Bathurst tips: Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones have a strong hand in the Cup with Manderboss and Belleistic Kids

Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones launch a strone two-pronged attack on the Bathurst Cup with tough geldings Manderboss and Belleistic Kids.

Manderboss is chasing another shot at the Big Dance through the Bathurst Cup. Picture Bradley Photos

Canberra resident Manderboss will be one step closer to a second consecutive Big Dance appearance if successful in the Bathurst Cup (1800m).

The son of French classic galloper Vadamos is one of 11 horses aiming to collect the lion’s share of the $50,000 purse and the added benefit of eligibility for a $3 million race at Royal Randwick on the first Tuesday in November.

Should Manderboss make it there, his connections would naturally be hoping for a much better outcome than in 2023 when the New Zealand-bred finished 17th of the 20 runners.

“He probably didn’t come up that preparation,” co-trainer Paul Jones said.

“He is going better this preparation than he was last year.

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!

Manderboss wins the 2023 Bega Cup!@quaydek with a fantastic ride for @JJRacing_ACT who get their third cup in a row. pic.twitter.com/lZVvHiCTNi

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 29, 2023

“His last two visits to town, he has drawn wide and has had to go further back than we wanted to. If he jumps well enough and he can be midfield, I think he will definitely be charging late.”

Manderboss ($14) went-up twice the price of his stablemate and Bathurst Cup rival Belleistic Kids ($7) who has risen to become a tried and true Country Cups competitor.

This Barbara Joseph-bred son of The Brothers War finished runner-up in the Snake Gully Cup and Mudgee Cup in the summer of 2023.

Belleistic Kids arrives at Bathurst in sparkling order having posted his sixth career win as recently as September 2 in a quality 1400m TAB Federal Open Handicap in the nation’s capital.

“His coat was a little bit off when he first came up from the Sapphire Coast stable and that was reflected in his first two runs but he has absolutely cleaned up in the coat and he is racing accordingly,” Jones reported.

“His work on Thursday was excellent. Coriah Keatings came over to ride him and said this horse couldn’t be any happier and can’t be in a better place.

“We are really happy with how is going.”

The Jones/Joseph camp already have one 2024 Big Dance ticketholder namely the bold and beautiful Zouatica who is pitted against confirmed Kosciuszko participant, Compelling Truth, in a must-see edition of The Panorama (1300m).

Zouatica adds another win to his record at @gosford_races for Barbara Joseph, Paul and Matt Jones! pic.twitter.com/U3EArAIPPX

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 10, 2024

The hulking son of Zoustar was tipped out after an unsuccessful tilt at the Wagga Cup (2000m) in May after a mostly fruitful autumn campaign.

Zouatica was nothing short of stunning in a 900m Heat in Canberra nine- days ago, winning by upwards of four lengths.

“I couldn’t believe the trial,” Jones said.

“He has come back absolutely superb. He spent the whole preparation down on the Sapphire Coast and kudos to my staff down there, they have done a great job.

“We brought him up here, he has been up with us for about two weeks, and he just looks such a more mature horse.”

As if Zouatica’s talent alone wasn’t enough to take out the day’s co-feature, he was more or less handed pole position.

“If you asked me two weeks ago what do you want first-up - 1300m and barrier 2 - I would have taken that with open arms,” Jones said.

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 7: Broadway Follies

Well-related first starter who has trialled sufficiently well for a country debut.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 5: Ellipsis

Another of the Bjorn Baker-trained Bathurst debutants that has shown talent at the trials.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 6: Scorpius

Has been getting back and running on better than it reads on paper.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2

Race 6: 1, 6, 10

Race 7: 1, 3, 11

Race 8: 1, 6

Apprentice Benjamin Osmond could be in for a big day with strong chances in the two feature races. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Benjamin Osmond could carry off the Bathurst Cup/The Panorama double.

