Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kembla, Bathurst

A Kerry Parker-trained gelding was impressive winning on debut at his home track and returns to repeat the dose. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Kerry Parker has Copper Moon ready to go back-to-back at Kembla on Thursday. Picture: Grant Guy

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

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!

KEMBLA GRANGE

BEST BET

Race 1, No.1: COPPER MOON

Let’s get the money early. This promising grey from the Kerry Parker stable returns to the same track and trip of his debut win and can do it again.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.13: ZAKIYYA

Back to 1400m on the big Kembla track, she can bounce back and break her maiden.

VALUE BEST

Race 7, No.13: ESSONNE

Had legitimate excuses last time. A mare in good form that can book her place into the Provincial-Midway final.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 8, 14, 7

Race 6: 3, 5, 13

Race 7: 4, 8, 13

Race 8: 1, 4, 5, 10, 11

Trainers Robert (right) and Luke Price looks set for a good day on their home track. Picture: Grant Guy

TRAINERS TO FOLLOW

The father-son team of Robert and Luke Price have several good chances on a big day at their home track.

BATHURST

BEST BET

Race 3, No.4: RUBI AIR

Consistent galloper knocking at the door of a second career win. Gets her chance here from a nice draw.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.2: TWILIGHT ROCK

First starter from the Bjorn Baker yard. Finds a winnable maiden on debut.

VALUE BEST

Race 4, No.11: RHUMBADU

Drawn to take the shortest route home. Ready to improve off her first-up placing.

QUADDIE

Race 3: 1, 2

Race 4: 4, 8, 10, 11

Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 5

Race 6: 2

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR KEMBLA GRANGE

RACE 1

Copper Moon is an eye-catching grey that can remain unbeaten on home turf. The Kerry Parker-trained gelding made the perfect start to his career with a dominant win at the track over 1000m, albeit in a small field. Goes up 4kg from that win but looks to have plenty of ability. Artieos led Cooper Moon up in his debut win and while fairly beaten, she did put a gap on the rest. The Flying Artie filly continues to race well without winning. He’s Purring and Twobobrob fought out the finish at Newcastle last time. The former had Ben Smith’s gallopers measure but a step up to 1000m could see the finishing order reversed this time.

Bet: Copper Moon to win.

RACE 2

Candlelit will make his debut for Robert and Luke Price in the famous blue and white Gerry Harvey silks. The Press Statement gelding looked good winning his only trial on home turf. Gets his home deck and a favourable draw on debut to run well. Secaution finished within a length of the winner in a metro race on debut last prep and returns with some experience to her name. Recent trials indicate she’s ready for a bold showing in her return. High Plateau was eye catching in a recent trial and looks ready to debut.

Bet: Candlelit to win.

RACE 3

Bindi’s Choice has shown improvement in her two starts to date and should be right in this third-up. She was third at this track and trip last time behind a couple of nice enough gallopers. Expect she can take another step forward off that showing. Sports Legend was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday for this. Was a beaten $1.40 shot last time but right in this if the track isn’t too wet. Fiancetto is best of the rest. She should derive plenty of benefit from her debut second although she was beaten more than three lengths.

Bet: 5, 8 quinella

Jay Ford partners Bindi’s Choice on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Autunno brings the benefit of race experience against a number of promising youngsters. The Richard Litt-trained colt debuted in Saturday grade before making up ground to finish third over the same trip last time. The long Kembla straight should be to his liking third-up. Wymark showed enough on debut to be competitive in a race like this. He was doing his best work late and should relish the 1300m. Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained duo Altair I Am and Mr Caleb have both trialled well and a strong showing shouldn’t surprise anyone.

Bet: Autunno to win.

RACE 5

Slickman was stranded among the emergencies for the Provincial-Midway Qualifier but gets in here after a few scratchings. The locally-trained galloper has only won one of his eight starts but has a further five placings. He’s rock hard fit now and should get every chance from the draw. Golden Age is a blueblood by I Am Invincible out of First Seal. The Hawkes Racing runner returns from a break in a winnable race after showing some ability in three debut prep runs. If Septime can repeat his maiden win at this track, he should figure around the money. You can make a case for plenty of these.

Bet: Slickman each way.

RACE 6

Not much went right for Zakiyya second-up and she’s entitled to get another chance. She was excellent running on for third fresh from a break before a forget run in town. Back to 1400m on the big Kembla track should suit her nicely. Crazy Russian has produced a pair of decent performances in his debut preparation and should be battled hardened third-up. If he can get cover from the gate, he should run well. Ring Ahoy has placed in three of his eight starts. Expect him to run well but he’s short enough in an open affair.

Bet: Zakiyya to win.

Chad Schofield continues his association with Essonne at Kembla. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Essonne is a lovely mare, winning half of her eight starts. Put a line through her last start display when the saddle slipped and assess her on previous form where she was competitive in city grade. She’s trialled since and can run a big race. Kris Lees has a typically strong Provincial-Midway Champs hand with Spangler originally the pick of them. Lees is set to wait another day with him but Mobster is set to get all the favours from the fence draw. The horror draw is the worry for Phearson. He’s a nice, consistent type and can win if he doesn’t get trapped too deep. Byron not without a hope.

Bet: Essonne to win.

RACE 8

Ausbred Bluebird is third-up now after Brad Widdup put her straight over 2000m second-up at this track. The Teofilo mare was beaten a touch over a length and just got tired late. With match practice under the belt, she should return to the track and trip fitter and ready to win. Midori Burly gets his first crack at the 2000m after running through the line nicely in a Goulburn win. He can get a cosy run from the draw. Goldman is the query horse. Having his first Australian start, the Waterhouse-Bott runner won two of his four starts in New Zealand. Whether he is fit enough for 2000m first-up remains to be seen.

Bet: Ausbred Bluebird to win.