Best bets and inside mail for Newcastle and Bathurst for Monday, February 10, 2025

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass has run the rule over Monday’s meetings in NSW.

Top NSW rider Aaron Bullock is expected to feature prominently on Monday the Newcastle's Beaumont track meeting. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass has run the rule over Monday’s meetings in NSW.

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NEWCASTLE BEAUMONT

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 11: Icon Dream

Runner-up at her last two and went down an inch at Wyong on Australia Day.

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NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 3: Lounerse

Handy mare at her best and seemingly on her way there again.

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VALUE

Race 7 No. 7: Valentino Prince

Resumes here, essentially at home off two trials with Aaron Bullock on.

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QUADDIE

Race 4: 6,7

Race 5: 1,2

Race 6: 3,11

Race 7: 2,3,5,7

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JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock will be popular as always, in the Jockeys Challenge.

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INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Icon Dream is bred to stay and that she does. The daughter of Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon went within a whisker of winning a 2100m at Wyong last start. Humpty Doo gives the impression that he is both ready, and suited, getting out to 2110m now. Idol Shot is fit and drawn well. Expecting her to put herself up near the action. Format was shut-out when about to chime in, hence a total forgive for the last run here. Taree gelding Kitsilano is working himself up to a peak performance and has a 2000m second on his C.V.

Bet:Icon Dream to win.

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RACE 2

Aura is trained by Hawkes Racing and they trained this mare’s father, All Too Hard. John Hawkes also trained Aura’s dam-sire, none other than Octagonal. Had five trials dating back to March 2024, most were good, a couple were very good! Camilla is a granddaughter of Octagonal being by Lonhro. This Peter Snowden trained mare ran honourably on debut at Wyong. The Eyes Have It has been very consistent but very costly; beaten by six-lengths at $1.30 last time.

Bet:Aura to win, exacta 3 to beat 4, box trifecta 3,4,7,9.

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RACE 3

Haze went within a narrow margin of winning at the Gold Coast at their first night meeting on December 20. Could pay to overlook that last below par effort here at Newcastle. Easy to see that he is a lot better than that. Just the awkward draw to overcome. Highland Mirage likewise is coming off a bad run on paper. If you take that one off his record, he is ‘324’ in his three runs for Cassandra Schmidt. On top of that, he has an on-pace pattern that is usually favoured on the Beaumont track.

Bet:Haze to win, quinella 2,6.

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RACE 4

Ocean Proud was born in England but has a Japanese pedigree and an epic one that. Her father is Lord Kanaloa while her dam is a half-sister to Brave Smash. Was a big run first-up for Brett Cavanough and even bigger the next time out when she easily beat the subsequent winner, Humphree Bear. Speaking of upward trajectories, Athena’s Treasure really appreciated the step up to 1200m at start two of her career. Drawn wide but still doable unless the track is a leaders’ paradise as is usually the case.

Bet:Ocean Proud to win.

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RACE 5

Kimberley Moon is lightly-raced and talented. That much is reflected in her C.V of four starts for two wins and a second. Barrier 9 is a bit of a worry but all things being equal, you would think she is purpose-built for a track like Beaumont. Octavian Treasure hasn’t been getting thrashed in his three starts back this preparation in races won by Photographics, Wilbury and Clear Thinking. This is one giant step off in class for her.

Bet:Kimberley Moon to win, quinella 1,2.

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RACE 6

Lounerse burst onto the scene with back-to-back wins at Tuncurry in a maiden and then 18-days later won a Benchmark 64 at Newcastle and that’s something you don’t see every day. She hasn’t won in her last four starts but most have been pretty good actually, the last one was a good one in a very strong race Newcastle. Pensativa, the one in the colours of her close relation, Streama, has the talent so long as the track plays fair.

Bet:Lounerse to win, box trifecta 3,4,7,11.

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RACE 7

Valentino Prince is a market watch horse because he is a first-up and trained by Paul Perry with Aaron Bullock booked. He rode him in the last trial which was super. Formal is a former Godolphin gelding who has been with Nathan Doyle for two runs, the first was a costly third at Port Macquarie at a provincial class meeting. Credit to the camp and the horse, he did manage to win four weeks later at the same track this time despite jumping from barrier 11 of 11. From gate 2 this time he is the one to beat.

Bet:Valentino Prince each-way, quinella 2,7.

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BATHURST

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 5: Brohm Lake

Winner on heavy and been racing well in better grade than this.

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NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 5: Leovanni

Well-bred type who has a future beyond country racing.

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VALUE

Race 6 No. 10: Suncone

Has to lift but is only early in her career.

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Newcastle and Bathurst for Monday, February 10, 2025