Race day focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Coffs Harbour

Aiden St Vincent has high hopes for a lightly-raced gelding who is poised to open his account on his home track.

Respected trainer Aiden St Vincent knows what it takes to win a Highway in Sydney and he firmly believes Golden Dubai has talent to do so.

The son of Pride Of Dubai has is still a work in progress but is improving with each start and can take the first step towards tat goal with a maiden win on his home track this weekend.

“He is a horse we have got a bit of time for. He just has to learn his craft,” said St Vincent.

“He got Highway material written all over him based on what we have taken down there before and where he is doing at home.

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!

Cool Storm dominates the opener at Coffs Harbour! pic.twitter.com/zObLmZTSPV

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 29, 2023

“Hopefully in the near future, that’s where we will end up.”

Golden Dubai went into his debut run at Coffs Harbour on November 30 off just one trial win and after showing plenty of early speed to lead, finished third behind The Extreme Cat over 1005m.

St Vincent then gave him a trip away from home to the Sunshine Coast where he led before fading to finish eighth to Dirty Dancing over 1000m.

Last start, St Vincent decided to drop him back to an 810m maiden and ride him differently and the gelding was good late when fourth behind the talented Cool Storm.

“We went to the races with him pretty early in the preparation and he raced very new and robust,” he said.

“When we went to the Sunshine Coast with him, he put the accelerator down very early in the race.

“Because he got going so early in the race, we decided to drop him back to the 810m here last start hoping to get cover and teach him something.

“We thought his last 100m was very good. He hit the line well.

“He steps back up to the 1000m. He should get some cover from barrier 3 and Matt is sticking with him again.

“I think he is going to be very hard to beat.”

Great Southernland (left) can break through for his maiden win. Picture: Bradley Photos

Great Southernland has put up his two best performances of his short career in his two runs back from a spell to finish runner-up at his home track can go one better this weekend in the Maiden Handicap over 1300m.

The son of Fastnet Rock went back from a wide gate when resuming over 1012m and ran home strongly to finish just over two lengths from The Wolf on December 16.

He then stepped up to 1415m and had to race outside the leader after being caught wide early and only just got caught on the post by Outback Crumpet on December 29.

“He has put two very good runs together this time in and I thought he was very brave last start,” St Vincent said.

“The way the barrier draw favours him this time where he should be able to take a sit and dropping a kilo going back to a handicap, I think it’s his race to lose.”

St Vincent also saddles up Oojah Capow in the same race and expects him to be very competitive as well.

The five-year-old is now fully mature and put in his best effort when third to Scotland here last start on December 29.

“We gave him a let-up after he put in a couple of good performances and his two runs back have been really good. They have been his two best performances,” he said.

“He will benefit from the claim of Braith Nock and the handicap conditions where he drops 5.5kg.

“It might be just what he needs to be very competitive again.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 2: Outback Action

The newcomer to the Stirling Osland stable has scored all three wins over the 1200m and has a solid fresh record. Trialling well.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 5: Golden Dubai

He went back from a wide gate and hit the line well over 810m last start. Back up to 1000m and drawn to settle closer. Will be hard to beat.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No. 1: Kalahari Heart

Handy effort when sixth in the Inverell Cup over 1400m last start. Drops in grade back to 1300m where she has scored three of her four wins.

BEST EXOTIC

Race 2 Nos: 2, 5

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 5, 6

Race 5: 8, 11, 13

Race 6: 2, 3

Race 7: 1, 2, 5, 9

Jockey Matthew McGuren can start the day off with a double at Coffs Harbour. Picture: AAP Image

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Top jockey Matthew McGuren can strike with an early double with Golden Dubai and Great Southernland.

INSIDE MAIL – COFFS HARBOUR

RACE 1

Wolf Dancer was carried wider near the 200m when fifth to Theregos on debut here on Sept 4. Was held up for a run with the rail out until into the home straight then copped a bad check about 100m from the post when third to Bjorn Ironside here on Sept 18 before spell. Look for a good effort on his return. Boambee Beach was very good on debut coming from well back when runner-up to Tayla’s One at Taree. Was a little unlucky two starts later when held up on straightening when sixth to Invincible Alf here. Another who can run well fresh. Stablemate Extra Manners was good leading all-the-way to win his trial here on Dec 29.

