Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury, Taree

Ciaron Maher-trained colt Sacred Fort has mixed it and matched it with superior horses to what he faces on Tuesday at Hawkesbury — and he should get the job done.

Sacred Fort’s trainer Ciaron Maher.

Here is Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Hawkesbury and Taree racing on Tuesday.

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 2: Sacred Fort

Placed 3 from 6. always in very, very company. Going to get there one day.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 2: Graced

Daughter of a Justify (a replica actually) who has trialled like she will go far.

VALUE

Race 7 No. 11: Artiebett

Won 3 from 9. last start winner, harder here but looks in career-best order.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,3,4,8

Race 5: 3,6,8

Race 6: 5,6,1

Race 7: 11

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Local apprentice Zac Wadick could give the TAB Jockeys Challenge a red-hot go at home on Tuesday.

TAREE

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 9: Otium

Has some real talent; more than the C.V would suggest in fact. Go well.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 2: Cupid’s Kiss

Boasts some compelling numbers at this same track and distance.

VALUE

Race 2 No. 10: Idol Shot

Placed at 3 of 4 and get close to a pretty decent horse at Coffs last time out.

HAWKESBURY INSIDE MAIL

CLICK HERE for all the Hawkesbury fields and form.

RACE 1

Sacred Fort, a $21,000 Inglis Premier Yearling sale graduate, has won back $50,000 in his 6 starts, despite still being a maiden. That said, he has contested - and ran particularly well in - some very strong races. For the record, he was fifth in the Inglis Nursery and Inglis Challenge. Customized, a $400,000 yearling son on Capitalist (same colours/trainer) was third to Storm Boy in G3 B J McLachalan on debut and spelled after the fourth in the Fully Lit race at Rosehill on Jan 30. Trialled well enough to warrant respect. Verona’s Cleaopatra will be strong late so too Glitterscript.

Bet: Sacred Fort to win

RACE 2

Graced is certainly ‘her father’s daughter. Her father being the unbeaten US Triple Crown winner, Justify. A flashy chestnut in the Dynamic Syndications colours and Ciaron Maher stable, Graced has looked the part in her trials and she’ll run a lot further than 1500m as time goes by. Zale has never been beyond 1400m but the way he hit the line at Newcastle on the Heavy 10 last start says he is ready and able to complete the mission. Mega Flight has been as costly as he has been consistent. Doesn’t mean he’s not well placed today. Lucky Star is a blowout chance.

Bet: Graced to win

RACE 3

Lutetia, the Coolmore Justify with Kris Lees has the outside draw here on debut but 6 of 12 in a race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Good enough to win either one IMHO. Assuming she is absent from Hawkesbury, all roads lead to Torie’s Rose, the Bull Point filly housed on course by Edward Cummings and in the Bart Cummings colours. Torie’s Rose has always shown ability, you could find some pretty valid excuses for her failures. Trialled like a horse sure to run well. Invade And Conquer could run over the top of them if the timing is right. Glassout is well-placed on a few levels.

Bet: Lutetia to win or if scratched Torie’s Rose each-way

RACE 4

Mickey’s Medal has a neat CV of two wins and five placings from his 11 starts, three of those were seconds. Better yet, the Annabel Neasham trained son of Brave Smash was an easy winner at his only prior visit to this venue. Hard to fault him on recent runs. Ditto that for Sara Ryan’s Aix En Provence whose career numbers are very good. So much so that the three-year-old is yet to miss a medal in all six starts. In the right race if he is good enough to convert. Missile Seeker will appreciate Hawkesbury 1600m more than those last two at Canterbury over 1550m.

Bet: Mickey’s Medal to win, quinella 1,3

RACE 5

Lady Devine was a dual acceptor on the day. She was scratched from the other race (obviously). This David Pfieffer trained mare has raced six times for a win and a second and a few other eye-catchers as well. She rates 56 here, the lowest of all, but she has upside and the trial was a ripper really. Sovereign Express has 20 career starts on his resume, seven of them are here at home where he absolutely excels. He must be flying. Why? Well he was four starts for zippo first-up into Warwick Farm on June 5 but ran a huge race! Undivided beat Encap on debut and his four unplaced runs since were in good races.

Bet: Lady Devine each-way, quinella 3,8

RACE 6

House Of Cards is handy and has been gelded! The son of Exceed And Excel should have won on debut on the Kensington track. He was a very impressive winner of his maiden at Kembla beating Tulle et al. Trialling well; he is going to charge late here you’d imagine. Classique Legend’s half sister, the $2 million yearling and last start winner, is probably saved for Wednesday at the Farm. With her (likely) out, it brings Brad Widdup’s Pins And Needles right into it. The Tricolours mare is very genuine and deserves credit for her first-up run on a very, very Heavy 10. Koning has also been gelded.

Bet: House Of Cards to win

RACE 7

Artiebett was Jay Ford’s 22nd winner Con Karakatsanis when she finished over the top of her rivals to win at Goulburn first-up. That was Artibett’s third win in nine starts, two of them were first-up, the other one was second-up which is significant on Tuesday of course. She might be in for a good preparation. Brad Widdup has found the perfect race at home over the right trip for the Laurel Oak gelding Troika. Trialling as well as you’d like/want to see. Global Empire has finished on the podium at seven of his 11 starts. He ran third to Red Card and Felix Majestique here at his only t/d run.

Bet: Artibett each-way

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Hawkesbury, Taree