By Tony Megahey
Far loftier occasions beckon as Mitch Beer’s Flemington Listed winner Mnementh resumes at Warwick Farm on Easter Monday, but it’s business as usual and confidence in far lesser tiered newcomers at Sunday’s Nowra TAB meeting.
The Albury trainer has momentum from his new Kembla satellite stable with a recent Albury double, and he fancies the chances of Zhivago and Open Sky at the popular Shoalhavan track on Easter Sunday.
Beer said there were genuine excuses for both Open Sky and Zhivago at their previous starts.
Open Sky contests the Country Motor Company Benchmark 58 Handicap (1600m).
“He simply didn’t handle a heavy eight but he was dominant winning at Nowra previously off a really good run at Kembla in a tougher race, but the gate (14) is the concern.”
Open Sky carries 61.5kg less a 1.5kg claim for English jockey Angus Villiers who also rides Zhivago and Mnementh in successive days.
Zhivago contests the HQ Insurance Mdn Plate (1000m).
“Drawn out but I like this three-year-old, it was a big run to place on debut at Goulburn, he was drawn in on the worst part of the going when they were coming down the outside and he’d trialled nicely at home.”
Again, a major player at Nowra is Matt Dale coming off a winning double at Goulburn on Monday after his Kosciuszko winner Front Page led till the last few strides in Saturday’s Group I-Kia Ora Galaxy when a long neck third to Zapateo and Sunshine in Paris.
Dale’s Merisi in the opening race has been racing in better grade and Miss Scoop in the third event won a recent Nowra maiden.
Meanwhile, 10-race winner Mnementh resumes at Warwick Farm in the Darley Stallions Handicap (1000m.)
“At seven he seems to come back better every prep, he’s had a Kembla jump-out but no official trial, won twice first-up but 4 wins from 7 second-up says his best form is with a run,” Beer offered.
“But he’s forward enough and a bit of rain would be in his favour. With his record and the weights, we’ve got to be so selective in finding the right races, and he’s well in with the claim and drawn. He's in for an exiting winter prep.”
At present the Nowra track is a Soft 7 in overcast weather.
View the final fields with full form & race replays for Nowra here