Kembla, Moruya and Port Macquarie best bets and inside mail for Saturday, April 19, 2025

The Michael Freedman-trained Last Command closed strongly for third when resuming and looks ideally suited stepping up in trip at Kembla. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Kembla and best bets for Moruya and Port Macquarie on Saturday.

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KEMBLA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 8 No.2: LAST COMMAND

Closed strongly for third first-up. Extra trip looks ideal.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.5: IRISH GIG

Ran some handy races in his first campaign. Big trial win at Warwick Farm.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.2: ANNIE’S ROSE

Good run first-up and a nice win last. Drawn ideally and will give a bold sight again.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 5, 10

Race 6: 1, 2, 5, 8

Race 7: 1, 2, 8

Race 8: 2, 10, 13

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE has a nice book of rides and looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

MORUYA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.5: NAGADEC

Nice win two starts ago and came from well back when fifth last time out.

PORT MACQUARIE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.2: UNCLE MOONLIGHT

Closed strongly for second on a heavy track last start. Ready to win again.

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KEMBLA INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: F&M MAIDEN PLATE (1500m)

KILKENNY resumed in a Warwick Farm Super Maiden over 1300m and boxed on OK when fourth behind the promising Engine Room. The daughter of dual Group 1 mile winner SHILLELAGH will appreciate the step up in trip. Flying Chevrolet battled away for second to Malinga Missile at Goulburn last week. Gets in well with a 3kg claim and has barrier one. PRO VELOCITY has claims on his third to Alabama Fox here two starts back. Blinkers go on.

BET: Kilkenny to win.

RACE 2: CG&E MAIDEN PLATE (1500m)

IRISH JIG was unplaced in all four runs of his first campaign but did run some nice races including a close fourth to Rampazetto at Newcastle on Jan 21. Sat outside the leader before racing away to win his Warwick Farm trial on Apr 7. OKAMI STAR ran a couple of handy placings last campaign before stepping up to the Gloaming Stakes. Raced midfield and worked home reasonably well for second behind Pelosa when resuming over 1300m at Hawkesbury on Apr 5. Will appreciate the step up to 1500m. AFLOAT has place claims.

BET: Irish Jig to win.

RACE 3: MIDWAY CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1000m)

QUARTZ LEGEND started a long odds-on fav when he raced outside the leader on a fast pace and was no match for Sunrise in record time when resuming here on Mar 22. TESSY TEE led all the way to win first-up over 1300m at Hawkesbury last prep. Smart trial win sitting three-wide at Warwick Farm on Mar 21. SHE CONQUERS raced a little keenly midfield in the early stages and battled away for a three-length sixth behind Flying Embers when resuming at Hawkesbury. Won well at her only run last time in at Hawkesbury.

BET: Quartz Legend to win.

RACE 4: SUPER 2YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1400m)

JUST A JOURNEY raced on the rails a couple of lengths off the leader when a length third to Is It Spectacular on debut at Warwick Farm on Apr 2. ONE STEP CLOSER is a first starter by Castelvecchio. Handy third to The Little General in his 800m Hawkesbury trial on Mar 25. Tracked the leader again and took a rails run to beat Miss Freelove in his 1000m heat at Rosehill on Apr 4. COSTABIT made some ground late when fifth to Is It Spectacular on debut.

BET: Just A Journey to win.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1300m)

READY TO SHINE settled fourth behind a slow tempo and held his ground when runner-up to Metallic Ruler who had the edge in fitness when resuming over 1200m at Wyong on Apr 3. Is a second-up winner. PRESIDES got back and closed well for a head second to Listins Lass here first-up this time in. Went to Newcastle second-up where he led and was headed before kicking back to beat Koios on Mar 20. Has won at this trip. ZOUSAIN BOLT hasn’t been far away in two runs since winning well at Newcastle.

Bet: Ready To Shine to win.

RACE 6: PROVINCIAL MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300m)

WEST HEAD debuted with a fifth beaten less than a length behind Raikkonen at Canterbury before a long-neck third to Swift Gun at Wyong and was OK when fourth to Endure at Randwick. Starts his second campaign for a new stable after a close second in his Apr 11 Rosehill trial. CALTSAR is a debutant by Calyx. Led all the way to win his Beaumont trial then sat back and wide before running on strongly to win his Newcastle heat on Apr 2. BLACKWIND has place claims.

BET: West Head to win.

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1200m)

ANNIE’S ROSE was a game second at her NSW debut at Hawkesbury behind the progressive Money Team who went on to win a Provincial Championship Qualifier. She was then sixth to him at Wyong before scoring a good win at Muswellbrook. Drawn gate one again and gets an ideal run. DASHING RUPERT won his first two starts before a seventh at Warwick Farm in is first prep. Returned with a Scone win before a fourth to Istolea Merc at Hawkesbury. DIVINE VICKY drops in grade and races well here.

Bet: Annie’s Rose each-way.

RACE 8: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1500m)

LAST COMMAND was taken back to last from his wide gate and closed quickly the final 100m for a three-quarter-length third behind Alabama Fox when resuming over 1300m at Hawkesbury. Should appreciate the step up to 1500m. MISS SPACEGIRL followed a half-length second to Mamushka first-up at Gosford with a nose second to Struff at Wyong. Drawn ideally and at her peak now. HYPERBOLIC followed a first-up fourth behind Tehina at Wyong with a second to Istolea Merc at Hawkesbury. Blinkers on for the first time.

Bet: Last Command to win.

Originally published as Kembla, Moruya and Port Macquarie best bets and inside mail for Saturday, April 19, 2025