NZ METRO-NEWCASTLE-RANG-ARMIDALE, April 5-7

J Scott The Inside Word

NZ METRO TC, Friday, April 5

Race 2: SMOKE N REACTOR (1, Sheree Tomlinson) & UPTOWN LADY (5, Samantha Ottley), 2600m std:

“Smoke N Reactor put in a good effort last week. A stand start over 2600m is of concern but a place hope.”

“Uptown Lady is racing good and providing she steps good is a winning hope.”

Race 8: MICHELLE (8, Terry Chmiel), UR 1, fr; & SIOUX PRINCESS (10, Sheree Tomlinson), UR 3, fr, 2600m std:

“Michelle is in a tough race so may struggle.”

“Sioux Princess is racing out of her class so is needing luck.”

Lulu Le Mans, looking to advance her record with Sheree Tomlinson to drive at Newcastle on Saturday night.

NEWCASTLE (NSW), Saturday, April 6

Race 8: LULU LE MANS (7, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1609m: “Is fresh-up so will need the run but still has a winning chance.”

RANGIORA HRC, Sunday, April 7

Race 10: IMMORTAL CHANGE (9, Laura McKay) & ROCK N JOY (14, Olivia Thornley), mob. 2000m: “Immortal Change is on the improve. Has drawn bad but an upset place hope.”

“Rock N Joy is booked to race in Oz after this and will need luck.”

Race 11: ROCKAHULA JOE (10, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2000m: “He was poor last week and a real let down so needs to improve.”

ARMIDALE (NSW), Sunday, April 7

Race 5: BARRETT (1, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1609m: “Good draw and is in a strong field but a winning hope.”

FORB-ADD-BATHURST-METHVEN, Mar 28-31

J Scott The Inside Word

FORBURY PARK TC, Thursday, March 28

Race 2: MAHARAJAH (2, Blair Orange), mob. 2200m: “First- starter that is a laid back colt, but a strong each-way chance.”

Race 4: SIOUX PRINCESS (13, Laura McKay), 2200m std: “It’s not ideal being a stand start 2200m for her but if she does things right can be a threat.”

NZ METRO TC, Friday, March 29

Uptown Lady, looking for luck at Addington on Friday night.

Race 1: MICHELLE (10, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1980m: “Is fresh up, and may need this.”

Race 4: UPTOWN LADY (8, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2600m: “Was good last week but has a tough ask from the draw.”

Race 7: MISS RUBY SUNSHINE (6, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1980m: “Is in a strong field so needs luck.”

BATHURST (NSW), Friday, March 29

Race 6: BARRETT (13, Guy Chappie), mob. 2260m: “Terrible draw makes it hard.”

METHVEN TC, Sunday, March 31

Race 5: SMOKE N REACTOR (6, Laura McKay) & IMMORTAL CHANGE (14), mob. 2300m: “Smoke N Reactor was terrible last week but on best form is a chance.”

“Immortal Change has drawn bad but can upset.”

Race 8: ROCKAHULA JOE (13, Samantha Ottley), mob. 2300m: “Is fresh-up and needs to improve.”

BATHURST (NSW), Wednesday, March 27

J Scott The Inside Word

BATHURST (NSW), Wednesday, March 27

Race 6: MISTER FINNIGAN (8, Guy Chappie), mob. 1730m: “No luck in heat on Saturday and the draw makes it tough but hoping he’ll be competitive in the Consolsation.”

Barrett luckless with Chalice draw

J Scott Latest News

BARRETT DRAWS OUTSIDE SECOND ROW IN FINAL

Barrett’s chances in the $104,000 Bathurst Gold Chalice Final have lengthened after drawing the outside of the second row in the Group One Final on Friday night.

Barrett, tough draws at Bathurst continue in the Group One Chalice Final on Friday night.

The Bettor’s Delight colt was a strong-finishing third in last Friday’s heat, in his Australian race debut for driver Guy Chappie.

The Mark Jones and Aaron Goadsby-trained pacer lugged in near line, narrowly missing second in the Third Chalice Heat, won by hot $1.50 front-running favourite, First Spring.

Bettor Jiggle, who trailed, held second, with Barrett, who drew the outside of the front row, an eye-catching run after being forced wide from three back on the outer when launching his run wide on the home turn.

First String, a Roll With Joe colt, trained by Craig Cross, scored easily for driver Luke McCarthy, in a 1:58.8 rate for the 2260m.

The winner is from a NZ-bred mare in (My) Prima Bella, a half-sister by Mach Three to 2011 NZ Harnes Horse of the Year, champion filly Carabella (p3, 1:55.2, 17 wins from 19 starts & $693,617).

(My) Prima Bella (by Mach Three), who qualified and only raced twice, has left five sub 2:00 winners.

First String, who won last season’s Group One Queensland Qbred Triad 2YO colts and geldings Final in 1:56.4 (1660m), has now won six and been three times placed in 16 starts for $90,965.

Her other winners are: Watch This Spot (1:57.2, nine wins & $36,426), (My) Bettor Bella (1:53.6, 10 wins & $95,055), Im Toot (1:57.5, five wins), and Veloce Bella (1:57.2, five wins).

