Australian Racing: Charcoals can light up Seymour

There are a number of meetings set to take place on Thursday, including at Kembla Grange where eight races are scheduled.

Race 6 Kembla Grange

Tartana @ 4.00

Race 5 Seymour

Charcoals @ 2.04

Race 5 Beaudesert

Badgers Nuts @ 8.00

Tartana for Kembla Grange glory

The sixth race on the Kembla Grange card is a 1400m Benchmark 64 handicap for fillies & mares.

A soft 7 track is expected for the race with course maiden winner Cheergal expected to feature prominently in the betting.

Trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, that maiden win came when contesting a 1600m event held on a good 4 track in July last year.

Cheergal came home two-and-a-half-lengths clear of her rivals on that occasion and, having been spelled subsequently, she had a couple of barrier trials prior to resuming at Muswellbrook.

The daughter of So You Think lost out by a narrow margin when runner-up over 1280m at Muswellbrook first up this prep and she is expected to challenge for the win.

TARTANA is another to have shown a liking for this venue in the past and she is the pick on this occasion.

The five-year-old came home in front when contesting a 1400m Class 1 handicap held on a soft 5 track at this venue in May last year.

Tartana has won on a soft 7 track at Sapphire Coast since then, while she also placed third over 1600m in a Benchmark 68 handicap at this course last prep.

Theresa Bateup’s representative returned to action with a length second in a Benchmark 68 handicap held over 1300m on a good 4 surface last month.

Anna Roper takes one-and-a-half kilograms off the filly’s back here and, jumping from barrier five, her mount looks capable of scoring dropping in grade.

Charcoals for Seymour success

They are also set to race at Seymour with the fifth race of the day a 1000m Benchmark 64 handicap event.

Excellent Lover has won both previous starts and she puts her unbeaten record on the line for the Ben, JD & Will Hayes team.

Both of the daughter of Exceed And Excel’s previous wins have come on the synthetic track at Ballarat however and she is set to make her debut on turf.

The youngster came home in front in a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap in August having previously debuted with a win in an 1100m maiden event.

This drop back in distance shouldn’t pose too many issues but it is CHARCOALS who is preferred in this race.

Billy Egan’s mount delivered an improved effort when two lengths third over 1000m on a good 4 track at Echuca in September.

Charcoals went on to break through for his first victory when saluting by two lengths in an 1100m maiden contest held on a good 3 track the following month.

A change of tactics saw the selection track the speed at Wangaratta and he has forecast underfoot conditions to suit on this occasion.

The Too Darn Hot gelding hails from the powerful Anthony & Sam Freedman team who can boast a 35% strike-rate (7/20) with their runners at this track this season.

Badgers for Beaudesert victory

A heavy 9 track is expected at Beaudesert, with the fifth race on the card a 1200m Benchmark 65 handicap.

BADGERS NUTS has shown good form on heavy going, including at this track and he is selected to register his second win of the season.

The gelding’s two heavy track starts have both come at this venue, following up a first up success in a Class 2 handicap on a heavy 8 track with a third on a heavy 10 here next time.

The six-year-old has made just three starts since the second of those efforts, which came at the start of June.

Badgers Nuts was freshened prior to coming home over a length clear of his rivals in a 1400m Benchmark 62 handicap at this venue in November.

Adin Thompson takes the ride for the first time and the son of Rageese looks up to recording second win at this venue.