Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Port Macquarie, Bathurst on Monday

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selection and inside mail for Port Macquarie and Bathurst on Monday.

Eclair Vitality, pictured winning at Scone on February 17, is Shayne O'Cass's best bet of the day at Port Macquarie on Monday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass presents his best bets, value selection and inside mail for Port Macquarie and Bathurst on Monday.

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PORT MACQUARIE TIPS

BEST BET
Race 3 No.1 ECLAIR VITALITY: Japanese-bred galloper who was an emphatic first-up winner. Can go on with it.

NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.5 CORPSMAN: Only won 2 from 20 but won two runs back. Reliable type.

VALUE
Race 4 No.1 EINSTEIN THEORY: So You Think gelding on an upward trajectory and ready to win.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,7
Race 5: 1,5
Race 6: 2,5,7,8
Race 7: 1,4,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Boom apprentice Jett Newman can add to her growing tally.

PORT MACQUARIE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: Country Boosted Maiden Handicap (1509m)

EINSTEIN’S THEORY (1) is by So You Think; his third dam is the Golden Slipper winner, Polar Success. He’s had three runs – 1200m, 1300m and 1400m, each one better the last. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that 1509m is bang on for him now. HIGHLAND MIRAGE (7) remains winless after 19 starts but he has placed seven times. He’s run one bad race out of five runs for Cassandra Schmidt, hence he’ll go well. DIABLO DANCER (5) is the value runner.

BET:EINSTEIN’S THEORY (1) to win.

RACE 5: Benchmark 58 (1509m)

CORPSMAN (5) has only 2 from 20 but one of those wins was two starts ago at Scone. He is, in fact, a very reliable horse. Often it is the case where he hasn’t won or placed, it has been more or less because he got a fair way back, owing to wide draws, etc, which is unfortunately the case again on Monday. Former Hong Kong resident ALL HUNKY DORY (1) is ‘211’ in his three runs since coming back. Ideally drawn.

BET:CORPSMAN (5) each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (5), 2nd Leg (7).

RACE 6: Benchmark 58 (1812m)

YORIKIRI (7) doesn’t win often, in fact that February 16 win here was just his third victory in 37 starts. On the plus side, two of those infrequent wins have been at Port Macquarie. Had all the favours that day and he can’t be looking for any excuses if beaten, given barrier 3 and Aaron Bullock. SEBASTIAN’S FLYER (8) has finished on the podium at 13 of his 24 starts which deals him in big time here. Very fit and in great form down south of here.

BET: YORIKIRI (7) to win, quinella 7,8.

RACE 7: Benchmark 58 (1206m)

TYPHOON NETA (7) has raced seven times for Cassandra Schmidt, winning the first and last of them with three ‘thirds’ squeezed in between. Unfortunately she has a very wide gate here but she got back a bit and just charged over the top of them to win that 1100m 58 here on Feb 16. Big chance if the ‘run on horses’ are running on, on the day. Ditto that, big time, for ROMMEL’S WOLF (4) who has a huge finish! He was 14 of 14 on the turn when fifth to Typhoon Neta last start.

BET: TYPHOON NETA (7) each-way, quinella 4,7, box trifecta 1,4,5,7.

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BATHURST TIPS

BEST BET
Race 4 No.4 SO MAGNIFICENT: Lightly-raced and clearly talented. Trialled brilliantly ahead of this.

NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.8 STOCK ROAD: Should relish the step out to 1800m. Has staying potential.

VALUE
Race 6 No.6 STOCKHOLM: Clint Lundholm/Darby Bloodstock gelding drawn well for the return.

BATHURST INSIDE MAIL

RACE 4: Benchmark 58 (1100m)

SO MAGNIFICENT (4) was tipped out after an encouraging short and sharp first campaign. For the record, he was third at Wagga on debut at Wagga which he followed, 21 days later, with a fast finishing win at home in Canberra. Won a trial there on Feb 21 in impressive style. SANTORINI SUN (3) is thereabouts more often than he’s not. Take note that he is one run, one third at this same track and distance. Danielle Seib pair MOTORBOAT (5) and MASTER OF DISGUISE (1) are obvious, and serious, players.

BET: SO MAGNIFICENT (4) to win.

RACE 5: Class 1 Plate (1800m)

STOCK ROAD (8) wasn’t awful on debut at Newcastle (10th of 14) on January 21. Greg Hickman took him to Goulburn three weeks later and he was spied doing his best work late when a distant third to Hurstville Zagreb who won at Canterbury last Friday night. GOODNIGHT BARLOW (1) has done very little wrong on all seven starts. First run around for Rob Potter here. Market the best guide. HOORINI (2) and SHUBICK (3) run lots of placings and can do again.

BET: STOCK ROAD (8) to win, Daily Double 1st Leg (8), 2nd Leg (1).

RACE 6: Benchmark 66 (1300m)

STOCKHOLM (6) is a cleverly-named gelding; his dam is Abba. The Clint Lundholm trained gelding has won four from 12 with a second and a third. Unplaced in his two first-up runs in the past but he has trialled rather well ahead of this one – and it looks a winnable race for him too. DUBAI CENTRE (3) was scratched from Moruya on Sunday presumably to run here where his record is two starts for a win and a second.

BET: Stockholm to win.

RACE 7: Class 1 Handicap (1400m)

TIGERS ROAR (1) is a Greg Hickman-housed son of Jungle Cut whose only win so far (in 14 starts) was on August 16 in 2023 at Eagle Farm, and he won easily too. Since then, he has done more good than bad. As for this preparation, he’s had three starts and the word that comes to mind is ‘building’. FORBIDDEN RIFF (2) has accepted for Scone on Tuesday as has the stablemate SUKIDA (4), only in her case, at Kembla. THE MANAGER (7) is ‘321’ in his three runs for Neasham/Archibald.

BET: TIGERS ROAR (1) to win.

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s tips, inside mail for Port Macquarie, Bathurst on Monday