Inside Draw Suits Cawbourne Magic

By Jeff Collerson
Cawbourne Magic had box eight when he toppled his more fancied kennelmate Tiger Jack at Wentworth Park on Saturday night but trainer Jodie Lord considers him better suited from an inside draw.

That's why Lord is confident Cawbourne Magic can notch his third Wentworth Park 720m win in five appearances when he exits box one in Wednesday nighty's Thanks Darren & Ian Stakes, a fourth and fifth grade event.

"He is a dead-set railer and has a bright future as a stayer,'' Lord said.

"Cawbourne Magic clocked 42.20 on Saturday but had previously recorded 42.16 out of box one and because he is just two years old, young for a stayer, I'm confident he will keep improving.''


Lord has three of the six runners in Wednesday's NSW GBOTA Welcome Maiden, 520m, all siblings owned by Victoria's Pat Sofra.

The unraced Burano has box two, San Lorenzo box four and San Marco in eight, with Lord commenting: "There is not a lot between them but San Lorenzo is the quickest.''

Lord is also keen on the chances of Lady Stomp, a keen fencer who has drawn box one for the first time in the Thanks Donna & Bill Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Since winning from box four at Wentworth Park on June 15 Lady Stomp has finished third at Wentworth Park on June 22 and June 29.

"She has had no luck at her past couple of starts and because she is ideally boxed this looks a good race for Lady Stomp,'' Lord said.


Almost Famous reeled off a nippy first split of 5.49 when she made the pace before finishing second at her Wentworth Park debut last Wednesday so should only need to begin cleanly again to be the leader in Wednesday night's Thanks Liz Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

Last week Almost Famous was run down and beaten just over three lengths by Turbo Cash, a noted powerful finisher, and that dog would be a likely long odds-on favourite in this week's company.

Sam Simonetta, trainer of Almost Famous said: "I gave her a post-to-post slip at Wenty before last Wednesday's race and Almost Famous went pretty well, clocking 24.40.

"I got her as a maiden because she wasn't jumping well but I've managed to get her beginning better and have won four races with her.

"She needs to get a bit stronger and while I realise we are all in the same situation I was disappointed to miss giving Almost Famous a trial early this week due to the wet weather.''


Miss Free Reign has won just once in 16 starts but John Richardson, whose wife Judith trains the "niece" of their former champion Sunburnt Highway, considers she gets her chance in Wednesday night’s Thanks Cherie & Geoff Stakes, a 520m fifth grade.

"She was never out of trouble when sixth from box three at Dapto last Thursday and is far better suited drawn wide in box seven on Wednesday,'' John Richardson said.

"Although her best Wentworth Park time has been 30.16, I have no doubt Miss Free Reign is capable of getting under 30sec with a clean start and clear run.''

A strong pointer to Wednesday night's race was Miss Free Reign's second behind We Don't Share at Wentworth Park on June 8.

Miss Free Reign collided on the back straight so was unlucky not to have finished much closer to the winner, who has qualified for Saturday night's final of the group 1 Vic Peters Classic, a far cry from Wednesday's fifth class event.

Best Bet Lady Stomp (race 9)

Best Value Almost Famous (race 11)

Quaddie race 5 - 2, 3, 4

Race 6 - 7, 5

Race 7 - 1, 2, 3

Race 8 - 3, 4, 8

$20 for 37.03%