By Neil Evans
A sharp change in direction from the South Coast to the Central West can deliver paydirt for an aptly-named Canberra filly at Monday’s Cowra meeting.
Turn Left, a filly by Showtime in the Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones stable, missed a place on debut at Nowra over 1200m two weeks ago having been backed from $4 into $3.70.
Trainer Barbara Joseph has Turn Left likely to be among the favourites in the first at Cowra on Monday.Credit: Ray Kennedy
Settling just off the speed from a middle barrier, she disappointed connections and punters by failing to attack the line late after hitting a flat spot early in the straight.
Vets found no problems with the filly after a post-race examination, and connections remain confident a different horse will turn up at Cowra for a maiden handicap over the longer 1375m trip.
Literally turning left for her second start, Turn Left is likely to be in a betting battle for favouritism with Goulburn three-year-old Son Of Eureka, who is on a seven-day back-up third-up in his first full prep.
The day after the feature group 3 Black Opal Stakes meeting at Thoroughbred Park, Canberra trainers can enjoy a nice encore at Cowra.
The Todd Smart stable, which had a big hand on Black Opal day, resumes talented four-year-old sprinter Insane Volt off a lengthy break in a BM 58 Hcp over 950m.
A gelded son of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner All Too Hard, Insane Volt hasn’t started since dropping the rider in a CL2 on the synthetic at home last August.
He’s had a nice easy trial in the lead-up, and is set to tackle much deeper races if he produces his best fresh at Cowra.
Insane Volt was earmarked for big things back at the start debuting in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate for two-year-olds on heavy ground at Randwick in the spring of 2022, but was beaten a long way.
Not without setbacks, it took him nearly a year later to land his maiden on the synthetic at Canberra, and has been sparingly raced since.
Yet the stable and his long list of owners believe Insane Volt is finally ready to realise his full potential around the region.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
Pride raises the stakes for Brigidine Gal
Craig Kerry
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride is hoping for a dry track when Brigidine Gal looks to take the step to stakes grade at Kembla Grange on Friday after a second midweek city win on Wednesday.
The three-year-old filly, with Regan Bayliss riding, came from the back of the field with a strong sprint to win the 1300m benchmark 64 handicap at Warwick Farm by just over a length. Pride was confident of another top run in the group 3, $250,000, one-mile race for three-year-old fillies.
“It was a good effort,” Pride said of Brigidine Gal’s second win in five career starts. “That race at Kembla generally hasn’t got the top-liners in it, and she’s potentially on her way to being a really nice filly. I think the big, roomy straight at Kembla will suit her.
“She can only improve on that. I hope it isn’t wet down there next week because I think that’s a little weakness for this filly.”
Country duo earn shots at Championship
Craig Kerry
Intervarsity and Lisztomania booked their places in the $1 million Country Championship final with a one-two finish in the Hunter-North West qualifier at Tamworth on Sunday.
Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Intervarsity surged to the lead in the final 100m as Todd Payne’s Lisztomania finished well down the outside for second.
The pair joined Fukubana, Tribeca Star, Zarizatycoon, Sunchyme, Canny Hell, Burrandana, Sumo Fish, Don Stefano, McKeon and Sass N Cheek in the April 5 decider at Randwick.
On Saturday, Mahogany Girl, a Darryl Kell-trained broodmare, won the Hawkesbury heat of the Provincial-Midway Championship ahead of Well Timed. They joined Lord Of Biscay, Welcometobarbados, Bojangles and Rapt in the April 12 $1 million final.
