Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Tuncurry

Trainer Zach Hatch teams up with Country Championship winning jockey Mitchell Bell to aid Muswellbrook bound galloper French Comet in his quest for a first career win

Mitchell Bell rides top chance French Comet at Muswellbrook on Friday. Picture: Mark Evans

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the quaddie legs at Muswellbrook and Tuncurry on Friday.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

MUSWELLBROOK

BEST BET

Race 1 No.4: FRENCH COMET

Gets his best chance for a well-earned breakthrough from barrier five with Mitchell Bell on again.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No.4: KOGA NINJA

Did it pretty easily in the end first-up and could go on with it this preparation.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.14: NYALI SANDS

All of the family runs and this one has shown ability in her trials.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 5,8,12

Race 7: 4,5,14

Race 8: 2,4,5

Race 9: 3,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock rode his first ever winner at Muswellbrook and added 134 (not out) after that.

TUNCURRY

BEST BET

Race 4 No.1: OAKFIELD WALLABY

Won two of his last three, the last one was impressive and emphatic.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No.2: SALISANO

Won her maiden and Class 1 in quick succession. First run for Nathan Doyle this time off a nice trial win too.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No.4: DUKE OF JAMES

Locally trained gelding who sent out some encouraging signs first-up at Taree.

Aaron Bullock is always a chance of riding a winner at Muswellbrook. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL: MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 6

Felicity’s Fault is a Todd Howlett-trained filly resuming at home over 1000m with 55kg on board, all of which are ticks. Howlett thought enough of her to debut her at the midweeks and even though she was fifth of six, it was very wet and she was doing it all up front. Spelled after her Gosford follow-up, back again and trialling well. Rockin’ Millie has also accepted for Tuncurry on Friday. Go well wherever she lands. Zhi is a hundred times better horse than her two starts read. She is a red-hot player here. Invest In Love is costly but also consistent.

Bet: Felicity’s Fault each-way, quinella 5,12, exacta 12 to beat 5

RACE 7

Nyali Sands is another one of Todd Howlett’s string racing here and now. This daughter of Casino Prince is an unraced half to Toto, their fifth dam is Denise’s Joy. It’s a winning family and the way Nyali Sands looks and gallops, she will be winning races. Sam Kavanagh has a nice prospect Linnikova who debuts in the perfect race really and aided by the perfect draw. Her trials were first class. Showboat showed improvement from one trial to the next. Gets his opportunity from barrier 4. He has a future beyond this.

Bet: Nyali Sands to win, quinella 5,14

RACE 8

Stenson Wallman, a now cheap $21,000 yearling purchase, was $3.20 into $2.60 for very good reason when he made his debut here on July 30. Long story short, he led and kept leading, crossing the line with three lengths to spare. Has to go to Class 1 now but he seems good enough to pull it off. Sightseer has was $9.50 into $6.50 when he made his Greg McFarlane stable debut at Scone and ran accordingly, that is to say, he finished fast to place third. Bullock on now. Sparkingly has a tidy little record and trialled like he could play a part in proceedings.

Bet: Stenson Wallman to win

RACE 9

Rebel Dreamer is the ultimate market watch here. For starters, she is resuming. Add to that, she is from the very astute Luke Pepper stable. From the outside looking in, she should go close given her overall talent and a compelling first-up record and a good trial to boot. Aaron Bullock is one for one on Pliskova who herself happens to be one for one here at Muswellbrook over the 1000m. I’m Not Slew has contested four Highways. She ran second in one of them and fourth to Mogo Magic on July 1 prior to a honourable third at Gosford to Lovero. That’s great form anywhere, particularly for this. Play My Song loves the t/d.

Bet: Rebel Dreamer to win

INSIDE MAIL: TUNCURRY

RACE 5

Rockin’ Millie has also accepted for a race at Muswellbrook on Friday. Her form reads very well in either race, has to, given she is a Gosford runner-up straight after that second at Scone on debut. Linnikova also accepted for Muswellbrook. Just to refresh the memory, she is a Sam Kavanagh-trained daughter of Russian Revolution who has trialled up well and has the favourable draw here. Speaking of nice alleys, Amberina has box two and is racing in country class for the first time in a long time.

Bet: Rockin’ Millie to win or if scratched Linnikova to win

RACE 6

Salisano had her first three starts under the Bjorn Baker management. She won at Orange in debut then won a Class 1 straight after that at Bathurst. Beaten at Mudgee 13 days later and spelled. Salisano is with Nathan Doyle from now on, a known “improver” of horses, and looking at the last trial, this mare is in great order. One Kind is a lightly-raced and obviously talented filly. Her win at Grafton before the spell was just so impressive. Good stable, good trial, good barrier, good jockey. My One is way too consistent to leave out. Cavnente was impressive at Coffs.

Bet: Salisano to win, quinella 2,8

RACE 7

Vilifed is the fourth foal of his dam Sin Sin Sin. Her third foal is Yes Yes Yes. Vilified has raced four times this preparation, all of them in Highways. Except for that time that he ran sixth, his own pattern and a fair bit of track bias just made it impossible for him to win on the day(s). He might just be the best horse in this race on Friday. Call Me Louis is a triple acceptor on Friday. He is lightly-raced and done zero wrong. Lovely trial and he’s in a fantastic stable. Same for Marc Quinn’s Anamoe relative Crowie’s Shout who is on a hat-trick. Don’t Forget Dad was fourth in a pretty strong Calss3 atr Coffs first-up.

Bet: Vilified to win

RACE 8

Touch Of Navy might well set sail for Muswellbrook instead on Friday. Assuming he is absent from Tuncurry, next in line could be the Ross Stitt-trained Brendan’s Hope who was 13 and zip ahead of that first-up win at Taree when his trainer deadset declared him (it was in The Tele!) and remember, he went up $51. This is way harder on Friday but maybe he has come on again. Deep Fury broke his maiden at Nowra on June 20 and was a fair bit better at Gosford than a 7 of might suggest. Lord Bob won a 1350m maiden at his home track at Wyong two runs back.

Bet: Brendan’s Hope each-way

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Tuncurry