Australia Racing: Treasure to find success at Taree

There are four meetings set to take place on Tuesday, including at Swan Hill, where an eight-race card is scheduled.

They also race at Leeton, Taree and Yeppoon.

Race 7 Taree

Octavian Treasure @ 3.60

Race 4 Swan Hill

Court Painter @ 5.50

Race 4 Leeton

Shooting For Stars @ 4.00

Treasure to dazzle at Taree

The finale at Taree is a 1007m Class 3 handicap set to take place on a soft 5 surface.

Zenti is expected to have his supporters, having registered a half-length victory when racing from the front here on his penultimate start.

The gelding contested a 1255m Benchmark 66 handicap on a soft 7 surface that day and he has underfoot conditions to suit in this event.

While the six-year-old finished down the field subsequently, it’s of note that he raced in a metro contest at Randwick.

Leeshelle Small, on board at Terang takes the ride once more and while the gelding holds obvious claims dropping in distance he looks worth opposing in this field.

OCTAVIAN TREASURE is a dual winner this prep with the first of those coming by nearly three lengths in a 1000m maiden at Tamworth in July.

The selection made all when racing on a soft 5 surface that day and she is another to finish down the field in a metro contest subsequently.

The four-year-old came close to returning to winning ways when runner-up over 1000m in a Muswellbrook Class 1 handicap just over a month ago.

The 3.60 pick had his jockey here Benjamin Osmond in the plate that day and he again took the ride when the filly triumphed over 1000m at Kempsey at the start of this month.

The daughter of Rich Enuff jumped at odds-on when contesting a Class 1 handicap held on a good 3 track that day.

Painter to brush aside Swan Hill rivals

The fourth race at Swan Hill is a 2400m Benchmark 58 handicap.

A good 4 track is expected for the race, with Maggie’s Son expected to feature prominently in the betting.

The five-year-old placed second when beaten one-and-a-half-lengths in a 2150m maiden held on a soft 6 track at Terang three starts back.

The gelding broke through for his first victory when successful in a 2000m maiden at Warrnambool last time.

Michael Huglin’s representative raced on a heavy 8 track that day and it’s notable that those two efforts sandwich a well held fourth on a good 4 surface at Benalla.

The extra distance is unlikely to pose any issues here, however, COURT PAINTER is preferred on this occasion.

The son of Lucas Cranach won twice on heavy 10 surfaces over much shorter distances in 2023 including in a 1590m Restricted 58 handicap at Wodonga in August of that year.

The nine-year-old has been lightly raced since then, making just four subsequent outings including three this prep.

The 5.50 veteran jumped at triple figure odds for his first two starts this prep including when beaten over nine lengths in a 1600m Benchmark 58 handicap at Echuca just under a month ago.

However, the selection demonstrated improved form when racing closer to the speed prior to losing out by a narrow margin hen runner-up over 1980m at Tatura earlier this month.

The pick came close to springing a $41 surprise that day and, with similar underfoot conditions expected, he is taken to go one better stepping up in distance.

Stars to shine at Leeton

The fourth race at Leeton is an 1150m Benchmark 82 handicap expected to take place on a good 3 track.

Andrew Dale’s SHOOTING FOR STARS has recorded a string of good efforts in defeat in recent months, including when third over this distance at Gundagai earlier this month.

The 4.00 pick was beaten three-and-a-half-lengths into third when contesting a Benchmark 66 handicap held on a soft 5 track that day.

The quicker going expected here shouldn’t pose any issues, having won on a sound surface in the past.

The selection boasts a good barrier four off the rail and she is taken to deliver the sixth win of her career.