Taylor Hopeful Of Secret Turnaround Posted on June 3, 2016 | Posted by Julio Santarelli Jim Taylor is optimistic Secret Nova can turn the tables on Military Reign when they lock horns in the Subscribe To The Perth Racing Newsletter Handicap (1000m) at Belmont on Saturday. Taylor has a high opinion of Military Reign, prepared by Darren McAuliffe, and considers the talented filly to be challenging for feature races at the Ascot carnival later this year. Military Reign has been in a rich vein of form this campaign, posting three wins and two placings from five starts including the Marjorie Charleson Classic (1200m) in April. The Universal Ruler filly underlined her promise when she sprinted to an all-the-way victory at Belmont two weeks ago, leaving Secret Nova 1 ¼ lengths in her wake. However; Secret Nova, who was coming off three consecutive wins when last in work, chased hard and lost no admirers in defeat, her first run back since February. Taylor is pinning his faith in improved fitness and a weight turnaround to boost Secret Nova’s bid to go one better and add to her $221,475 in stake earnings. The Bullsbrook trained rates Military Reign as the hose to beat but says carrying 58.5kg, a 2.5kg rise on his last-start victory, could prove to be a critical factor. “Obviously Military Reign is going to be very hard to beat, but we are meeting it 2kg better,” Taylor said on TABradio. “We were first up the other day and sat just off her but, we might go forward and test a filly who is carrying 58.5kg. “We might put the test on her before the corner and if she is too good than she is just too good for us. “We won’t be letting her get away again, but we were first up and we are going to be a lot fitter this time. “Military Reign is obviously the class runner, but it has a lot of weight and she is only a three-year-old filly. “She is probably going to be a carnival horse and we will see if Secret Nova is up to it and can test her.” Pike and Military Reign, who holds TAB favouritism at $3, combine from gate three. Secret Nova, rated a $6.50 chance, will jump from gate six for jockey, Jason Brown. Taylor is keen to see how Drupa measures up in the Weddings At Ascot Handicap (2200m), a race that includes the red-hot, Star Exhibit, who is a $2.15 favourite to make it a winning hat trick Drupa, a Trade Fair gelding, displayed good signs when he pushed My Magic Miss to a short-neck second over 2100m at Belmont on May 28, his first trip beyond a mile. ”He is a good winded horse and I always thought he would stay,” Taylor said. “But this is obviously a lot stronger race and real Saturday company. “Star Exhibit looks a bit better, but we should be in the placings.” Star Exhibit will carry 56kg with the claim of Clint Johnston-Porter.
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Doomben Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 Group 1 racing at Doomben kicks off with a Class 6 over the mile & it’s a tough way to kick off the… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Scone Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 Off to Scone we go for this week’s feature meeting, this one is a two-day carnival with the Cup run yesterday. The day… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Belmont Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 ARNIE’S BOY has found a lovely race. Two starts back he won an identical race – Westspeed 1600 – and since then he… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Carnarvon Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 SET THE SCENE had six runs at Carnarvon last season for 2 wins and 2 minors. He has won a 58+ 1400 at… Read More
Scott Embry’s Friday Albany Preview May 16, 2024 RACE 1 FOUR SEAS and MATSOKA are both 2 year olds who take on the older horses here in a 5 horse field. FOUR SEAS… Read More
Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 10 May 16, 2024 THURSDAY Gold Coast v Geelong, TIO Stadium, 5.30pm Bookmakers have a leaning towards Geelong in the opening match of Sir Doug Nicholls Round. It makes… Read More
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview May 16, 2024 Race 1 CAPTAIN BLIGH (11) won his first three starts back from a spell and didn’t lose any admirers when he faced the breeze and… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Thursday Greyhound Best Bets May 16, 2024 MANDURAH Race 3 No. 2 In Her Mood Has not been going too bad for the new kennel and it doesn’t get any easier than… Read More
The Scout: EPL Week 38 May 16, 2024 Arsenal v Everton What a season it has been for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. And what a shame it would be if it didn’t result… Read More
Great Greys May 16, 2024 Thursdays from 10am on TABradio Harry Buchanan Mandurah Thursday : 6-2 Jet Worth / 7-7 Gypsy Rumba / 8-2 All About Coal Sandown Thursday :… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Wednesday Greyhound Best Bets May 15, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 3 No. 4 Gnarly Nala and No. 7 Knight Fright A couple to spec where a few first starters will be short. Maidens… Read More
Scott Embry’s Thursday Northam Preview May 14, 2024 RACE 1 OCEAN OUTLAW dropped back into a maiden for the first time in his career last start when a relatively disappointing fifth behind Oscar… Read More