INSIDE MAIL - BATHURST

RACE 1

Noble Tess races in the same colours as her Breeders Classic and Chelmsford Stakes winning mother Gallant Tess whose foals include the 2013 Dulcify winner, Rock Hero. As for Noble Tess, she is perfectly tuned for the step to 1800m, third-up, off a 1500m and 1600m at Kembla last month. No Second Thoughts has been consistent but very costly indeed. Maybe the 1800m will bring out the best in this (fit) son of So You Think. They look the two most likely.

Bet: Noble Tess to win, quinella 1, 2

RACE 2

Broadway Follies is a daughter of Broadway Harmony who won the 2010 Dequetteville in SA. This filly’s full sister is Broadwayandfourth who won the Listed William Crockett. Surely, on face value at least, her trials indicate enough talent to win a country maiden. Phobos has the race experience edge and both of his runs contained merit. Drawn one which seems like it might aid the cause. Scarlet Aplenty has been trialling okay.

Bet: Broadway Follies to win

RACE 3

Let’s Go Leo remains winless after 15 starts but he has placed five times, four of them are seconds. In fact, those all came at his previous four starts in sequence and two of them were by very narrow margins. Just needs luck from the outside alley now. Lanwar, likewise, has a wide draw but if he goes back, we know that he has a decent finish on him. Railway Avenue has placed at three of his six starts and the way he ran first-up over 1100m, 1400m suits now.

Bet: Let’s Go Leo each-way

RACE 4

Ellipsis was a $70,000 Inglis Classic Yearling sale purchase. She is a daughter of Written Tycoon out of a stakes-placed mare and a distant relative of the great Tierce. This is not an especially strong line-up and with barrier 2 and some nice trials, she won’t have any excuses for not winning. Itszarbaby has raced three times in races won by Drifting (in the Magic Night), Rantan and then first-up at Hawkesbury behind Agenda Setter. Bad draw but good race for her.

Bet: Ellipsis to win, exacta 5 to beat 6

News Bound resumes looking to make two from two. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

News Bound was $3.90 into $2.25 on debut at Tamworth in a 1200m Super Maiden on Jan 25 and ended up winning by over five lengths. We haven’t seen the Rodney Northam-trained mare since except for that rather pleasing trial at Tamworth on Aug 28. One More Thing has been pretty reliable in his six starts since Alison Smith bought him online for $3,000 in January. This is the right race for the horse if he can hold up his end of the bargain.

Bet: News Bound to win

RACE 6

Scorpius has only managed four wins from 48 starts but he has placed 11 times, eight of them are seconds. The thing about him - and why he doesn’t win terribly often - is that a lot of times he is giving away headstarts in these sprint races and when that happens, you just need things to go your way which they haven’t been lately for him. They might here. Bottom Bar made an encouraging debut for Highway winning trainer David Smith when third to Bivouac’s brother, Sparks, at Tamworth.

Bet: Scorpius each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (6), 2nd Leg (1)

RACE 7

Money From The Sky is a flashy son of Frankel who has always been slow early and fast late. It will be interesting to see where they chose to ride the horse in the Cup given he has barrier 2 and it is 1800m. So far as his form goes, he closed off (as always) when fifth to Too Much Caviar over 1500m at Rosehill first-up. For what it is worth, I really think Marsabit is going better than his numbers of late read. His 2023 form would be good enough to win this. Vincenzo is a confident and upwardly mobile type.

Bet: Money From The Sky to win

RACE 8

Compelling Truth was picked up for the Kosciuszko during the week, to the surprise of nobody. He could win that race, especially if he goes out there and breaks 1.09 which seems to be routine for him. The thing is, he has to run 1300m. Mack Griffith seems cool with it, so who am I to argue. The Panorama could be set up for something to charge over the top late and if so, the horse most likely is Sharp Shock. Zouatica trialled like Phar Lap last week.

Bet: Compelling Truth to win, box trifecta 1, 3, 6, 11