It has been just over 12 months since Jolly Good Fellow last won, but trainer Dean Mirfin could not have found a more ideal race for the gelding to break back into the winners' circle if he programmed it himself.
Jolly Good Fellow landed a Super Maiden win at Orange on April 11 last year before taking out the Class 4 Soldiers Saddle at Bathurst. Since then, the son of Zousain has had to carry big weights and race in strong company, which has seen him place just once in nine starts when runner-up in the Panorama at Bathurst last September.
In recent runs, Jolly Good Fellow was a 1.5-length seventh to Equilibrist in a Benchmark 64 at Kembla, just over three lengths off Tom Vegas when sixth in the Country Championships, and just over 2.5 lengths behind Cumnock when eighth in a Benchmark 66 at Mudgee where he carried 63kg. He drops back to a Class 2 Plate and gets in with 57kg after the claim of apprentice Jacob Stiff.
"He is probably the best placed he has been all preparation. It is a huge drop in grade for him compared to what he has been racing in," said Mirfin. "We won this same race last year with Turned Down. He was a similar benchmark horse at the time and he came out and ran second in a Country Championship Qualifier this year. We thought he was a weighted certainty and while he only just fell in, he beat Barbara Joseph's horse, Cougars, who went on to win a Highway. We go into this with him hoping he races somewhere up to the form that we had him in last preparation where he would have just won a race like this easy."
Mountain Top and Tokyo Queen Also Well Placed
Another horse Mirfin feels will appreciate a drop back to an easier race is Mountain Top, who tackles the Satellite Handicap (1200m) with Stiff to ride her at 54.5kg. The daughter of So You Think resumed in the Queen Of The West at Dubbo on April 18, where she led and finished with a fifth behind Play My Song beaten a little over a length. She then finished seventh behind Lord Remlap in a TAB Highway on the Kensington over 1300m.
"I think she will appreciate going back to country grade and probably back to 1200 metres as well," Mirfin said. "It was a good run first-up. She knocked up a bit late in the race through lack of race fitness. If she had a run under a belt going into that race, she would have been very competitive in the finish. She does carry plenty of condition on her so, with a couple of runs under her belt, we should certainly have a cherry ripe for this. She looks perfect to me. She looks in great order so hopefully she can go over there and win."
The third of Mirfin's trio of runners is Tokyo Queen, who tackles the Class 2 Handicap (1600m) with Stiff to ride as well. After finishing safely held fourths in consecutive races at Hawkesbury and Mudgee, she bounced back with a nice all-the-way win from Aerostern Bro in a Class 1 at Bathurst on April 25.
"I was not 100 per cent happy with her early in the preparation. She just did not look right within herself. Her coat was not good and she just did not look like I had her in the best shape I could have her. She certainly seems to have turned the corner in the last month, and right at the moment, she looks almost the pick of the barn. She led the other day and has bounced out of that run with a bit of confidence."
Adam Sherry's Top Selections
Best Bet: Race 4 No. 9: Dawn On Me. Returned for her second campaign with a dominant win. Take beating again.
Next Best: Race 3 No. 5: Ocean Tsunami. Very good in her first campaign winning two from three. Can kick off with another win.
Value Bet: Race 5 No. 3: Jolly Good Fellow. Running better than his form suggests in higher grade. Gets in very well under the conditions.
Quaddie Selections
- Race 5: 3, 6, 10
- Race 6: 3, 5, 10
- Race 7: 4, 5, 10
- Race 8: 3, 5, 7, 16
Jockey to Follow: Apprentice Jacob Stiff rode a double on Tuesday and can land another couple of winners.
Inside Mail — Parkes
Race 1: Mcphersons Parts & Service | Parkes Taxis Country Boosted Maiden Handicap 1000m
Heaps Of Notice (4) is a six-year-old on debut. Has had three trials over the last three years. Led and was good beating Lockdown Gamble in her Dubbo heat on May 3. Kingdom Heart (7) raced on speed and boxed on when second at Orange three runs back before a third to Still Excited at Warren. Was bumped at the 200m and eased late when fourth at Dubbo last start. Elesand (8) battled away for third over 920m at Moruya last start. Place chance again. Bet: Haras to win.
