Best bets and inside mail for Newcastle on Tuesday January 21, 2025

Trainer John Thompson has found the perfect race for a lightly-raced and talented filly to post her second straight win of the campaign at Newcastle on Tuesday.

Zounaka’s trainer John Thompson. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Newcastle on Tuesday.

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!

NEWCASTLE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 7 No.8: Zounaka

Has run well in some strong races and beat a handy one easily first-up.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No.10: Lady Louvre

Seven-year-old mare on debut but looks to have some talent.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No.13: Sunset Park

Sea The Stars import, last trial was good, 1300m/track suits.

BEST EXOTIC

Place / Race 4 No.15: Luvalegend

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 4

Race 6: 4, 6, 7, 10

Race 7: 8

Race 8: 12, 15, 16

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tyler Schiller, fresh of his Rosehill double on Saturday, has some great rides on Tuesday.

NEWCASTLE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: 4YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1300m)

Sunset Park is by Sea The Stars while her grandam is a Sadler’s Wells half-sister to Street Cry (father of Winx, etc). Sunset Park is on debut in a very winnable 1300m maiden at the right trip, right track, right jockey and the right draw. Share The Joy has just three seconds from 15 starts but she is usually thereabouts. Fit and seems like 1300m might suit again. Montigo Bay and Hoo Haa both have claims.

Bet: Sunset Park to win

RACE 2: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (900m)

Siovy Dane has finished on the podium at half of her 16 starts. That’s two wins, five seconds and a third. She has finished runner-up in her only two visits to Newcastle and has been placed in tow as recently at two starts ago. Yukan Rose is a fast mare who is ‘113’ in her three runs since Glen Milligan bought her online for $9,000 in August last year. Drums Of war has a win and a second from his only three starts here at his home track. Drawn well where some of his main rivals have not.

Bet: Siovy Dane to win

RACE 3: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2300m)

Dalio will be without his regular jockey Beany Panya today but could give her a little boost nonetheless with a second career win here. To do that, the daughter of American Pharoah will need to turn the tables on Scottish Pearl who beat her by a length-and-a-half over 2200m at Nowra last start but Dalio was closing the gap and this is 2300m on Tuesday. Gulf Of Tomini is a pretty reliable customer; fit and split two handy horses at Port Mac last start.

Bet: Dalio to win, quinella 9,10

RACE 4: MAIDEN PLATE (1600m)

Luvalegend is trained by John Sargent who won a handful of stakes races with this gelding’s dam, Luvaluva. Granted, this son of Lonhro didn’t do a whole lot at his short first campaign but that’s fair enough given his breeding and where he will end up. Trialling OK this time and big odds. Webejamin has placed at five of her seven starts. Everything she does and has done suggests the mile on a big track will be right up her alley. Rebel Rhapsody has the best form. Just has to run the mile out strongly now.

Bet: Luvalegend each-way, Webejamin each-way

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP- HEAT OF THE RISING STAR (1600m)

How Much Better has been in fantastic order this whole preparation. The Sara Ryan-trained son of All Too Hard was rewarded for his three consecutive seconds with that New Year’s Eve all-the-way win at Wyong which was aided somewhat by barrier two. Oakfield Prince likewise is holding his form, and good form too, given he the quality of horse (s) he has been locking horns with. Let’s Go Johnny and Autumn Dream will have admirers.

Bet: How Much Better to win, quinella 1,2

RACE 6: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)

Lady Louvre is just about the most interesting horse racing on Tuesday. You don’t see too many making their debut aged seven like she is. She’s a flashy type, chestnut with lots of white on her. As for her pedigree, her third dam is the lying machine, Mother Duck. She has trialled better than her $21 quote IMHO. Speaking of trials and prices, it is easy to see why Soo Gold is the $4,20 favourite off his two heat wins. Sum Invuictuis, In And Out have claims.

Bet: Lady Louvre each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (10), 2nd Leg (15)

RACE 7: MIDWAY CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m)

Zounaka debuted (unsuccessfully) in Manaal’s sweet Embrace Stakes and was spelled. Everything the John Thompsin-trained filly has done since has contained merit to varying degrees, none more so than that easy first-up win at Kembla. Same jockey, better barrier. Fox Reign was a debut winner which is significant given he is first-up. Never asked to ‘go’ in his trial so wouldn’t be punishing him for where he finished that day.

Bet: Zounaka to win (best bet), Fox Reign to place

RACE 8: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1400m)

Gone Bananas has the same colours/trainer (s) as his “aunty”, the Tibbie Stakes winner, Banana Queen. This son of Hellbent was an eye-catcher on debut who won his second and last start that preparation. Trialled a million times better it reads, he is a horse with some genuine ability. Drawn 4, 1400m ideal too. His biggest danger could well from within given that his stablemate Dark Gleam has the race fitness edge and is crying out for 1400m now.