Albury, Wyong best bets, inside mail for Thursday, April 17, 2025

The Donna Scott-trained Villasaurus was game in defeat after a wide run in the Country Championship Qualifier at Wagga and can bounce back on his home track. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Following a gutsy third in the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier, Villasaurus can get back to winning form on his home track. Picture: Grant Guy

Form analyst Adam Sherry presents his best bets for the NSW meetings and Albury and Wyong on Thursday.

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ALBURY TPS

BEST BET
Race 1 No.1 VILLASAURUS: Raced wide when a gutsy third in the SDRA Qualifier first-up. Hard to beat on his home track.

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.2 PROPHET’S DAUGHTER: Also comes out of the SDRA Qualifier after a wide run. Can bounce back.

VALUE BET
Race 6 No.6 MATUSALEM: Just beaten in the Canberra Cup and was doing his best work late at Caulfield last start.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 2, 5
Race 5: 5, 6, 8
Race 6: 3, 4, 6, 9, 13
Race 7: 2, 6, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Blaike McDougall has an outstanding book of rides and looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

ALBURY INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: Class 2 Handicap (1000m)

ONE HARD LADY (5) was pressured early before racing away to a near five length win on debut over this track and distance. Backed it up with another dominant win at Gundagai. Hard to beat again. RUNRANIRUN (2) scored by nearly nine lengths on debut over 900m at Newcastle. Was a safely second by Flame Of Hestia over 900m at Newcastle first-up this time in. BRIAL ROSE (4) was five weeks between runs when fifth to Destructive Diva at Wagga last start after a handy first-up second here.

BET: ONE HARD LADY (5) to win.

RACE 5: Benchmark 74 (1400m)

MIGHTY MYRTLE (5) ran home from near last when fifth to stablemate Sunchyme in the SERA Country Championship Qualifier at Nowra before charging home for fourth to Ticklebelly in the Southern Wildcard. DAZE OFF (8) boxed on well when fifth to Dupride Star first-up at Wagga before returning to score a nice win from East Harlem under 61kg. Drops to 57kg and placed both runs on her home track. PERSIAN DANCER (6) resumed with a handy second to Arthur The Great over this trip.

BET: MIGHTY MYRTLE (5) to win.

RACE 6: Listed Albury Gold Cup (2000m)

MATUSALEM (6) ran on well to just miss catching Palmetto in the Listed Canberra Cup over this trip two starts back. Went to Caulfield for the Easter Cup also over the 2000m and worked home from last at the 600m to finish a three length eighth to Torranzino. REDSTONE WELL (4) also comes out of the Easter Cup where he carted the field up to the leaders and coming wide on the bend before finishing 11th. MY BROTHERS KEEPER (13) followed a couple of handy fourths at Flemington and The Valley with a barnstorming win over Preferential at Caulfield.

BET: MATUSALEM (6) each-way.

RACE 7: Benchmark 58 (1175m)

PROPHET’S DAUGHTER (2) was caught four-wide without cover back in the field and did a good job to be beaten just over three lengths when ninth to Canny Hell in the SDRA Country Championship Qualifier first-up. Kept fresh and back to her home track where she hasn’t missed a place including a win over this trip. MAGIC LEPRECHAUN (7) broke his maiden with a nice win first-up at Wagga on Feb 17 before a fourth at Kilmore on Apr 5. HOLLERLOUD (6) followed a close first-up second with an all-the-way win at Wagga.

BET: PROPHET’S DAUGHTER (2) to win.

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WYONG TIPS

BEST BET
Race 3 No.1 CHIBA: Nice efforts to place at his first two starts. Resuming off two good trials.

NEXT BEST
Race 6 No.7 LOVE AND LIGHT: Resumed with a very impressive win and can co back-to-back.

WYONG INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5: Midway Maiden Plate (1200m)

LORD VETTORI (3) was good in both runs of his first campaign. Returned with a good third to Imperial State at Gosford on Mar 27. Will make his presence felt. MARAIS (4) was a runner-up to Jacob’s Ladder at Canberra two starts back and finished in front of Alabama Fox who won her next two. Battled away for fourth to Fleeting Spirit on the Kensington last start. TILLSTROM (7) makes his debut. Was a close second to Sisu Spirit in his Hawkesbury trial.

BET: LORD VETTORI (3) to win.

RACE 6: Fillies & Mares Benchmark 64 (1200)

LOVE AND LIGHT (7) jumped well and sat second before going to the lead on straightening and racing away to a near five length win from Deep Emotion when resuming ion the Beaumont on Mar 24. Can make it two in-a-row. BROADWAY FOLLIES (5) worked across from a wide gate to sit outside the leader when a two length eighth to Alabama Fox. Was runner-up to Heat Missile when resuming at Kembla. REDUCIO (10) resumed from a spell and kicked off his second campaign with a smart all-the-way win from Satin Sparkle here on Apr 3.

BET: LOVE AND LIGHT (7) to win.

RACE 7: Colts, Horses & Geldings Benchmark 64 (1200m)

GANDALF (7) was backed from $7.50 into $4.60 on debut and gave no cause for concern when he went forward from a wide gate to sit outside the leader and beat Sosueme at Hawkesbury on Mar 18. GORBACHEV (11) was narrowly beaten at his first two starts in his first campaign. Resumed this time in with a narrow win from Alpine Ski at Gosford. ORYX (5) has won for over two years but has been good in all three runs this campaign and will make his presence felt again.

BET: GANDALF (7) to win.

RACE 8: Benchmark 68 (1000m)

SUNRISE (7) couldn’t have been more impressive leading all-the-way first-up by over seven lengths from Quartz Legend in a track record for the 1000m at Kembla. Up in grade but gets a 3kg claim from Coriah Keatings who rode her to that win. SHALL BE (5) scored back-to-back wins at Newcastle over 900m before a second to Photographics in a Randwick Midway. Was caught wide without cover when seventh to Catch The Glory in a Randwick Midway on Mar 1. POWER OF THE BRAVE (3) and UP THE FRONT (9) are chances.

BET: SUNRISE (7) to win.

Originally published as Albury, Wyong best bets, inside mail for Thursday, April 17, 2025