Australian Racing: Taree win on the cards for Debussy

There are three meetings set to take place on Tuesday including at Taree, where a seven-race card is scheduled.

They also race at Moe and Rockhampton.

Taree Race 6

They also race at Moe and Rockhampton.

Taree Race 6

Debussy @ 6.50

Race 8 Moe

Outcaster @ 5.50

Race 6 Rockhampton

Determination @ SP

Debussy ready for Taree glory

The penultimate race of the day at Taree is a 1000m Benchmark 74 handicap expected to take place on a heavy 10 track.

The experienced Zaru ended his last prep with a course double and he is expected to jump as favourite on his first start since January.

The first of the gelding’s course victories last prep saw him triumph by nearly three lengths when contesting a 1300m Benchmark 66 handicap held on soft going.

The seven-year-old was making his first start of the prep that day and went on to take out a 1250m Class 4 event held on a sound surface here at the end of January.

Lyndall Olson’s representative drops back in distance here and he recorded a solid effort in finishing third over this track and trip first up last prep.

Barrier 12 isn’t ideal, however, with the gelding chasing his first win on heavy going.

With that in mind, preference is for DEBUSSY, who is chasing his first win since saluting by a narrow margin over this track and trip in October.

The Choisir gelding has delivered some good efforts in defeat since then, including a close second at Tuncurry on his penultimate outing.

The 6.50 selection raced at Benchmark 82 level on a heavy 8 surface that day and he jumped at big odds when racing at Randwick on his most recent outing.

The six-year-old delivered a highly creditable effort in finishing fourth in a 1000m Benchmark 78 handicap at Randwick and the return to country-level racing is a positive.

The pick is reunited with apprentice Shae Wilkes, on board at Tuncurry, for this contest and jumping from an inside barrier the pair look up to recording a win.

Outcaster to salute at Moe

They are set to race on a soft 5 track at Moe, with the penultimate race of the day a 2050m Benchmark 58 handicap.

The New Zealand-bred gelding Van Gerwen is expected to have his supporters as he seeks to register the second win of his career.

The four-year-old stepped up to 2550m for the first time when breaking his maiden by over a length when racing on good going at Pakenham in January.

The son of Iffraaj was spelled following that effort and performed well over a distance short of his best when third in a 1717m event at Sale on his return to action.

The gelding lost out by just over a length when competing in a Benchmark 64 handicap that day and improvement is expected stepping up in distance.

However, the soft 5 surface is an unknown for Peter Gelagotis’ representative, with all bar his heavy track debut effort coming on good ground.

Adam McCabe’s mount OUTCASTER is the pick on this occasion, having registered good efforts in defeat in two of her three starts this prep. 

All three of those efforts have come at Mornington, a track that played host to the mare’s most recent success in a 2025m Benchmark 58 handicap at the start of January.

The 5.50 five-year-old returned to action with a defeat by just under half-a-length when jumping at $19 for a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap at Mornington early last month.

The step up to 2000m for the first time this prep saw the mare lose out by just under one-and-a-half-lengths in a 2000m Benchmark 64 handicap.

The mare has placed twice from four starts on soft going in the past and she is taken to record a win for trainer Rachael Cunningham.

Determination can score for Vale

A soft 5 track is expected at Rockhampton with the penultimate race of the day a 1200m Benchmark 55 handicap.

Ricky Vale’s DETERMINATION takes the eye here, having broken through for his first win when successful in a six runner 1050m event at Mackay three starts back.

The pick raced on a wet track that day and has gone well in two subsequent starts including when fourth in a 1200m Class 1 handicap here ten days later.

The son of Churchill was beaten just under three lengths that day and he went on to finish runner-up over 1100m back at Mackay at the start of this month.

The four-year-old raced on a sound surface last time out and back on a wet track looks up to recording a victory with apprentice Mckenzie Apel taking three-kilograms off his back.