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By Ray Hickson

1. No Drama (Matthew Dale, Goulburn): Enjoyed a great campaign in the late winter winning twice including one at Canterbury where he led all the way and put a margin on a handy field. Wasn’t able to get anywhere near the speed when he returned at Rosehill a few weeks ago after jumping fairly. There was support for him in that Benchmark 88 so given he wasn’t able to be ridden to his pattern is a decent enough excuse. No margin for error in this field but his best is good enough.

2. Cable Express (Danielle Seib, Goulburn): Raced well in the spring winning a Highway at Randwick and running second in another at Newcastle, both at a mile. Found the front when resuming on his home track and held them off and has been back to the trials since. No doubt he’s a handy type but the issue for him is the wide barrier and just what sort of run he can find. The fact he’s proven at a mile might be a plus for him as this will likely be a strong 1400m. Needs his share of luck but couldn’t discount.

Cable Express (Pic: Steve Hart).

3. Craving Magic (Rob Potter, Canberra): Form has been a bit hit and miss with his past two wins coming on the synthetic track at Canberra. Didn’t run on when resuming then a better effort under a big weight in the Preview at this track two weeks ago. Drops 4kg and the draw is ideal for his style but he will likely need a career best to win this.

4. Vella Fox (Gratz Vella, Canberra): Winner of both starts at this track and gained an inside run on the turn before holding Craving Magic off to win his first race this preparation. Only raced once at this distance and was safely held and beaten five lengths by Cable Express in his latest Highway attempt. Has the advantage of the inside barrier so he won’t have to do too much work but this is a tough race for him to tick that 1400m box.

5. Mosgold (Tash Burleigh, Goulburn): Had little choice but to tackle this race first-up given she has won five races and did beat a horse that was competitive in this race last year when winning at Canberra back in November. Given a bit of a test in her trial leading into this and can race somewhere near the speed from a nice gate. First-up record is a concern, no wins from six attempts, but has always raced well here and a place wouldn’t shock.

6. Tavolo (Rob Potter, Canberra): Probably fortunate she didn’t get a shot at them first-up at Randwick because there’s a chance she’d have won and made herself ineligible. Hard to know exactly where she finishes in that race, a Benchmark 78, but she was only beaten 1-3/4 lengths so you could argue she goes close. Winner at Warwick Farm over a mile before a spell and she would appreciate a decent gallop up front, which looks likely. If that first-up run is any sign of how well she’s going then she’s hard to beat.

7. Ticklebelly (Scott Collings, Goulburn): Model of consistency who had her first attempt at 1200m and was able to get the job done narrowly on the Sapphire Coast. Overcame a wide draw prior to that to win a 1000m Highway at Randwick. She generally doesn’t run bad races but the obvious query here is whether she can stretch out further and do it from a wide gate. You wouldn’t leave her out but that is a big cloud over her chances.

8. Toes In The Water (Nick Olive, Queanbeyan): City winner two starts ago from on the speed and did a good job to hold on for third in the Moruya Cup before that. Have to forgive her run in the Bega Cup where she drew wide and raced wide in midfield then dropped off. Gets the chance to put herself up near the speed again from the good draw and if things go her way she could give a sight.

9. Everido (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden, Canberra): Raced consistently in Highway grade through the spring and early summer and was able to win one at 1400m at Kembla Grange. Worth forgiving his fourth on a deteriorating track at Rosehill before a freshen up. His major problem is where he finds himself from that wide barrier. Place chance.

10. Kimberley Secrets (Nick Olive, Queanbeyan): Last win was this race two years ago when run at Moruya but she did have 14 months off the scene going into this preparation. She’s been excellent in both runs back in city company and she boxed on strongly after looking beaten when third at Randwick two weeks ago. She’ll land right on the speed, or just behind it, from the draw and looks set to peak. Worthy enough favourite and sure to run well.

11. Mighty Myrtle (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden): Build a handy record of four wins from seven starts and comes here fresh after winning at 1200m at Canberra three months ago. Bit of an ask to win this first-up from the outside barrier but she’s only missed a place once and that was in a Highway at Rosehill where she also jumped from the outside. It’ll be a big performance if she can get over the top of them.

Kimberley Secrets (Pic: Bradley Photos).

12. Outback Angel (Allan McRae, Yass): Did far too much work and dropped out when well beaten at Kensington a month ago where she was in the market. Won twice in the country then a gallant second at Canterbury before that. Drawn well given her usual pattern is to be somewhere on the speed but she does have to stretch out to 1400m in a tough race.

13. Sunchyme (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden): Generally an honest type and we can be a little forgiving of her first-up flop at Randwick where she struck a bit of bother a couple of times in the run before dropping out to run last. Highway winner before a spell, on a heavy track, and was honest at that level leading up to that. Needs to turn around that first-up effort and requires a bit of luck from the gate. If she happens to find her best she’s not without a place hope.

14. Super Norwest (Matthew Dale, Goulburn): Tackled a couple of particularly strong Highway races in two runs since winning a Highway at Rosehill in August. Only beaten four lengths by Clear Thinking first-up then just a length off Lisztomania at Randwick two weeks ago. That’s pretty strong form. She tends to race near the speed and the barrier gives her that chance. If she settles well enough in the run she can play a part in the finish.

15E. Sass ‘N’ Cheek (Patrick Murphy, Goulburn): Nice Highway winner when resuming from a break in November and kept fresh between runs for a couple of fourths at Randwick, in a strong Benchmark 72, and Canterbury where she charged home from the back to be beaten a length. Hasn’t done a whole lot wrong but there’s others with more depth to their form so she’ll need to lift.

16E. Lambay (Barbara Joseph, Paul & Matt Jones): Had a nice run when coming off a two month break and hit the front at Canberra and was run down late with a good gap to third. Placed in a Highway three runs back off a wide gate. Seems this is much stronger than what he’s met lately and he’ll need to produce a big effort.

Other emergencies: Reet Petite (Keith Dryden & Libby Snowden, Canberra), Take The Rap (Norm Gardner, Canberra), Kreon (Danny Williams, Goulburn), Pretty Vegas (Joe Cleary, Queanbeyan).

SPEED MAP: This should be a truly run race with a number of natural on pace horses engaged. Mosgold and No Drama will show speed and from wider out Ticklebelly and Cable Express will have to work to get over. Stablemates Kimberley Secrets and Toes In The Water will be handy to them and Super Norwest, Vella Fox and Outback Angel are all capable of taking up forward spots.

SELECTIONS:
6 TAVOLO
10 Kimberley Secrets
14 Super Norwest
1 No Drama

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday's Country Championships meeting at Nowra