Neasham’s latest foreign star set to make a splash at Muswellbrook
By Neil Evans
The latest product of one of NSW’s leading import production lines is primed to make a statement at Monday’s feature Muswellbrook meeting.
Lightly raced four-year-old mare Junebug will have her first Australian start for the new Annabel Neasham stable at Warwick Farm in a competitive Maiden Plate over 1280m.
And she may land in familiar and suitable conditions. The seemingly endless run of wet tracks is set to continue, with a big and wide nine-race program likely to be run on a Heavy 9 or 10.
A whopping 124 runners were accepted for the meeting as organisers attempted to make up for some lost meetings over the past month.
A striking daughter of high-class and prolific Irish sire Lope de Vega, who has only raced on rain-affected ground, Junebug hasn’t started since a mixed four-start French campaign late last year.
Now, after heading Down Under and two progressive trials, including a comfortable win in soft going, Junebug is ready to strut her stuff.
Although it looms as a decent first-up test. Well-fancied three-year-old debutant and stablemate Machaon, by 2016 Golden Slipper winner Capitalist, has also been accepted to run.
Throw in provincial improver Goodnight Barlow, rival Warwick Farm-based filly Allegro Miss, resuming mare Gigi Fille and two-year-old first-starter Safe Place, from the Freedman stable, and this could quickly prove to be a deep form race.
In what has become a “go to� part of the state for emerging Neasham-trained runners, the stable is eyeing off some good-priced pickings.
In the race prior, emerging stayer Kingdom Of Logres will be out to pay back punters in the Benchmark 74 Stayers Cup (2300m), after a poor showing last start at Goulburn when he was backed into the hottest of favourites.
That came after a smart provincial win at Hawkesbury and a return to rain-affected ground over a longer trip is expected to see the well-bred son of UK star sire Camelot bounce back.
The stable also has lightly raced three-year-old Rush Attack second-up in a Class 1 Hcp over 1450m, as well as four-year-old Smart Action, also returning over the same class and distance off two quiet trials.
Then in the penultimate affair - BM 74 Hcp over 1280m - talented filly Beauty Rising will be out to atone for a first-up flop on the Kensington track.
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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