By Neill Evans
Just over two weeks from a crucial Northern Country Championships Wildcard back at home, leading Scone stables will use Thursday’s Moree meeting as a springboard into that qualifying day.
Heading the candidates is progressive mare Kimberley Moon who is out to make it three wins from her last four when she tackles a Benchmark 66 Hcp over 1200m.
Racing heads to Port Macquarie on Thursday.Credit: Getty
A lightly raced daughter of Stratum Star in the Scott Singleton yard, Kimberley Moon took big steps with back-to-back wins, the latter in provincial BM 58 company on Newcastle’s Beaumont track.
She then headed to Canterbury for a much tougher CL3 Highway under lights, and was beaten four lengths behind Kaihoko after chasing a strong speed from midfield much of the way.
Back in a softer country line-up, she draws to settle closer with cover, and can launch off this race back into the big Scone meeting on March 21.
And Kimberley Moon could well be the first half of a running double for the Singleton camp at Moree.
Another improving four-year-old mare Lizzie’s Gem looms as the one to beat in the following BM 58 affair over 950m.
A tough and durable daughter of prolific Deep Field, Lizzie’s Gem hasn’t been far away in two runs against better opposition at Scone and Tamworth since being transferred down from the Chris and Corey Munce stable over the border.
Earlier fellow Scone trainer Brett Cavanough resumes his exciting three-year-old Navy Steel in a Maiden Plate over 950m.
A lightly raced son of Group 1 powerhouse Merchant Navy, the gelding returns off an 11-week break for just his third start, and behind a smart and dominant trial win at home nine days ago.
In contrast to the storm and rain-hit northern NSW coast, Moree is expecting very warm weather for the meeting with the track surface firming all the time.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Winter target for Harlem Queen
Craig Kerry
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle was looking more at Queensland winter targets with Harlem Queen despite her working home well in her second trial back at home on Wednesday.
The Flight Stakes runner-up made up good ground late to cut the margin to star stablemate Private Harry, which led and won the 900m group and listed trial.
Doyle said Harlem Queen was still “a bit behind the eight-ball” and she might be set for the Queensland Oaks or mile races over the winter carnival rather than autumn events in Sydney.
He was happy with the last trial of unbeaten colt Private Harry before his task in the group 1 Galaxy on March 22 at Rosehill. He said Private Harry would have three more track gallops at home before the $1 million 1100m race.
Doyle has Wooloowin in the group 3 Newcastle Stakes on Friday.
“It’s a big step up, but she deserves her chance and has kept improving,” he said.
Pride wants dry track for Brigidine Gal’s next step
Craig Kerry
Warwick Farm trainer Joe Pride was hoping for a dry track when Brigidine Gal looks to take the step to stakes grade at Kembla Grange on Friday week 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 in the 1300m benchmark 64 handicap at Warwick Farm to win by just over a length.
Pride was confident of another top run in the group 3 $250,000 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.”
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
