3 minute read
Straight up ... it's not hot at Goulburn this week after an icy blast swept across Southern NSW in the last 24 hours but most importantly there is still plenty of 'hot form' to go on for Tuesday's only NSW meeting.
In the training ranks a red-hot Matthew Smith stable heads to Goulburn with a number of live chances.
Doutelle (Race 4 -$12 on TAB), Good Lieutenant (Race 6 - $4.20), Dolly Bird (Race 6 - $5) and debut winner Big Thinking (Race 7- $3.90 favourite) present as a strong string for Smith.
The stable has landed six winners (at 27%) and another six minor placings from its last 22 runners.
The run has thrown up winners all over the place including Rosehill, Newcastle, Wagga, Gosford and Kembla Grange.
Among them was Saturday's Gosford Cup winner Esti Feny, a popular win for the stable and owners as tweeted by the Smith camp post-race.
"A well-deserved win by the former Hungarian Horse of The Year in the Gosford Gold Cup this afternoon under Jay Ford.
"We all have a soft spot for gorgeous Esti and we are thrilled for his very patient ownership group."
Some of Smith's recent success has been in partnership with jockey Jean Van Overmeire who has also found 'heat to beat' form since returning to these shores from an overseas stint.
Overmeire rode a winning double at Newcastle last Thursday (included Zambrero, again for Smith) and dished up more of the same at Kembla Grange on Saturday notching wins for the Smith (Divine Vicky) and Ryan/Alexiou (Master Showman) stables.
Punters take note Overmeire combines with the same stables again on Tuesday. He rides Extraweird for Ryan/Alexiou in Race 1 ($3.50) and Good Lieutenant for Smith in Race 6 ($4.20).
In the up and coming riding ranking Olivia Chambers will be looking to keep her hot hand going on Tuesday. She's been on a smart streak since early April that shows no signs of abating.
Chambers has ridden nine winners from her last 26 rides in the Southern and South East districts at a strike rate of almost 35%. A highlight of her recent success in the saddle being a winning treble at the Sapphire Coast on April 24.
Chambers still claims a handy 2kg in the country and all three of her Goulburn rides are for regular tablelands visitors Robert & Luke Price stable.
Early markets respect her chances too with Celestial Doll (Race 2 - $4.80) and Noble Attack (Race 3 - $4.80) both bringing fighting form to the tablelands track.
Goulburn Race Club's CEO, Robyn Fife said that after a break of almost two months the club is keen to get its racing schedule 'back on track'.
"We lost our most recent meeting due to wet weather but have a strong winter schedule ahead of us as we host two meetings a month for the next three months," Ms Fife said.
Goulburn's track is currently rated a Heavy 8 with the rail in the true position for Tuesday's meeting and dry conditions forecast for the next few days.
