Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Kempsey, Albury

A Ross Stitt-trained gelding is in a purple patch of form and is perfectly placed to win again at Kempsey on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Friday is at Kempsey and Albury.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Kempsey and Albury.

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!

KEMPSEY

BEST BET

Race 5, No.2: FOUR EGOS

He’s on fire at the moment and has the right gate to continue his good form at a track he’s run well at twice in the past. He can keep winning.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No.1: HIT THE TARGET

He’s the highest rated horse in the race and from the inside gate, he can lead all-the-way.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 5, 9, 10

Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 3, 7

Race 8: 1, 2, 3, 5

Jockey Ben Looker has a number of good rides at Kempsey on Thursday.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Ben Looker has good hopes for Paul Shailer in Venatci and Proost while Pendleton isn’t without a chance in the fifth.

ALBURY

BEST BET

Race 6, No.1: STAR BUYER

He’s in good form with two wins from three starts under his new trainer after showing promise previously at the provincials.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Local trainer Mitchell Beer can start the day well with Zouzouli in the opener and end it just as well with Swagger in the last.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR KEMPSEY

RACE 5

Four Egos has hit a purple patch and has drawn the gate to either lead or box seat. There’s no real reason to think he won’t keep winning after a nice victory last start. Polished will need some luck from a wide gate to get in and find cover but if he does get it he’s in the right form to threaten. Nashian got back in form last start and off that should go well with some luck from the gate. She’s won four from 37 but early on in her career you would’ve thought she would’ve won more than that. And rain will help her.

Bet: Four Egos to win

RACE 6

Pacheco has drawn to get a nice run in transit and is knocking on the door off two placings of late. He’s on a quicker back up now and should be full on running at the finish if he gets clear air in the straight. Stablemate Monterey Zar draws alongside Pacheco here and has been more consistent to date. Wasn’t far off winning a Highway race two starts back. The issue is that it was back in May 2021. He’s under a leading trainer now and wasn’t knocked around in his latest trial. Could Kris Lees trifecta this with Star Impact also lining up? Don’t rule it out.

Bet: Monterey Zar to win

Hit The Target looks hard to beat in the Kempsey Cup. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 7

Hit The Target gives away weight to the field here and that’s fair enough and from barrier one he might even lead this which is what you want with a top weight. Expect him to be tough to get past in the straight at his pet trip. Juventus hasn’t won for a long time which is why he’s now in the Kempsey Cup. If he can’t win this, he might not win again. Mikado has been going quite well this time in. Has drawn to get the gun run and races well in this part of the state. Mister Smartee is flying at home apparently.

Bet: Hit The Target to win

RACE 8

Buck Pharoah won fresh on a Heavy 10 and while it might not be that wet this time, he’ll still enjoy getting his toe into the ground here and has performed well second-up in the past so trust him to run well. She’s Choosie has won seven times at 1000m but tends to do better with a run under her belt. Florais a real 1000m specialist who has been off for a long time but comes to the races with a nice record. Whatyoulookingat bolted in a lead up barrier trial and also loves this trip and can lead from barrier one.

Bet: Whatyoulookingat to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR ALBURY

RACE 4

My Boy Mo will race on the speed and comes into this off a career best result and he’s trained on the track and is naturally placed here again. Stablemate Improper also gets the favours from the barrier and will push forward and gets in very light at the weights thanks to a claim. More Importance has placed in half his starts to date and finds a much easier race here after failing in town in Melbourne last start so he’s got to be a better chance now.

Bet: Improper to win

RACE 5

Rupp is the horse on the rise in this field and from the cushy draw, he’s set to possibly lead. If he can dictate like he did two starts back, he can win again in a weak looking race on paper. Free Market wasn’t given any hope first-up after missing the kick when in the market at Wagga. With a better start now, he will give it a shake based on how well he motored home late two weeks ago when he appeared to have plenty left in the tank. A heavy track is what Last War probably needs to win this.

Bet: Quinella 2, 3

Kosciuszko winning trainer Geoff Duryea prepares Star Buyer. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Star Buyer has won two of his past three including one on a Heavy 10 surface. He’s drawn awkwardly but has the ability to settle off the speed and come home over the top of them. Under his previous trainer John O’Shea, he had provincial form so the early success he’s had in this part of the state isn’t a surprise. Aphrodotti has been brought back in trip off a three week break since winning over a mile on a Heavy 9 track so that drop back in distance might be a little query but his form obviously isn’t. Albert’s Melody is the other to consider.

Bet: Star Buyer to win

RACE 7

Swagger is a mud lark and comes into this race off a win and three second placings this preparation. He’s in career-best form and drops in grade but naturally goes up 8.5kg in weight so it’s going to be a test. Tullaghan is on a quicker back up now and if they go quick in front, he will come off that speed and give them a fright. It’s probably the same situation for Flying Gem from a poor draw.

Bet: Swagger to win