Australian Racing: Eyes to Close out Gunnedah rivals

There are two meetings scheduled to take place on Monday, with Gunnedah and Albury the venues for racing action.

Race 5 Gunnedah

Close My Eyes @ 5.00

Race 8 Gunnedah

Gerety @ 6.50

Race 5 Albury

Hellberg @ 3.80

Eyes to complete Gunnedah double

The fifth race on the Gunnedah card is a 900m Class 1 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Kantishna is expected to prove popular having broken through for her first win when successful by nearly three lengths at Tamworth last month.

The three-year-old raced close to the speed over 1000m on a good 3 track when returning from a spell on that occasion.

Scott Singleton’s inmate is likely to have to do plenty of work early if employing similar tactics jumping from barrier ten.

With that in mind, CLOSE MY EYES is preferred for trainer Cody Morgan.

The gelding demonstrated ability when finishing fifth of seven over 1000m at Mornington on debut and also performed with credit in a couple of barrier trials ahead of his return to action last month.

That return saw the three-year-old deliver a victory by just under half-a-length when racing over 1000m on a good 4 track at this venue.

The 5.00 son of Tassort has been freshened since that success and is not expected to have any issues dropping back to 900m here.

Jockey Siena Grima, on board last time out, is again set to ride and her mount looks up to completing a double.

Gunnedah finale to go to Gerety

The finale at Gunnedah is an interesting 1000m Benchmark 58 handicap with Staffa featuring prominently in the better.

The filly has won twice this prep, including when breaking her maiden over 1100m at Armidale in November.

A close second in a 1000m Class 1 handicap at Tamworth followed with the filly racing on a soft 5 track on that occasion.

A down the field effort when jumping at big odds at Scone followed with four-year-old going on to record her second success on good ground when saluting at Tamworth earlier this month.

That Tamworth triumph came over 1000m in a Class 1 handicap and, while she rates highly, she will have to overcome barrier 17 if she is to register her third win of the season.

While also set to jump from a double figure barrier, GERETY is preferred for trainer Ridge Wilson.

The daughter of Capitalist returned from a short break to win by over a length when contesting a 950m Class 3 handicap at Moree at the start of September.

A fourth-place finish over 1106m when contesting a Benchmark 66 handicap at Grafton followed, with both of those efforts coming on a good 4 track.

The 6.50 four-year-old raced from mid-division when finishing well for second dropped to 800m for a Class 3 set weights affair at Warwick when last in action in October.

Apprentice Emily Farr takes three kilograms off the filly’s back and is taken to steer the pick to victory on their first start together.

Albury glory awaits Hellberg

A soft 5 track is expected at Albury with the fifth race of the day an 1175m Class 1 event.

Dalhart showed good form in 2024 and is expected to have his supporters on his first start since finishing fourth over 1200m at Seymour at the start of July.

The five-year-old was beaten just over one-and-a-half-lengths when racing on a soft 6 surface that day, with his three previous starts all coming at Wangaratta.

Those starts include an impressive victory by over four lengths in an 1100m maiden on his second outing and he holds obvious claims with Hannah Edgley up.

However, Ben Brisbourne’s HELLBERG is the selection here, having shown good form in metro maiden races prior to recording a win at Corowa last time.

The 3.80 pick came home nearly four lengths clear of his nearest pursuer when racing over 1200m on a good 4 track that day.

The three-year-old had returned this prep with a good second when jumping at $51 for a Moonee Valley maiden prior to finishing fifth of seven on the Heath course at Caulfield.

The soft 5 track is a bit of an unknown, with the gelding’s only previous outing on a wet surface seeing him finish fifth of seven on a heavy 9 at Wagga in May.

However, he has plenty in his favour and looks up to scoring under Lachlan King.