Australian Racing: Parthenope ready to strike at Nowra

There are six meetings set to take place on Sunday including at Nowra, where a seven-race card is scheduled.

They also race at Innisfail, Mornington, Muswellbrook, Naracoorte and Narrogin.

Race 5 Nowra

Parthenope @ 2.20

Race 7 Muswellbrook

Jessandi @ 5.50

Race 8 Mornington

Cosmic Vega @ 4.40

Parthenope ready to salute at Nowra

The fifth race at Nowra is a 1200m Benchmark 58 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 track.

With original top weight Snappy Jim scratched, Thoughtful is set to carry top weight and he is expected to have his supporters for the Matthew Dale stable.

The five-year-old broke his maiden when debuting in a 1200m contest held on a heavy 9 track at Goulburn in early July.

A Moruya second followed that effort, with his best placing in two starts following that runner-up finish coming when fourth of six over 1300m back at Goulburn in September.

The gelding has been freshened since that effort and boasts a good barrier three from the rail.

The Danielle Seib-trained PARTHENOPE is preferred on this occasion, however, with the 2.20 filly having demonstrated in two barrier trials and a maiden win at Goulburn.

The victory saw the daughter of Bolt d'Oro come home just under half-a-length clear of her six rivals in a 1200m maiden held on a good 4 track last month.

Prior to that the four-year-old had proven she handles wet conditions when taking out an 800m barrier trial on a heavy 8 surface.

Jean Van Overmeire is an eye-catching jockey booking and, with improvement expected, the pick looks up to maintaining her unbeaten record. 

Jessandi to return to winning ways

A good 4 track is expected at Muswellbrook with the concluding contest a 1500m Benchmark 66 handicap.

A winner at metro level earlier this year, Galano is expected to jump as favourite to defy top weight.

The four-year-old’s metro success saw him triumph over this distance on the Lakeside track at Sandown when encountering a good 4 track in February.

While the gelding failed to score over 1600m in two subsequent starts, he performed well over 1250m when third first up this prep at Taree.

Mack Griffith’s JESSANDI is the selection on this occasion, rhough, having made a promising return to action when fifth at Coonamble last month.

The 5.50 mare was beaten just under three lengths into fifth when contesting a Benchmark 66 handicap held on a good 3 surface that day.

The daughter of Casino Prince recorded a couple of good second-place finishes last prep and she boasts a decent barrier in seven here.

Connections have opted to apply a cross-over noseband for the first time and the six-year-old is taken to record her first win of the year.

Cosmic can star in Peninsula Cup

The feature race at Mornington is the 1600m Peninsula Cup, a 1600m open handicap event.

COSMIC VEGA was a multiple winner in Ireland prior to switching hemispheres, but he has failed to shine in three starts for Ciaron Maher.

However, it’s notable that the first of those saw him jump at big odds for Rosehill’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes in March.

The seven-year-old failed to make an impact back at Rosehill the following month, before he showed improvement first up at Caulfield this prep.

That Caulfield effort saw the gelding beaten five lengths into eighth in a 15-runner renewal of the 1400m Group 3 Moonga Stakes.

The 4.40 selection raced on a soft 6 track that day, but should have no issues switching to a good 4 surface here, while he has been allocated a helpful inside alley for this race.

Ben Allen’s mount tackles an easier contest here and he looks up to registering his first win since May last year.