trotters Derby over this distance the only time he raced here. LONDON TO A BRICK (10) has worked his way back into form, coming from this barrier to win here last start. Kept fresh since but he is a talented trotter who could go right on with the job. CONSTANTINOPLE (8) has had a let-up since breaking last time but has been kept up to the mark with a trial. Has won seven of nine attempts at this circuit and distance so can measure right up with his A-game. HANOVER DA MOON (6) pushed London To A Brick the last time they clashed and has won both starts here since so must rate highly.
Race 10: HYLAND HARNESS COLOURS TROTTERS MOBILE
DONEGAL LUTHER (9) hasn't raced since last December's Inter Dominion series and while outclassed there he is much better off in this company. Readied with two trials and has won fresh before so expect a strong return. JILLIBY FABIO (1) hasn't performed to market expectations since he won here four back but has come from much wider barriers at his last couple. Prepared to give him another chance from the inside barrier. JALANEEL (2) drew wide and broke early last start but was racing well prior so can do better from this more favourable barrier. HUGO MAGUIRE (5) is a newcomer to the Alchin yard from Victoria where he was a close second at Melton two back. Prepared with a trial placing here so can make an immediate impact. GUILTY PARTY (6) comes off a nice second here last week. Draws wider but goes well at this longer distance.
BEST BETS:
Race 2 #1 Quiet Storm – Racing well and should get every chance from the ace draw.
Race 5 #10 Eye Keep Smiling – Looks decent value for a classy mare on a winning streak.