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By Ray Hickson

An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in the Newhaven Park Western District Country Championships (1400m) at Coonamble on Sunday.

1. Ferus (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Ran third in this race last year second-up from a spell starting a $6 chance. He’s been largely consistent in the past 12 months with the occasional failure usually followed by a spell. He didn’t fire when resuming at Warwick Farm on a soft 7, sat outside the lead and was going backwards on the turn. It’s hardly an ideal lead up but if he finds his best form he’s capable of being in the finish.

2. Boom Boom Basil (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Two runs back have him ready to peak and the job ahead is to turn the tables on Listen To The Band from their clash in the Preview at Dubbo a month ago, and to run out 1400m for the first time. He’s a Class 3 Highway winner and likes to race on the pace and does meet his rival better at the weights so it’s all working out well for him to have his chance.

Boom Boom Basil (Pic: Bradley Photos)

3. Listen To The Band (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): The barrier draw has meant this in-form gelding is much more backable than he would have been had a cushy marble come out against his name. He’s won four from five this time in, and should have won the other one, without really being challenged and you’d imagine the barrier will be taken out of the equation quickly. Or at least attempted to be. Also has to tick the 1400m box but that doesn’t look an issue based on his Preview win. The horse to beat.

4. Amulet Street (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Runner-up in this race last year then finished a gallant third in the Final at Randwick so he’s definitely good enough on his day. His three runs this time around have been mixed. We can forgive the first-up Highway run under 62kg and he did carry a big weight when third in the Preview second-up, and again in his latest run at Gosford where he was never a factor. So the weights favour him coming back to 56kg, it comes down to how well he’s going.

5. Hit The Rim (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Two runs back have been right out of character so it’s hard to know whether he’s come back this time in or not. Copped a small check at the 100m first-up but he was beaten at that stage then didn’t run on at Warwick Farm in benchmark company. On his best form from last time in he would be considered some chance though with his general pattern the wide gate means he’ll be conceding a head start.

6. Sizzle Minizzle (Brett Robb, Dubbo): First run for five weeks in the Highway at Rosehill last start and he enjoyed a perfect run but couldn’t match them in the run home. Only beaten 2.5 lengths but very much had his chance. Easy winner of a Class 3 at Orange before that at the 1400m and if he were coming off that run into this race you’d be a little more confident. Each-way chance.

7. Raging Rush (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Promising three-year-old with three wins from six starts and unbeaten this time in having won a Class 1 at Bathurst and Class 2 at Quirindi fairly softly. So many unknowns, the outside barrier aside, as he’s facing much stronger company here at a trip he’s yet to see but it’s because he’s so lightly raced he’s hard to dismiss.

8. Driving Force (Darren Hyde, Dubbo): Won a maiden at this meeting last year then two starts later scored a Class 1 win. He’s been honest enough this preparation without winning and was only beaten three lengths in running fourth in the Preview so that puts him in the ball game somewhat. May have been in inferior ground last time at Tamworth so his run when back to 1200m was okay. Drawn well but place chance.

9. Smooth Esprit (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Not raced since hitting the line from well back into fourth in a 1500m Highway at Rosehill in early December. Won a Highway back in September over the same course. Certainly nothing wrong with his two trial performances in the lead up and on his best could be a dark horse in the race. Can only see him giving them a start, though, and suspect he’s at his best over just a bit further.

10. Nest In The Hills (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Was unraced when this race was run last year but did show quite a bit of promise in his first prep winning twice over 1400m albeit on wet tracks. Resumed at Mudgee and wasn’t disgraced in running fourth there, and he did come again on the line after looking beaten. That said, he might be a horse for next year’s race.

11. Starane (Paul Clisby, Dubbo): Set a bit of a task jumping from a strong first-up win over 1010m at Orange to the 1400m here but he is proven at the distance. He dashed when let down over the last 100m or so when resuming to put a gap on them but he does step up sharply in class having only contested maidens and Class 1 races to date. He does get every chance to measure up from the inside gate.

Smooth Esprit

12. Watch Me Rumble (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Ran sixth in this race last year off a wide gate, has drawn more favourably this time around. Rarely runs a bad race and you’d have to say she brings strong form into it having accounted for Amicus Curiae first-up at Bathurst just over a month ago. That horse won the Central Districts Championships at his next start. Ticked over with a trial win where nothing was really let go. Her main worry if she can’t use the barrier is being buried too far back in the field. She’s a serious contender.

13. Billiethefillie (Brett Robb, Dubbo): Honest mare though only won the two races from 20 starts. Well and truly earned a shot at this race with an easy win at Bathurst in early February but she’s been safely accounted for in running third in two subsequent starts in Benchmark 58 company. While she can be expected to give 100 per cent she might just be a rung below this level at the moment.

14. Starlink (Clint Lundholm, Dubbo): Made his debut 12 months ago to the day of this meeting running fourth at Gunnedah and it did take him a little while to work things out. His wins have come at Gilgandra at Walgett and if this were a Benchmark 58 you’d say he’s closing in on a win with two solid runs back over shorter where he’s found the line quite nicely. Entitled to be long odds.

15E. Glover (Ian Holland, Coonamble): Looks more a staying type and beat one home in this race last year. Only raced once since then for a midfield finish over a mile on a heavy track. If you’re looking for a positive he did beat Activation, who was a winner of this race two years ago, first-up in a 1300m maiden here back in 2020 but that’s a long time ago now.

SELECTIONS:
3 LISTEN TO THE BAND
12 Watch Me Rumble
2 Boom Boom Basil
1 Ferus

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