Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford

A Bjorn Baker-trained filly has shown plenty of ability in her trials and is ready to unleash on race day. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Bjorn Baker unleashes debutant Passeggiata after three smart barrier trials wins. Picture: Getty Images

Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.

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!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 1, No.10: PASSEGGIATA

Let’s build a bank early. She only needs to bring her trial form to prove hard to catch in the opening event.

NEXT BET

Race 5, No.3: GEEWIZ JOHNNY

Should have won last start and stays at his home track.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.5: KISS THE OUTCAST

Expecting a rebound second up from a break at double figure odds.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 5, 10, 14

Race 5: 3, 8

Race 6: 9, 11

Race 7: 1, 2, 6, 7

Kerrin McEvoy should be in the winners’ circle at Gosford. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Would be very surprised if multiple The Everest and Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy doesn’t walk away with a winner.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Passeggiata is Italian for stroll but you would expect the Bjorn Baker-trained filly to be going quicker than that on debut. Expecting her to negate the wide draw, go forward and prove pretty hard to run down in the opener. Her trials have been outstanding with wins in all three including an eight length romp at Rosehill in June. Has won another trial hit out in the lead up to her debut. A son of Baker’s former Group 2 victor Winning Rupert, she looks the one to beat. Noble Legend has moved to the Anthony Mountney yard but showed talent in his starts for the Freedmans. Has trialled well in the lead. Different Drum and Storm’s End have both showed promise at the trials in the lead up to their debuts and can’t be discounted.

Bet: Passeggiata to win.

RACE 2

Tricky maiden and leaning towards Romantic Rock. The Claire Lever-trained mare is ready to peak third up. Led them up last start over 1500m on home turf at Hawkesbury and got tired late. While she only beat one runner home, she finished a length and a half off the winner and should derive plenty of benefit from that performance. Shigeru hasn’t been far away in all three runs this preparation and is poised to run well again from a good draw. After getting caught on the fence, Bonus Tempus was making up ground in the middle of the track last start. Should get every chance from the gate.

Bet: Romantic Rock each-way.

Jason Collett looks set for a good day with a number of strong chances including Romantic Rock and El Bravo. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

El Bravo got his maiden out of the way at Canterbury last start and only needs to replicate that to get two on the bounce here. It was a narrow victory but the Ross McConville-trained galloper showed excellent fighting qualities to get the job done. Similarly tight turning track and 1900m for this. Grebeni looked like a galloper which will appreciate the trip after winning with some style at 1500m at Newcastle last start. Likely to need space when the heat is on. Celestial Fury was beaten at odds-on last start but wasn’t disgraced. The draw could be the thorn in All About Ollie’s side. He jumps from barrier 12.

Bet: El Bravo, Grebeni quinella.

RACE 4

Willing to give Kiss The Outcast another chance despite his record showing he didn’t beat a runner home last start. The pacesetters finished one-two in that race and Gary Portelli’s runner was out the back. Was runner up in his only previous run at Goulburn in a previous preparation. Cappella Rose is on debut and from the high-flying Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable. Drawn well and trials have been good. The first up run from Moonlight Grace was excellent. Steps up to 1200m now. The difficult alley in barrier 15 could prove to be his downfall.

Bet: Kiss The Outcast each way.

RACE 5

There is little doubt Geewiz Johnny should have won last start. He was luckless behind I’ll Tell You Now when rocketing home to finish a narrow second. Stays on his home track and Glyn Schofield sticks. It was a birdie for Par Five when we last saw him winning at Scone. Returns from a break in this without a trial but a forward showing certainly wouldn’t surprise. First Peoples went close when leading them up at Taree first up. Has trailed well since. Elleves is placed in both second up runs. Expecting a sharp improvement after getting the cobwebs out first up at Kembla Grange.

Bet: Geewiz Johnny to win.

Glyn Schofield sticks with Geewhiz Johnny at Gosford. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Field Wiri was competitive in Saturday grade up in Queensland during the winter but meets easier company here. Father-son team Richard and Will Freedman have given the mare a couple of trials ahead of her return. A winner first up before, she should go close again. I Am Brazen was at a winner this track and trip last start. Gets the good draw and helped by Amy McLucas’s 3kg claim. Tintookie raced well on heavy tracks in her debut preparation. Her trials this preparation have only been fair. Selhurst Park has missed the placing just twice in his 10 starts. The barrier 14 draw will take some overcoming.

Bet: Field Wiri to win.

RACE 7

Oakfield Warpaint won in outstanding fashion at Wyong and gets conditions to salute again. Stays at the mile with an excellent draw in barrier six. Zouson Boy has put in a pair of strong showings this time, including a good win at Hawkesbury over 1500m last time. Poised to run well again. Put a line a through Titled Tycoon’s last run. He’s better than that and an improvement showing shouldn’t be a surprise. Noble Beauty drops back from metro grade but has to overcome the wide alley.

Bet: Oakfield Warpoint to win.