Narrandera preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Exactly 1292 days passed between the time Colvin purchased the imposing chestnut at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and his raceday debut in a maiden at Wagga.

An encouraging third on the day, Starspangled Texan resurfaced at his home three weeks later, this time finishing a close second and setting horse and trainer up for a first win on NRL grand final day.

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“We had to persevere with him for a fair while; he had a sesamoid bone operation, and we had to look after him for a long time and he might be worth it actually, because he’s done well,’’ Colvin said.

“He’s been a lot of work. He has been in and out and in and out but hopefully we will reap the reward for our patience.’’

Starspangled Texan has won $6500 in his two starts with the chance to add $14,000 to his balance if successful in the Leeton Toyota Country Boosted Maiden Plate.

“The 1400m will suit him and he doesn’t mind a bit of sting out the ground. It shouldn’t be a bad track on Sunday because it is a very sandy sort of track,’’ Colvin said.

“It is a bit of a dog-leg sort of a track and a real frontrunners track and as long as you are in the first two or three or four coming into the straight, you’ve got a big show.’’

Starspangled Texan is a son of the dual hemisphere Group 1 winner, Starspangledbanner, and bears more than a passing resemblance to his dual hemisphere winning Group 1 grandsire – Choisir.

A $32,500 purchase at Riverside, Starspangledbanner was bred by Tony Santic of Makybe Diva fame.

His dam, Kakuah, is a Fastnet Rock daughter of South Australian Listed winner Mutate and a close relation to Melbourne Cup winner, At Talaq.

Colvin, meanwhile, is counting the days until Everest day at Royal Randwick where he will saddle up one of the main fancies in the first $2m ATC Kosciuszko (1200m) namely Another One.

Another One, who will be ridden by champion jockey William Pike in the October 15 feature, finished runner-up in the 2021 Country Championships Final before returning 12 months later to take out the 2022 version.

Another One was scheduled to trial at Wagga in a deep heat against Patrick Payne’s Silver Eagle hopeful Jimmy The Bear and others.

“He is a good 1400m horse so I have got to keep him fresh for the 1200m in the Kosciuszko,’’ Colvin said

“He will trial without blinkers but will have the blinkers on raceday.

“On the Wednesday before the race, I will head down to Paul Murray’s at Kembla. We always go down there when we are going to the town – the horse really likes going down there.’’

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.3: STARSPANGLED TEXAN

Placed at both of his runs in the lead up to Sunday and is crying out to get to 1400m. Easy to like

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No.6: ALBERT’S MELODY

Had absolutely no luck in his TAB Highway tilt last start, only needs a reasonably firm track to peak here third-up.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 3 No.5: SMOKIN’ COD

Finished a half-length second to the handy Lunar Shows at her and final run of a very encouraging first campaign. Go well here.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2

Race 6: 1,2,7

Race 7: 1,6

Race 8: 2,6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Molly Bourke could be the play in Sunday’s grand final day meeting at Narrandera barring any raceday scratchings.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Starspangled Texan is of course, a son of Starspangledbanner and there is more than a bit of Choisir in this Gary Colvin-trained gelding. A $32,000 Classic Yearling in 2019, this hulking chestnut has had to overcome a few hurdles to get up and going but (he is a 5YO) but he was worth it all. Nice horse actually. Zar Queen showed significant improvement from one start to the next. Most salient point to make is that she was a length behind Starspangled Texan at Wagga. Diamond Carat ran a PB at her last start.

Bet: Starspangled Texan to win

RACE 2

My Rock Singa is such an interesting horse from a breeding perspective for the sole reason that he is one of only two foals ever born by his father, The Fatman. My Rock Singa has been with Wayne Hudd for the last four of his 15 starts and he has gone super each time, never better than his last booming 5½-length win at Nowra on Sep 18. I Am Rich Enuff was foaled on the same day (Nov 2) only two years after My Rock Singa

Bet: My Rock Singa to win, exacta 5 to beat 4

RACE 3

Smokin’ Cod is the 11th foal of Takook who is no Eight Carat but she has been a more profitable and prolific producer of winners than a lot of other broodmares that have gone to infinitely better stallions. As for Smokin’ Cod, there is no doubt at all she will soon add to her mother’s tally of winners and could even start today. Chilean Express has placed at four of his none starts including his last two. Just needs some luck from the wide alley.

Bet: Smokin’ Cod to win

RACE 4

Lady Tabloid has a tidy enough record of 10 starts for one win, three seconds and a third, often up against superior opposition that what she meets here. The daughter of Press Statement was a beaten favourite first-up at home in Canberra but you could hardly say she was disappointing from a racing point of view. Huge watch on Tinge Of Ginge, much more so if Starspangled Texan happens to win the opener given that this filly beat him at Wagga at her debut on Sep 17.

Bet: Lady Tabloid to win

RACE 5

My Bold Boy has finished on the podium at exactly half of his 20 starts. Three of those are wins, including his Sep 26 victory here where he led all the way and won by a comfortable margin. Hard to go past with barrier three and Jason Lyon on again. Galaxy Force is a handy horse on his best day. His chances went up when he drew barrier two and Coriah Keatings will take 4kg off again. Honeysuckle Rose has only won four times but this is her trip.

Bet: My Bold Boy to win, exacta 2 to beat 1

RACE 6

Smiler Marshall ran a creditable race on a Rosehill TAB Highway just prior to his Wagga Class 3 win. Wasn’t that far off the winner in a Canberra Benchmark 70 last start – back to a 58 at a venue he has run well at (once before. Argyll Gardens cake from a long, long way back to finish third at her first run for the new stable. The step up to 1200m is in her favour, barrier two and Molly Bourke’s claim. Design Artist has a big weight but a good draw.

Bet: Smiler Marshall to win

RACE 7

Scarlet Prince is flying this preparation. The Mitchell Beer-trained son of Casino Prince won at Wagga first-up then went to Sydney and ran a massive race in a Highway at Rosehill. So much so that it makes you wonder who he started $4.60 at Canberra, albeit in a TAB Federal which this race isn’t. Pride Of Helena’s form speaks for itself but worth mentioning that his trainer Craig Weeding is on great form and trained a double here last Monday. Intuition would be a moral if the track was/had of been a Good 4.

Bet: Scarlett Prince to win

RACE 8

Albert’s Melody was trapped four wide the trip when he came from Albury to Rosehill on Sep 24. A few others kicked up inside him and that was that’ he was actually pretty brave to be only beaten three and a half. Goes without saying that this is an easier race for the son of Magic Albert. Deshawn has been going so well this whole prep; two wins and four placings from his seven appearances. Leather Jacket Lew is easily up to these on his form.

Bet: Albert’s Melody to win

Originally published as Narrandera preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail