Taree best bets and inside mail for Monday 17 March, 2024

Racenet form analyst Shayne O’Cass believes hot jockey Ash Morgan can get punters off on the right note at Taree on Monday when he reunites with the lightly-raced and consistent King Soleil.

Top jockey Ash Morgan can get punters off on the right note aboard King Soleil at Taree on Monday. Photo: Bradley Photos.

Racenet form analyst Shayne O’Cass believes hot jockey Ash Morgan can get punters off on the right note at Taree on Monday when he reunites with the lightly-raced and consistent King Soleil.

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BEST BET

Race 1 No. 1: King Soleil

Getting close to a win, and aided considerably by barrier 1 and Ash Morgan as the pilot.

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NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 9: Fearless Bella

Handed in a solid debut at Armidale over 1100m and the step up to 1262m should suit.

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VALUE

Race 7 No. 9: In Spades

Won two of his last four starts including a 1000m sprint here on February 25.

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BEST EXOTIC

Exacta

Race 1 No. 1: King Soleil to beat No. 2 Purple Kitty.

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QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2,3

Race 6: 1,9,10

Race 7: 5,9

Race 8: 6,8,10

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JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Luke Rolls will have plenty of admirers in the TAB Jockeys Challenge

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INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

King Soleil is by the underrated and prolific Sebring Sun that stands at stud not far from Taree racecourse where King Soleil now calls home. King Soleil has a tidy record of two seconds and a third from four starts. First-up and this is short of his best so the market will tell a story. Purple Kitty likewise is resuming. The Peter Cheers-trained gelding belied his $21 starting price on debut at Armidale in December. Again, the market will be important.

Bet:King Soleil to win (best bet), exacta 1 to beat 2.

RACE 2

Yorikiri has been a bit costly at times but not so lately. In fact, the Paul Perry-trained gelding arrives here for the 10th time of his racing career on a hat-trick, both at Port Macquarie. Record is not quite as flash at Taree it must be said. Nothing’s Sacred only has to find a length to beat Yorikiri on that last clash at Port. Mindspace ran a big race in a Benchmark 74 last start. Can easily figure.

Bet:Yorikiri to win, quinella 5,6.

RACE 3

Fearless Bella is a daughter of Castelvecchio out of a half-sister to Green Birdie. For the record, her third dam is the broodmare gem Kew Gardens. This Kris Lees-trained filly was $12/$8 when a pleasing fifth on debut at Armidale over 1100m. Better off over 1262m now. Bonjour Madame was $3.40/$3 when passed late in a Taree 1000m debut. Drew 6 of 6 that day, has three of 11 this time. Divine Bene has a wide alley but enough talent. Likes it here.

Bet:Fearless Bella to win.

RACE 4

Cup Of Ambition remains winless after 22 starts but has placed six times. The case to make here is that he has far more often than not been going around in better races than this and to be fair to the horse, he runs more good races than bad. Castelle is the one with far fewer convictions. After all, she has only had two starts and was a closing fourth in the most recent one over 1400m. By Castelvecchio so 1614m suits now.

Bet:Cup Of Ambition to win, quinella/exacta 6,12.

RACE 5

Tsunoda has raced 11 times so far for two wins and five thirds; those last two are for Marc Quinn who has only had him for three starts. There’s a good chance that Tsunoda will get 2000m when asked and Quinn has given him the perfect lead-ins to 1614m today. Tony Ball has a strong hand to play across the card, as always. He’s got the very much in-form Highly Tempted engaged alongside Toy Story who has two wins a second from four runs here.

Bet:Tsunoda to win.

RACE 6

Maggie Sparkles was bought for $900, online, in July 2023. Long story short, she was $101 shot on debut and ran accordingly. Spelled, $8 into $7 this time when she won at Tuncurry like a $2.50 shot and what’s more, she beat Get Some Fun. Resumes again here off a nice trial. El Beatle is a very reliable customer, each-way that is. Granted he has only won once in those 13 starts but it was at this track and trip as recently as February 9.

Bet:Maggie Sparkles to win, El Beatle each-way, quinella 1,10.

RACE 7

In Spades has always been a handy horse, dating back to her third start when she won the feature 2YO Red Crown at Muswellbrook with her now regular pilot, Ash Morgan on board. The Justin Bowen-trained mare has won four times since, including last start in a 1000m Benchmark 66 here. Harder here but drawn 2 and is flying. Lady Tulessa, is aiming for her 10th career win today. That just goes to show what a bonny mare she has been for John Shelton.

Bet:In Spades each-way, box trifecta 3,4,5,9.

RACE 8

Critical Time was scratched from Sunday’s Yamba Cup at home at Grafton to run here. Not hard to see why trainer Scott Henley would choose this one given the horse drew 1, has Matthew McGuren and the only track and distance run prior to this was a nose second. Silver Halo has been here to Taree twice and won twice. She is third-up and coming off a third to Wilbury at Dubbo in a Benchmark 74 and a half-length fourth at Newcastle on March 1.

Bet:Critical Time to win, quinella 6,8, box First 4 Nos. 6,8,10,12,13.

Originally published as Taree best bets and inside mail for Monday 17 March, 2024