Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Mark Newnham has his sights set on next month’s $500,000 Inglis Nursery if youngster Blazing Miss performs to his hopes at Randwick on Thursday.

The filly was runner-up as an odds-on favourite on debut at Newcastle but Newnham said the Twilights Return To Randwick Plate (1100m) would suit her a lot better and serve as a reliable guide to the Inglis race.

“The 900m was a bit sharp but I always had this race in mind whether she trialled or raced,’’ he said.

“That was the risk of running there but I had her in at the trials the day before and when she came up with barrier one I thought we were better off going and getting prizemoney.

“We thought if she wins she wins and if she doesn’t she’d get more benefit from the race than a trial.’’

Punters Intel shows Blazing Miss produced the fastest last 600m of the race at her debut, running 33.46 as she closed off the race strongly.

Blazing Miss finishes second on debut at Newcastle on November 10

James McDonald takes over on Thursday and she’s again drawn barrier one but the big positive, according to Newnham, is the benefit she took out of the race experience.

“She’s come out of the race well and I reckon she’s improved. It looks a good race for her,’’ he said.

“She’s a big filly and a good doing filly, unless there’s a giant she’ll be the biggest filly in the race.’’

Blazing Miss opened the $2.60 favourite with TAB for Thursday's race.

Newnham has figured in the placings in the past two editions of the Inglis Nursery (1000m), run on Villers Day at Randwick on December 15, with Diamond Tathagata runner-up in 2016 and Canyonero finishing third in 2017.

Last start Goulburn winner Mosuo has been a pleasant surprise since she arrived with a failure at the Sunshine Coast against her name earlier this year.

Although Newnham suspects she probably wants a bit further than the Events By ATC Sprint (1100m), where the filly is $15 with TAB, is serving up he’s sure she’ll be attacking the line hard.

“In both wins she’s looked in trouble at the furlong in traffic but when she’s got to the outside she’s really lengthened well,’’ he said.

“Even though there were only five runners they were all last start winners so it was a solid Class 1. I thought she did a good job to get over the top of the leader because it had a good run in front and it was up to her to run it down.

“She’s well placed at the weights, she’ll be back behind the pace somewhere and get to the outside and we’ll see what she’s got.’’

All the fields, form and replays for Thursday’s Kensington meeting at Randwick