The other Chalice heats were won by $1.04 favourite Lochinvar Art (1:56.2 rate), $1.12 favourite Shoobee Doo (1:56.7 rate) and $10 winner, Barrett’s close relative, Let’s Go To Brazil (1:57.6 rate).

The field for Friday’s Final, to be run at 11.03pm (NZ time) is: Let’s Go To Brazil 1, Straddie 2, Bettor Jiggle 3, College Chapel 4, Shoobee Doo 5, Bracken Storm 6, Firestorm Red (E2) 7, Uncle Jord 8; SECOND ROW, Lochinvar Art 9, Roll With Lachlan 10, First String 11, Star Major 12, Barrett 13, War Dan Delight (E1) 14, fr.

Si Senor lowers personal best

J Scott Latest News

SI SI SENOR LOWERS BEST AT BATHURST

Former Overport Lodge pacer Si Si Senor paced a career best mile rate of 1:55.4 over 1730m when successful at Bathurst last Friday, March 22.

The Courage Under Fire gelding led from the five gate for trainer Michael Formosa, holding tenaciously by half a head from another former Canterbury pacer in Pembrooks Passion.

Si Si Senor has continued his consistent NZ form this season in three New South Wales starts.

After a first-up second at Newcastle on February 25, he’s won his last two starts.

However, he will need to lift again after drawing the outside five barrier on the second row in this Friday’s $15,00 Central West Equine Honouree Stakes Final (1730m) at Bathurst.

NZ METRO-WAIRIO-BATHURST, March 22-23

J Scott The Inside Word

NZ METRO TC, Friday, March 22

Race 2: MICHELLE (9, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 2600m: “Fresh-up and has drawn bad against smart three-year-olds so will need luck.”

Race 4: UPTOWN LADY (2, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1980m: “Meets a strong field so looking for luck.”

Race 11: SIOUX PRINCESS (5, Sheree Tomlinson), UR, 2600m std: “Gets a tough race and has got to do things right so take on trust.”

Race 12: IMMORTAL CHANGE (9, Samantha Ottley), mob. 1980m: “Fresh-up with no trials and drawn bad so will struggle.”

WAIRIO HRC @ Winton, Saturday, March 23

Majestic Rollon, a two-year-old trotter on debut against the older maidens at Winton on Saturday.

Race 1: MAJESTIC ROLLON (7, Laura McKay),  1609m stand: “A mile from a stand is a bit unknown. Has average ability and looking for improvement.”

Race 3: FIRE BUG (14, Sheree Tomlinson), mob. 1609m: “Drawn in the car park but if gets luck is an each-way chance.”

Race 8: NAIYA FRANCO (2, Sheree Tomlinson) & SMOKE N REACTOR (3, Laura McKay), mob. 1609m: “Naiya Franco has drawn handy in a nice field but needs to improve.”

“Smoke N Reactor has a handy draw in a smart field but she is racing good.”

BATHURST (NSW), Saturday, March 23

Race 2: MISTER FINNIGAN (10, Guy Chappie), UR, mob. 1730m: “Back row might not be a bad thing but a top four spot would be a bonus.”

Bathurst Crown colts in form

J Scott Latest News

MISTER FINNIGAN WINS, BARRETT FOURTH IN TRIAL

(Mister) Finnigan heads into next week’s Bathurst Gold Crown 2YO series heat a last-start winner after winning a two-year-old race at Menangle (transferred from Newcastle last Saturday) on Tuesday, March 19.

(Mister) Finnigan, shown at the Rangiora trials in late January with trainer, Mark Jones.

Burnham trainer Mark Jones also has Barrett, who ran fourth in a Menangle trial on Tuesday, in the Bathurst Gold Chalice 3YO colts and geldings division.

The $100,000 finals will be run at Bathurst on Friday week, March 29.

(Mister Finnigan) was untroubled to win as a hot $1.20 favourite on Tuesday, leading from the four gate for driver Guy Chappie.

The Art Major-Virginia Khan colt held by 4.6 metres in 1:56.1 (1609m).

This was his first win in four New South Wales starts, having placed at his fisrt two attempts at Newcastle.

He’s the fourth to race and fourth winner for his dam Virginia Khan (1:58.5, five wins), a daughter of D M Dillinger and Margaret Khan, by Genghis Khan.

Her earlier winners include Koora Khan (1:54.9, five wins), Modern Maestro (1:55, 16 wins & $100,615) and Lookamekymay (2:02.9, two wins).

Barrett finished fourth to close relative Lets Go To Brazil in Tuesday’s trial, won in 1:55.3.

Lets Go To Brazil (1:52) a colt by Rock N Roll Heaven, is from Miss Brazilian, a Mach Three half-sister Priceless Gem (1:55.5), the dam of Barrett.

The Michael Doltoff-trained Lets Go To Brazil has won five of 11 starts for $58,650.

Barrett, an improving colt by top sire Bettor’s Delight, has won three, and been three times placed, in 12 NZ starts this term.