Debutante Party, Tommy Waterhouse & Cabella Noir winning threats at Winton
After excellent efforts for fourth at Ascot Park on Diamonds Day, Debutante Party and Tommy Waterhouse look strong winning hopes at Winton on Saturday.
Cabella Noir also looks a big winning threat following her unlucky last start at the same track.
Racing journalist Jonny Turner spoke with the trainers and drivers lining up the trio to see how they think their horses are placed going into Saturday’s meeting.
Race 4: Cabella Noir (2)
Trainer: Phil Williamson
Driver: Kerryn Tomlinson
Opening Fixed Odds: $2.90 (win) & $1.40 (place)
Cabella Noir comes into race 4 after a luckless fifth at Ascot Park.
Well placed in the trail initially, the seven-year-old was held up on the home turn before she hit the line nicely when the race was effectively over.
That run came after the mare trialled well behind Ultimate Stride, who was a brilliant winner on Diamonds Day.
Cabella Noir, who has been domiciled at Oamaru racecourse with Matthew Williamson recently, drops into what looks like an easier junior drivers’ event on Saturday.
If Kerryn Tomlinson can negotiate a clearer run for her she could be hard to catch.
“Matty has been really happy with her work,” Kerryn Tomlinson said.
“She was a bit unlucky last time, so hopefully she can step away and get a better run.”
“I would say in that field she would be a pretty good chance.”
Race 6: Debutante Party (6)
Trainers: Katrina and John Price
Driver: Brent Barclay
Opening Fixed Odds: $3.40 (win) & $1.38 (place)
Debutante Party comes into race 6 following a fourth placing in her toughest career test in the Group 2 Southland Oaks.
The Katrina and John Price trained three-year-old was left parked early in the race before being shuffled back in the running line and then finishing on strongly.
Debutante Party has thrived since her big effort and looks a huge winning threat on Saturday.
Though Katrina Price has two concerns going into race 6.
Her three-year-old takes on much more experienced mares and is dropping back from 2700m to one mile (1609m).
“I was really proud of her effort in the Southland Oaks, that seems to be what she does, she is just a very brave wee thing and a bit of an overachiever,” Katrina Price said.
“She doesn’t seem to mind doing a bit of work, I was really thrilled with her.”
“She has come through the run really good, that is the other thing, she seems to come through these runs and the next day she is running around the paddock.”
“The only thing is she is up against very seasoned performers and I don’t think you can underestimate that.”
“A few of those mares have been around a lot, while she is still learning.”
“To be fair the mile isn’t her best distance, where as the 2700m of the Oaks suited her because she would keep going.”
“So, I think she will need a pretty genuine pace.”
Race 5: Tommy Waterhouse (5)
Trainer-Driver: Kirstin Barclay
Opening Fixed Odds: $3.40 (win) & $1.38 (place)
Tommy Waterhouse stepped up in his hardest test to run fourth in his last start in the Group 2 Southern Supremacy Stakes.
The Kirstin Barclay trained three-year-old battled on well for fourth as Ragazzo Mach powered to his emphatic victory.
Barclay was rapt with the performance, which could have been ever better if he pacer had not over-raced in the middle stages.
Tommy Waterhouse drops in class on Saturday into a race he looks well up to winning.
And his gate speed should be a major asset from barrier 5.
“I was really happy with him in the Supremacy,” Kirstin Barclay said.
“That was a class field and he certainly didn’t disgrace himself.”
“Tim Williams drove him and he said he was just a little bit too keen.”
“He thought he would have stuck it out for third if he hadn’t have been quite so keen.”
“So we have just made a wee bit change this week and hopefully that rectifies it.”
“He has come through the race very well, he is very well.”
“So we are hopeful of another good run.”
