Coonamble preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, March 16, 2025

Lundholm won the WRA Qualifier at Coonamble two years ago with Listen To The Band who unfortunately missed the final through injury before finishing third in the qualifier last year before getting to Randwick when Elsom Boy was scratched.

Lundholm knows the ups and downs of racing and hasn’t given up hope of another Coonamble win with either Stockholm or Plenitude despite the presence of $1.35 favourite Gallant Star.

“It is racing and anything can happen,” said Lundholm.

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“He is by far the most credentialed horse in the race and is going to take a hell of a lot of beating but my two horses are at the top of their game and ready to rock and roll.”

Things hadn’t gone smoothly for Stockholm this preparation according to Lundholm but he is back on track now after blowing the cobwebs out when fifth to Needing Attention at Bathurst on March 3.

“Little niggles and washed out meetings have stopped us from getting that perfect preparation.

“He was a little bit rusty at the end of that race the other week but he has taken plenty of benefit from it.

“I think you see the proper horse turn up at Coonamble this week.”

Stockholm has drawn ideally in barrier 5 with champion jockey Aaron Bullock to ride.

“He can do it at both ends so we will make sure he is up on the bunny and take up his position before we let the ones out wide cross.”

Plenitude convinced Lundholm he was a Championship contender with back-to-back wins at Coonabarabran last year.

He topped off his preparation with a first-up last at Newcastle on March 1 but was far from disgraced finishing three-and-a-half lengths behind Anarita giving away 6kg.

“He drew awkward in that race and got caught three-wide with no cover around Newcastle. His fitness just gave out the last bit,” Lundholm said.

“He performed very well in his two trials behind Gallant Star and that run has brought him on. He has done really well.

“He’s a locally owned horse as well. Clients of my grandfather – Tommy Lyons and Kevin Keady – are both Coonamble blokes who bred and race him.

“No doubt he will have a lot of fans there on the weekend.”

His fans were given an early surprise on Friday when the four-year-old opened at $101 on TAB Fixed odds before being backed into $21.

“It couldn’t believe it when he went up a hundred to one; I nearly fell of my chair. I thought he would be and $8 or $9 chance,” said Lundholm.

“Kody Nestor has been riding work for me and booked himself for the ride a long way out. He’s very happy with him.”

Lundholm was disappointed to see barrier 14 for Pyromania in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1100m) after his impressive all-the-way win at Warren.

“It’s a bit unfortunate drawn barrier 14. I thought he would be a good winning chance again,” he said.

“He will go forward and is still a great each-way chance.”

He is looking forward to the stable debut of former Queensland filly Tiye in the Super Maiden Plate (1100m).

Although unplaced in her four runs, they were at Doomben and Eagle Farm and include a fourth in the Listed Bill Carter behind Clean Energy and Lady Shenandoah.

“If she produces what she has shown in her track gallops, she should be hard to beat,” he said.

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 13: Casino Diva

Broke through with a nice win over the mile last start. Can go back-to-back.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 2: Sanzeno

Good win first-up then fourth on a tricky track last start.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 4: Pyromania

Down in grade and led all-the-way last start. Drawn wide but can run another bold race.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 4: 5, 12

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 4, 7

Race 6: 2, 5, 6

Race 7: 1

Race 8: 3, 4, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock has some nice rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL – COONAMBLE

RACE 1

Tainui ran well above market expectations on debut when a length second to Untold Story as a $51 shot at Armidale and followed up with a length second to Rockbarton Angel after leading at Quirindi. Takeover Lad has placed four from six this prep and should have had another one last start when severely checked late. Zougo Boss didn’t handle the tricky Quirindi track when he beat one home in that same race at Tainui. Was okay when second to Take It All at Tamworth before that.

Bet: Tainui to win

RACE 2

Casino Diva ran on well when fourth at Dubbo on Feb 3 and again when a neck second to Feimazuo both over 1400m. Broke her maiden with a handy win over 1600m at Orange. Go close again. Miss Clamorosa closed off strongly to win her NSW debut by a length-and-a-half from Vicious Rumour over 1100m at Dubbo on Mar 7. Jumps straight to 1600m. She was second over 1450m at her last Victorian run. Wotastatement will be better for her second at this trip last start.

Bet: Casino Diva to win

RACE 3

Mazita ended a 14 month drought with a smart win over Toulon Factor at Armidale last start. Unlucky not to have won a TAB Highway at Rosehill last October. Can carry on with her confidence high. To Be Frank followed a closing half-length third to Savethebesttillast at Tamworth with a neck win over Cascade Mountain over 1600m at Quirindi. Has won two from three at the mile. Mrs Bull has had a long campaign but is a consistent mare. Handy win two starts back and won’t be far away again.

Bet: Mazita to win

RACE 4

Tiye had her four in Qld metro company including two Listed races. Was fourth to Clean Energy and Lady Shenandoah at Doomben last May. Strong form for this. Rail Trail was unlucky at his NSW debut when wide throughout and then coming through a narrow gap late when a nose second to Chica Del Mar over 1000m at Scone on Mar 4. Silver Chair was a handy second at Dubbo on debut and followed up with a third to Miss Clamorosa at the same course.

Bet: Tiye to win

RACE 5

Crown Legend was wide early before easing to get cover midfield when third behind Rouge Moulin at Dubbo last start. Scored a handy win at Scone two starts earlier. Will take beating. Donna Emilia was just pipped by Casablanca at Parkes followed by a neck second to Only Need One at Dubbo before breaking through for a well-earned win from Sabatina at Orange last time out. Drawn well and will be thereabouts again. Patrick May is coming off a big all-the-way win at Warren.

Bet: Crown Legend to win

RACE 6

Sanzeno kicked off his campaign with a closing nose win from Savethebesttillast at Tamworth on Jan 23 then was good late when fourth to Capital Mac at Quirindi. Prince Of Sepang was a three-quarter length third in that same Quirindi race before a fourth to retrieval at Tamworth. Meets Sanzeno even better at the weights. Nipper Bee has won two of his four starts this campaign. Drawn well and will be prominent again.

Bet: Sanzeno to win

RACE 7

Gallant Star ended his spring campaign with a near five length win from Our Last Cash in the Barn Dance at Randwick on Nov 5. Was beaten a nose in this race last year before running second in the Final. Can atone with a win here. Plenitude was caught three-wide throughout when last of nine behind Anarita at Newcastle first-up but was only beaten three-and-a-half lengths. Drawn barrier 1 and can give a cheeky sight. Stockholm raced outside the leader in a solidly run race and just got tired late when fifth to Needing Attention when resuming at Bathurst.

Bet: Gallant Star to win

RACE 8

Pyromania raced in higher grade at his first two runs back from a spell before dropping back to a Bm58 at Warren and leading all-the-way over 1200m. Stays in the same grade. Enterprise Legend raced wide for most of the race before finishing fourth behind Sparks at Armidale on Jan 28. Beaten less than a length when fourth to Stratified at Mudgee on Feb 23. Drawn well and will give a good sight. Outta De Lady is also coming off an all-the-way Warren win, hers over 1000m.

Bet: Pyromania each-way