Bet: Wolf Dancer to win

RACE 2

Golden Dubai led at his first start when third to The Extreme Cat on debut here before driving forward keenly to sit outside the leader when eighth at the Sunshine Coast. He battled away both times. Taken back from a wide gate over 810m here last start and hit the line well when fourth to Cool Storm. Gets a better run from gate 3 and can break through. La Cache A Vin finished runner-up in consecutive runs at Taree and Coffs Harbour before boxing away for fourth to Clipper Ship here on Aug 4. Expect a bold run first-up. Give It A Nudge ran a handy race when fifth at Kembla three starts back. Will find this easier.

Bet: Golden Dubai to win

RACE 3

Great Southernland came from well back for a good second to The Wolf when resuming over 1012m on December 16. Stepped up to 1415m and was caught wide before sitting outside the leader when beaten on the line by Outback Crumpet on Dec 29. Should get a sit just behind the speed and can go one better this time. Daimyo led when runner-up to Inlanda at Ballina before just failing to catch Boulanger at Murwillumbah over 1200m on Dec 27. Oojah Capow came from a long way back for a length and a half third to Scotland over 1215m here last start and will appreciate stepping up to 1300m.

Bet: Great Southernland to win

Kalahari Heart will appreciate a drop in grade from the Inverell Cup. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Kalahari Heart drops back in grade from her two length sixth to Cassia Lane in the Inverell Cup on New Year’s Day. Was a close second in this grade behind My Diamond Boy at Gunnedah before that. Drawn will and looks a good each-way chance. La Quinta Donna is knocking on the door after placings at her three runs since joining the Brett Bellamy stable. Went back to last from the outside gate before running home strongly for a length third to Lady Soames here on Dec 29. Can settle close from the inside draw. She’s Rewarding will take improvement from her first-up second to Pixie Hallow over 1012m here on Dec 29. Is a second-up winner and will appreciate the extra distance.

Bet: Kalahari Heart each-way

RACE 5

Showman followed a handy fourth to Dresden in a Class 2 at Grafton with win from Summer Star at Lismore where he survived a protest back on July 21. Has had two trials to ready him for his return including a narrow win coming from last in Ballina heat on Dec 26 when hard held to the line. Time And Rhythm sat off the speed and hit the line strongly when a narrow second to Theregos her on Dec 16 before sitting outside the leader when sixth to Lady Soames on Dec 29. Drawn to get a nice sit. Scotland always races well on his home track and was rewarded with his first win here last start. Won’t be far away again.

Bet: Showman to win

RACE 6

Former Victorian gelding Outback Action makes his debut for Stirling Osland. Has won three races, all over the 1200m including a three length victory at Mornington last April. Wasn’t far away at his next two runs at Murray Bridge and Eagle Farm before a length third to Hasten Delight at Eagle Farm on July 29. He is a first-up winner previously and has trialled strongly ahead of his return here. Boncassie had to be eased at the 200m and was checked at the 100m when sixth to Sir Ravanelli at Grafton last start in November. She should have finished a bit closer. Had a tough run when sixth at Taree before that. Goes well fresh and drawn nicely. October Revolution will appreciate a big drop in weight after carrying 62.5kg to win at Taree on Jan 2.

Bet: Outback Action to win

RACE 7

Ponte Vecchio pressured King Valley early to take the lead and string the field out before finish a length and quarter fifth to the fast finishing Rose Between Thorn here on Dec 16 before leading all-the-way over 1615m 13 days later. Good chance again. Stablemate Ashim won in this grade over this track and distance from Ausbred Cooee on Nov 30 a freshen-up and dropping back to 1315m in a Bm74 when a half-length fourth to Burdekin on Dec 29. Back to a Bm58 and to his right distance. Yukanuma drops in grade from his two runs back from a spell. Runner-up at his only run this trip.

Bet: Ponte Vecchio to win