Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook on Tuesday

A locally-trained galloper that’s placed in five of his 12 starts can finally shed his maiden status when he steps out at Muswellbrook on Tuesday.

Read 'Em And Weep (circled) is primed to break through following a last-start third at Muswellbrook.

Locally-trained galloper Read ‘Em And Weep has placed at five of his 12 starts but is ready and able to finally shed his maiden status when he steps out in the opener.

Here are Shayne O’Cass’ best bets for the eight-race program.

MUSWELLBROOK TIPS

BEST BET
Race 1 No.7 READ ‘EM AND WEEP
Placed 5 from 12; been costly but consistent. Finds ‘his’ race to win this time.

NEXT BEST
Race 7 No.4 CONSENZA
Has been outstanding in his two runs for Scott Singleton in very good standard affairs.

VALUE
Race 8 No.8 QUICK ONYX
Makes his Toby Pracey stable debut off a lovely trial at Wellington. Performs fresh.

BEST LONGSHOT
Race 8 No.12 FORBIDDEN PLACE
Only won 2 from 42 but all his best form, literally, is here at Muswellbrook.

QUADDIE
Race 5: 4,7,11
Race 6: 2,4,7
Race 7: 4
Race 8: 1,8,12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Reece Jones could be hard to keep up with in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

MUSWELLBROOK INSIDE MAIL

Race 1: Maiden Plate (1280m)
READ ‘EM AND WEEP (7) is a locally-trained mare who has placed third five times in her 12 starts. Rather than to suggest she has been costly, it is more a case of occasional bad luck and more often, her pattern. Said it before but this does look like it is ‘her race’ now. She does have stiff competition from RED RAGS TO BULLS (8) who belied his $17 to $51 drift when a close and closing third in a 1300m Maiden at Scone on debut. BONNIE DUBAI (11) is in the mix.
Bet: Read ‘Em And Weep to win.

Race 2: 2yo Handicap (1000m)
PARALIA (5) is nominated for Hawkesbury and Taree in coming days but has Aaron Bullock booked for Tuesday. Trained by Kris Lees, Paralia is by Pride Of Dubai out of a Pierro mare – pretty solid breeding that – and the trials were indicative of a horse who could get to a higher level. PRIDE TO FOLLOW (6), another one by Pride Of Dubai, took her trial form to the races, winning a good-looking 900m Maiden at Scone. FIREWORK (4), the grandson of Miss Finland, has trialled well.
Bet: Paralia to win or if scratched, Pride To Follow to win.

Race 3: 3yo+ Maiden Plate (1000m)
LADY ICHIKAWA (6) is a Sam Kavanagh-trained mare who handed in three fine efforts at her first preparation, culminating in her closing second to Genzano no less at Scone. Wasn’t shown up at all in her Wyong trial. Talented type with an in-form rider on. VERCELLI (12) is a future Arrowfield broodmare. Her dam is a sister to Snitzerland. As for Vercelli the racehorse, she was tipped out after her fourth at Tamworth in a quality-laden Maiden on Xmas Eve. Has trialled quite well recently here. RANHITA (9) remains winless after 20 starts but she has placed 6 times, twice second here.
Bet: Lady Ichikawa to win.

Race 4: Class 3 Handicap (1450m)
BANGETTA (1) has a tidy record of 13 starts for three wins, two seconds and a third. Trivia time; her dam Elimbari ran (last) in Crystal Lily’s Golden Slipper having finished runner-up to Sunlight’s mother Solar Charged in the Kindergarten the start before. As for Bangetta, her numbers here at the trip are the best. TARTANA (2) beat Vomo Island at home at Kembla and held her own in town subsequently. FIORSUM FRED (3) is not a guaranteed starter so if he is out, the impeccably-bred SCALEXTRICS (4) – who’s chasing a hat-trick of wins on Tuesday – moves up the starting grid.
Bet: Bangetta to win.

Race 5: Maiden Handicap (1450m)
FULL COMMITMENT (7) is a lightly-raced Harry Angel filly who has a second and two thirds from her five starts. One of those two thirds was at her prior visit to Muswellbrook. This Jeremy Gask-trained three-year-old deserves a good deal of credit for her first-up second at Gunnedah, given the winner Red Duster goes well. Maybe I am wrong but for what it’s worth, I feel the stablemate KELLYMORPHOSE (11) has got something more to offer than her CV would suggest. She is only going to be better with racing. TARRANT COUNTY (4) ran a big race at big odds on debut.
Bet: Full Commitment to win, Kellymorphose each-way, box trifecta 4,5,7,11.

Race 6: Class 1 Handicap (1000m)
HAWKWIND (4) will turn six on August 1 but even so, she has only three starts under her belt before this one. In those three starts, she has won $43,300 by virtue of her two seconds and then that all-the-way win at Wyong on Dec 23. Trialled keenly ahead of her return. Paul Perry’s WILLINGALE (2) has the race fitness edge on a few of her rivals here having placed at Scone at her two runs this preparation. Drawn 1 and has the services of a very good 3kg-claiming apprentice in Shae Wilkes. IN MY DREAMS (7) came from last to place third at Wyong to Cosy Corner last start.
Bet: Hawkwind to win.

Race 7: Benchmark 66 (1280m)
CONSENZA (4) has always shown a measure of talent dating back to when Team Hawkes had her. She had two runs for Tony Gollan and placed at Eagle Farm at one of them. These days she is at Scone with Scott Singleton and has turned in (among) two of the best runs of her 13 starts at her only two for him. Peaks here perhaps. MISS CARTEL (7) is on a hat-trick. Other than talent and precision placement, the reason why she has the record she has is her on-pace pattern. Drawn 1! This is well within the capabilities of FOURTH SPARGO (10).
Bet: Consenza to win, box trifecta 4,7,8,10.

Race 8: Benchmark 58 (1000m)
QUICK ONYX (8) generates a bit of interest here IMHO. She has quite a decent record of 13 starts for a win, one second and two thirds and has mixed and matched it in some rather deep Maidens and Class 1s here and there. The reason why she attracts so much attention is that she makes her debut for a new stable and her trial at Wellington was just so impressive. CUPID’S KISS (1) has a benchmark rating of 64, the next best is 57. FORBIDDEN PALACE (12)’s best form is always and only at Muswellbrook.
Bet: Quick Onyx each-way, Forbidden Palace to place.

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook on Tuesday