Race 2: Parkes Services Club Inglis Xtra Bonus Super Maiden Showcase Plate 1400m
Cosmic Eagle (9) was a half-length second to Bubbles at Rosehill second-up before a close second to Your Chilli at Canberra. Finished a half-length third to National News at Newcastle last start after being bumped a couple of times. Stablemate Che Ole (8) was good first-up when a half-length second to Superata at Hawkesbury. Missed the start badly before running home to finish a three-length sixth to Prince De Vega at Bathurst. Yeszem (14) closed nicely for third to Mane Character at Gosford before a handy second to Bello Cavello at Kembla. Bet: Cosmic Eagle to win.
Race 3: Telescope Tyres | D'aquino's Grand Hotel Class 2 Showcase Handicap 1600m
Ocean Tsunami (5) was good in her first campaign with a closing debut win at Scone and a fighting win at Taree either side of a second to My Phar Lady on the Beaumont. Safely held but not pushed when second to Williamsburg in her Muswellbrook trial. Shyamalan (2) led all-the-way to beat Mrs Bull at Orange first-up. Followed with two handy third placings before a nose second to Oakfield Alaska in a Hawkesbury Highway. Ziggy Rose (3) was stroke late when fourth to Spread To Love at Wagga first-up. Bet: Ocean Tsunami to win.
Race 4: Parkes Farm Centre | Pfd Food Services Benchmark 58 Showcase Handicap 1000m
Dawn On Me (9) hung out in the straight when third to Voltage Lass on debut at the Sapphire Coast before a second to Nefradite at the same course. Returned with a very impressive five-length all-the-way win from Reds Express at the Sapphire Coast. Demarcate (3) went quick in front and dropped out when second last to Lord Remlap at Scone at his NSW debut. Crowded on jumping and got well back before closing nicely for a half-length second to Nirmata at Tamworth. Drama Dodger (6) will make her presence felt. Bet: Dawn On Me to win.
Race 5: Kalil Equine | Parkside Brew & Burger Class 2 Showcase Plate 1200m
Jolly Good Fellow (3) made the home turn awkwardly before dropping out when seventh in the Class 4 Soldiers Saddle at Bathurst last start. Was not too far behind the winners in his previous three runs in higher grade. Back to a Class 2 and in well with 57kg. Transactions (6) missed the start by a couple of lengths when sixth to Christmas Star in a Bm66 at the Sapphire Coast last start. Nice win at Corowa and third to Girrawheen at Mudgee before that. Ode So Much (10) has claims on his debut win. Bet: Jolly Good Fellow each-way.
Race 6: Coachman Hotel Punters Club Satellite Handicap 1200m
Panic (3) has had a long campaign but is racing well. Was a handy second to Vella's Best at Canberra before finishing just behind the placegetters at his next two. Broke through with a good win at Bathurst last start. Sooo Crazy (10) ended last prep with a couple of third placings and started this campaign the same way under 61kg at the Sapphire Coast. Dropped a little in weight to score an all-the-way win there last start. Mountain Top (5) will be fitter for two runs back from a spell. Bet: Panic to win.
Race 7: Parkes Services Club Parkes Cup 1600m
Instead (5) has been a model of consistency this campaign with three wins and six placings from nine runs. Changed stables and was third to Perfumist in the Wellington Cup before a third to Ocean Chill at Muswellbrook. Drawn well and take beating. Tanglewood Jimmy (10) likely goes to Newcastle on Tuesday. Keep safe if he does run. County Kilkenny (4) worked home okay over 1200m at Wagga last start. Better suited here back up to the mile. Stockholm (8) was just beaten by Micro Mikki over 1300m at Narromine last start. Bet: Instead to win.
Race 8: Parkes Courier Service | Kennards Hire Country Boosted Benchmark 58 Handicap 1300m
Call Me Terry (16) tracked the speed and ran down Billabong Rose and Shaddap at Wellington two starts back. Worked forward to sit outside the leader and faded when eighth to Jasper's Way at Dubbo. Can bounce back. Just needs a couple of scratchings. Extreme Merger (3) followed two seconds with a two-length fifth to Favour The Bold at Orange after racing wide without cover. Closed for fourth to Jasper's Way at Dubbo. Charlie Magic (7) is racing in solid form and will not be far away. Bet: Call Me Terry to win.
