Mactaggart’s Mail | Echuca Cup Day preview

By Gregor Mactaggart

Mar 9, 2023

Can he do it again? Hi Stranger won the Echuca Cup in 2021 and is back two years later in a bid to make it number two. Photo: Brendan McCarthy/Racing Photos Photo by Racing Photos

Riverine Herald editor Gregor Mactaggart has dusted off the crystal ball once again in a bid to find a few winners on Echuca Cup Day at Echuca. With perfect conditions in the lead-up we’re working on a Good 4 track.

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Race 1 — ECHUCA NEWSAGENCY MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): Unlike most Echuca maidens, there’s only the one unraced horse in this race. Villa Seventynine ran a quiet fifth in a trial on a Soft 6 track at Cranbourne as a lead-up to this assignment. Will pay to keep him safe. Gone with Crystalaa on top. Showed good signs early in his career and resumed with a good second at Yarra Valley when the beaten favourite. Repeat of that run wins here. Flying Yishu only saw rain-exposed tracks in first preparation, but can improve. Mutsuhtio is a newcomer to the Gwenda Johnstone stable after two runs in New South Wales. Draw is a bit tricky, but wouldn’t have to be a star to figure in this company. BET: Crystalaa (2 units win).

Race 2 — MURPHY’S TURF & LANDSCAPING 4YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m): Gusmao is busting to win a maiden. Been minor placed in five of his nine starts without a win. Drops back from 1300m in town to 1200m at Echuca. Drawn a touch awkward, but tends to make his own luck on pace and Yendall is a key booking. Lika Swift finally gets a good draw and a winnable race. Looks terrific each-way value. Claim for Rose Hammond is vitally important. With a bit of luck in running will take beating. Skyler’s Princess is racing well and comes up with inside draw. Reactivate is capable on his day. The likes of Alice Downs, Mothereens and Gojiboy have claims. BET: Gusmao (1.5 units win), Lika Swift (1 unit each way).

Race 3 — ROSY FOX BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400m): Lunares tackled the Group Three Vamos Stakes at Launceston last start. She will find this easier and from an inside draw is likely to be closer in the run. Query is this is the fifth run of preparation and all have been at 1400m. Siamese warrants attention for in-form Lindsay Park and jockey Harry Coffey who rides Echuca very well. The Superintendent has some commanding form, including last-start win. Fox Appeal shooting for three in a row and is the omen bet. Moss Job more than capable and even Whozyadeeler wouldn’t surprise. BET: Lunares (1 unit win).

Race 4 — O’CONNORS NOW IN ECHUCA BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1600m): Going with a stable I know well in Stephen Brown and putting Lady Whistledown on top at a price. She’s a horse of talent and should have won last start at Kilmore. Good enough for me. Tiara Jewel ran a cracking race at Moonee Valley last start and opened the year with wins at Stony Creek and Great Western. Makes her luck on the speed and will take getting past. Hanmer Springs finished third behind Lady Whistledown last start and stuck to his task well. Princeofcambridge was game at Kyneton last time out. Helano and Metsi lead the list of other contenders. Tough race. BET: Lady Whistledown (1 unit each-way).

Race 5 — PERRICOOTA STATION SPRINT (1000m): Going with the hometown favourite Pravro on top. In beautifully with Rose Hammond’s claim. Loves the 1000m, has won four of nine starts in Echuca and drawn to get a superb run. Let’s go you legend. Lempicka is very capable on his day. Has good metropolitan form and unbeaten fresh. He is the likely favourite and will take beating. Who Shot Suzy drops back from city grade for this assignment and looks to get some favours in the run. Bullet Rider is lightly-raced, but trained on the track. Chances don’t end there. BET: Pravro (1 unit each-way).

Race 6 — SHADOWAYS VOBIS GOLD ELDORADO (1200m): Danny’s St Darci won at Moonee Valley two starts ago before it all went wrong last start. Has won six races at 1200m and gets Harry Coffey. Look for him to rattle home late. Megamea has been set for a first-up tilt at this race. Flies fresh. Blaike McDougall in the saddle. Looks the danger to my eyes. Imperial Lad has had a let-up after campaigning out to 1700m earlier this year. If it is a slugfest, his staying prowess might kick in when it matters. Teo Nugent is flying. Zooming Zebra won well at Benalla last start, but this is harder. Kooled a consistent customer. Lafargue won last start in Adelaide. Hard to knock that form. BET: Danny’s St Darci (1 unit win), Megamea (1 unit win).

Race 7 — MOAMA BOWLING CLUB ECHUCA CUP (1400m): The race we are all looking forward to. A cracking edition of the Cup. Now let’s see if we can find the winner. Going with Savannah Cloud on top. Has been in a vintage run of form this preparation with wins at Moonee Valley and Sandown (two) followed by solid efforts behind Pounding and Here To Shock. Has finished top three in four of his five 1400m starts. Nick Ryan is chasing his second cup in as many years after Not To Be Mist’s 2022 success. Worsfold is a mercurial horse who has a number of fans. This is his toughest test yet, but gets in on the minimum, has drawn a good gate and remains unbeaten at 1400m. Is a horse on the up and will take beating. Hi Stranger is familiar to Echuca racegoers, having won the cup in 2021 and runner-up last year. He’ll be in this up to his ears. Will get back from barrier 10, but has Harry Coffey and will rattle home late on. Milton Park won the Sale Cup in 2021 and will find this easier than chasing horses the calibre of Scallopini, Looks Like Elvis and Ocean Beyond. Has to lump the top-weight of 58.5kg, but drawn well and gets Teo Nugent. D’Aguilar resumes for Paddy Payne and boasts a terrific first-up record (three wins in four starts). 1400m is probably as short as he wants it from a distance perspective though. Here The Shock brings winning city form to the table. Had the measure of a good field, including Savannah Cloud, when successful at Sandown on February 11. Won at Caulfield five starts back. Lindsay Park stable is flying. Boogie Dancer an exciting horse. Lightly-raced. Drawn well. Gets Linda Meech. Peter Moody trains. For a number of people she is a bet, but would be a big effort for a three-year-old filly to win an Echuca Cup. My Boy Birmingham resumes and did run second in a Mildura Cup last preparation. Prince Of Helena did run third in the Dubbo Cup last September. Spanish Tides is a runner-up in the Benalla Cup. Macchina Volante brings solid northern NSW form. El Rocko, Jesta Dreama and East Indiaman will need to produce career-best efforts to win this. BET: Savannah Cloud (2 units win), Worsfold (2 units win).

Race 8 — BET365 TOP TOTE PLUS BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m): Atlantis Tycoon has shown some genuine promise in his early career. In what looks a winnable race, happy to go with him. The form out of that Stormbolt race at Pakenham is worth sticking with. Chaseton ran some good numbers on a heavy track on debut. First time on a good surface. I’m keen to see what he delivers. The veteran Kalashani Lad is racing in solid form in similar company. This is no tougher than what he’s met previously. Savvy Sovereign has drawn awkwardly, but comes from the renowned Maher and Eustace stable, might be the sharp improver back in grade. Bold Hoi Ho showed some good talent last preparation. The form around Confrontational reads well enough for a Benchmark 64 at Echuca. Hope we’re in front before this race. BET: Atlantis Tycoon (1 unit win), Savvy Sovereign (1 unit win).