Australian Racing: Tapa to Kick on at Muswellbrook

There is just one meeting scheduled to take place on Monday, with Muswellbrook set to host a seven-race card.

Race 4 Muswellbrook

Tapa Kick @ 3.50

Race 1 Muswellbrook

Dayu @ 5.00

Race 7 Muswellbrook

Yukan Rose @ 4.20

Tapa Kick can end Chidiac run

The fourth race of the day is an interesting 1280m Benchmark 58 handicap which is set to see Chidiac put her unbeaten record on the line.

Brett Cavanough’s filly made the perfect start to her career when delivering an impressive win over 1200m at Quirindi last month.

The four-year-old went on to complete a double when following up dropped to 1100m for a Class 1 handicap at the same venue sixteen days later.

Both of those efforts came on a good 4 track and it remains to be seen how she will handle the wet track expected here.

Cobi Vitler, on board for her debut win, takes the ride, however, the pair will have to overcome a wide barrier if they are to salute and preference is for the more experienced TAPA KICK.

Trainer by Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich, the gelding is a course winner, having taken out a 1500m Benchmark 66 handicap held on a soft 5 track here just over a year ago.

While the 3.50 pick has been unable to score in four subsequent starts, he has registered top-three finishes on each occasion including over 1750m here in September.

The son of Scissor Kick lost out by half-a-length when runner-up in a Benchmark 58 handicap that day and he is expected to have improved for a barrier trial at Newcastle two weeks ago.

Aaron Bullock’s mount drops in distance here, however, he boasts a good barrier and he looks capable of winning first up for the second time in his career.

Dayu to take Muswellbrook opener

Earlier on the card the opening race of the day is a 900m Class 1 handicap event.

Scott Singleton’s Kantishna resumed with a maiden win at Tamworth and she is expected to prove popular with punters as she bids to complete a double.

The three-year-old came home nearly three lengths clear of her rivals when racing on a good 3 track that day.

However, it’s notable that she failed to shine on a heavy 8 track at Scone in August having placed on a soft 5 at Tamworth on her previous outing.

With the going in mind, it can pay to look elsewhere, with Carlos Antonio’s DAYU the selection, having gone well without winning on wet tracks in the past.

The gelding’s sole previous success came on the polytrack and Sunshine Coast when jumping at $1.40 for a 1000m maiden in March last year.

The 5.00 four-year-old joined his current handler from Stuart Kendrick prior to returning to action at Port Macquarie and he delivered a highly creditable first up effort on that occasion.

The son of Deep Field raced wide throughout and bumped a rival prior to being beaten less than two lengths into fifth over 1100m and he is taken to record a second up success.

Rose ready to bloom in finale

The final race of the day, a 1000m Benchmark 82 handicap, can go the way of YUKAN ROSE for the Glen Milligan team.

The pick resumed with victory by a length when racing on a soft 5 track at Taree in November.

The filly contested a Class 3 handicap over 1000m that day and had no issue dropping back in distance when saluting by over two lengths in a 900m event at Newcastle next time.

The 4.20 selection impressed in making all the running in a Benchmark 64 handicap held on a soft 7 surface that day.

While the daughter of Brave Smash failed to complete a hat-trick in a similar race to this at Tamworth last month she finished a good third on that occasion.

Teighan Worsnop’s mount was racing on a sound surface for the first time that day and back on a wet track she looks up to returning to winning ways.