Mudgee Preview & Best Bets – 12/05/2024

Mudgee Tips for Sunday, May 12

Our form expert provides Mudgee tips for today’s horse racing at Mudgee Racecourse and gives his best bets.

BEST BET 🏆

Race 7:  No.2  DE FORERUNNER

With podium finishes at his past two starts, Bathurst galloper DE FORERUNNER looks all set here to crack the ice and bring-up his first win for this campaign. Last start, the Dream Ahead gelding was too far back and had plenty of work to do when finishing third in a Class 4 Hcp over 1400m on his home track. He finished better than any and was beaten just a length on the line. He drops back to the 1100m trip today and has Aaron Bullock as the new pilot for this assignment. Placed at his only start here, he should be at his peak for this with starts already under his belt this time in. The ideal draw (in gate 3) has him box-seating on settling and should he find himself taking over on straightening, the five-year-old will prove hard to run down from there.

NEXT BEST 🥈

Race 2:  No.3  RUFUS WINRIGHT

Local galloper, RUFUS WINRIGHT has found his mojo recently and looks set to keep the trend going in this contest. Last start, the Odyssey Moon gelding made it a hat-trick of top-two finishes when he beat all but one home in a BM66, here over 2000m with Mathew Cahill in the saddle. He took charge passing the 200m mark but was passed by one better on the day. Down in grade today, Cahill sticks with him and in top-shelf form of late, he can go one better here.

BEST VALUE 💰 

Race 6:  No.5  OSMAN

Racing on home soil today, the Mack Griffith-trained OSMAN has been set for this race and third-up here, looks a genuine chance of taking home the Cup. Last start, the American Pharoah gelding came off a first-up win (on this track) when he finished third in a BM64 over 1400m at Hawkesbury. Mitch Stapleford has been on board for the past two runs and remains in saddle for today’s assignment. Drawn well in gate seven, he maps to settle better than mid-field with cover and is already a three-time winner at the 1400m. He has won third-up previously and after the claim, carries 2kgs less than last start. With a clear run to the line, he should prove hard to hold out today.