Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Wellington and Ballina on Monday
Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets and value selections for Monday’s Wellington meeting, which features the Wellington Boot and Wellington Cup.
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Form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets and value selections for Monday’s Wellington meeting, which features the Wellington Boot and Wellington Cup.
The scheduled seven-race card at Ballina has been postponed.
Racing NSW stewards made the decision shortly before 7am today, with the track deemed unsuitable for racing.
More than 70mm of rain has fallen in Ballina over the past three days.
The Ballina race meeting scheduled for today has been postponed after Stewards conducted a track inspection following 119mm in the last 7 days. Track waterlogged and deemed unsuitable for racing.
— Racing NSW Stewards (@RNSWStewards) March 30, 2025
The decision to postpone Monday’s Nowra meeting was made on Sunday morning, with the track also being assessed as unsuitable for racing.
The Nowra meeting set down for Monday 31st March has been postponed due to the track being unsuitable for racing, Wellington has been rescheduled for Monday. https://t.co/pBOEQ5nyCE
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 29, 2025
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WELLINGTON
BEST BET
Race 6 No.2 CLIFF HOUSE: Turned in two outstanding runs leading into this one over a more suitable trip.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 14 TRY ME: Well-bred from an astute yard who has trialled impressively.
VALUE
Race 3 No.4 IMAREALAMERICAN: Kris Lees-trained gelding itching for the 1462m at this point in time.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 5,6
Race 6: 2,5
Race 7: 8,14
Race 8: 6,7,8
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Mikayla Weir will ride Try Me in the time-honoured Wellington Boot.
RAIL TRAIL (5) had one run in Victoria for Anthony and Sam Freedman back in September last year. A $20,000 online purchase in October 2024, the now Mack Griffith-trained gelding’s NSW debut was a nose second in a good looking Scone Maiden on March 4 with Aaron Bullock on. NAVY STEEL (4) was tipped out after contesting a couple of country maidens last December. Signalled his readiness with an easy trial win at Scone albeit a month ago now.
BET: RAIL TRAIL (5) to win.
HAIKU STAR (4) has four wins from 12 starts. The ‘downside’ is that all of them are Good tracks and what’s more, he ran last at his only run on a Heavy track. He has drawn well and gets in exceedingly well after the claim. SMALL TOWN (5), one for the John Mellencamp fans, led but was passed late by Haiku Star in that Benchmark 58 at Tamworth. Keep in mind that Small Town was first-up and goes even better second-up.
BET: HAIKU STAR (4) to win or of scratched Small Town to win.
IMAREALAMERICAN (4) is a Kris Lees gelding was runner-up at his only two runs at his first preparation. He has run fourth at his two runs this time in, one over 1200m, the other over 1262m but make no mistake, his pedigree and pattern says 1400m today and a mile after that and more to come. Ditto that and then some DEVILS DAUGHTER (7) who more than ‘handles’ wet tracks. WOLF CLUB (3) has obvious claims.
BET: IMAREALAMERICAN (4) to win.
MRS BULL (4) has only managed to win three of her 43 starts but to her credit, she has placed 24 times. On top of that, her last win came as recently as three starts ago and she was only inches from winning a Coonamble Benchmark 66 two weeks ago. CALL ME TERRY (6) is a huge chance (if he comes). RICH STREET (10) has a win and a second from three visits to Wellington. Mrs Bull beat him three starts back but he’s been flying ever since!
BET: MRS BULL (4), RICH STREET (10) each-way.
WILBURY (6) was a $1.05 million yearling back in 2021. Probably had a lot to do with the fact he is a half to Home Affairs. Fast forward to March 2023 and he was snapped up (by Anthony Manton) for $32,500 and the rest is history. By the way, his only run here was over this trip when he touched up Life’s A Party. THE HANGER CAT (5) is a worthy rival for Manton’s gelding. You don’t see many horses that win 10 races, much less 5YOs who did it inside 24 starts.
BET: WILBURY (6) to win, exacta 6 to beat 5.
RACE 6: Wellington Cup (1700m)
CLIFF HOUSE (2) has become a genuine country cups horse for Tim Donnelly but not bush cups – he’s a Wagga Cup style horse and the type you could imagine running honourably in a Big or Little Dance if gets there. Me? I think he’ll be there after picking up the Wellington Cup today, for several reasons none more obvious than he is flying! DON PEDRO (5) has drawn well in barrier 4 for Dylan Gibbons. One would suspect that means he will be prominent throughout.
BET: CLIFF HOUSE (2) to win (best bet), box trifecta 2,5,6,7, DD 1st Leg, 2nd Leg 8.
RACE 7: Wellington Boot (1100m)
TRY ME (14) has a lot going for her. Born at Widden with exceptional bloodlines and physique, she is handled by an exceptional horseman in Todd Howlett and her trials have been, dare I say, exceptional. She looks to be the ready made 2YO from every angle. Like her a lot. BULLANT (8) had major excuses on debut. He trialled like a good horse himself. Expecting a big, bold bid from him in today’s Wellington Boot. SPLASH OF STEEL (4) and COMONGIN (1) are in the mix.
BET: TRY ME (14) to win.
RACE 8: Class 1 Handicap (1100m)
ADVENTURE SEEKER (8) is a Danielle Seib-trained filly by The Autumn Sun out of a Lope De Vega mare so it stands to reason that she is only going to get better with each passing day and every little step up in distance too. That probably accounts for her utterly dominant win in a 1300m Maiden on Goulburn first-up and on a Heavy 8 too! STAR INTRIGUE (6) has done by far more good than bad in his nine starts. Take close note that his only win (so far) was first-up and he bolted in that day as well.
BET: ADVENTURE SEEKER (8) to win, quinella 3,6.
Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Wellington and Ballina on Monday
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