Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Ballina

Trainer John O’Shea takes the covers come off a young colt who has been trialling well and is ready for a debut win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer John O'Shea has a promising colt in Mackinaw who makes his debut at Gosford on Friday. Photo: Simon Bullard/AAP Image

The Daily Telegraph’s Shayne O’Cass has been taken by the recent barrier trial efforts of a John O’Shea-trained colt who can kick start his career with a debut win.

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 4, No. 3: MACKINAW

I Am Invincible colt from the John O’Shea stable who has shown enough in his trials to suggest he is above provincial standards.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No. 5: ZOUMIST

Returns to the track and distance of her hugely impressive first-up win. Back from city company too.

VALUE BET

Race 1, No. 9: KAHAYLAAN

Resumes from a spell for new trainers Peter and Paul Snowden as a gelding. Showed good ability in his first campaign and can run a bold race.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3,11

Race 5: 8,9

Race 6: 8,10,11

Race 7: 5,7

Tommy Berry has a grand book of rides at Gosford. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tommy Berry will be popular with TAB Jockeys Challenge punters given his grand book of rides.

BALLINA

BEST BET

Race 7, No. 4: PENSHURST

Outstanding win at Murwillumbah last start; strong through the line and this is his mission.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No. 4: HOGAN’S DARE

Gets back in his races but is always the one finish fastest. Getting close now.

VALUE BET

Race 3, No. 7: FULL PRESS

Tipped out after and encouraging first preparation. In good hands but the market will tell the story.

Trainer Matthew Dunn will be all smiles if Penshurst can capture the Ballina Cup on Friday. Photo: Richard Gosling

INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Kahaylaan has been gelded and transferred to Snowden Racing who won the Blue Diamond and Sires’ Produce with the sire of this striking and talented son of Pride Of Dubai in these same colours. The horse ran four times for Tony McEvoy and was very good in three of them. Market watch strongly advised. That’s Better is up and running and couldn’t not be better placed at 900m from barrier 2 on this style of track. Mr Polar is somewhat underrated. Invincible Kiss was beaten a nose by Triple Ace two runs back.

BET: KAHAYLAAN EACH-WAY, QUINELLA 3,9

RACE 2

Duchess Marizza has won one once in six starts (with three placings) but it is worth noting that the win was here at Gosford. The Maher/Eustace mare is third-up today off two creditable thirds in quite solid Benchmark 64 races. Wants the mile now. Olympic Gaze was always going to sprint well fresh but few could have forecast him to so emphatic when he came from last to win going away in that 1350m at Newcastle. Step up in trip can only assist. Sonic Tycoon is a raw and progressive horse who bounded away to win over 1500m on debut.

BET: DUCHESS MARIZZA TO WIN

RACE 3

Oakfield Arrow will probably be saved for Muswellbrook on Tuesday. Assuming that she is not here, it could open the way for Roman Candle from the Paul Perry stable to break his maiden after 15 unsuccessful attempts. He has never looked better than in his trials. Jervis is a well-bred debutante by Vancouver out of Gosford Guineas winner, Ygritte, and whose third dam is none other than Tycoon Lil. Has been terrific in those last two trials at Wyong. Pragmatism has placed at three of her four starts. Beaten a long way in town last start but it was a good field.

BET: OAKFIELD ARROW TO WIN OR IS SCRATCHED, ROMAN CANDLE EACH-WAY

Regan Bayliss will partner Mackinaw for John O’Shea at Gosford. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images

RACE 4

Mackinaw is an I Am Invincible colt from the Gray Mirage family which will mean something to breeding buffs. As for the racing buffs, all we/they need to know if that the John O’Shea trained colt has shown enough in his trials to indicate that he is better than provincial grade. In Flanders gets her big chance (again) to break the maiden status. She went close from far back in an 1100m race here first-up. Aquis gelding Vital Verse signalled his readiness with a fairly comfortable trial win at Rosehill 11-days ago.

BET: MACKINAW TO WIN

RACE 5

One horse that is just made for this race is the Emirates Park filly Jauhera. Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the daughter of Artie Schiller has finished powerfully at the end of 1300m and 1600m runs at her only two starts respectively. Tip Top Timing has a pattern that will see him run this trip out to the end. Topweight Lava was formally with James Cummings and is now with his brother, Edward. Hasn’t had a lot go right in two runs for the new stable and worth consideration

BET: BOX TRIFECTA 1,8,9

RACE 6

Key Largo could be ready to put his best foot forward today third-up from a good draw with Keagan Latham on board as he was last start when he was second-up here from a terrible draw! There was so much merit in that performance given how far back he got on a heavy 8. Remember also that Key Largo’s only win was here when he easily beat Mr Colorful. Rock The Bells is a market watch owing to the fact that he is first-up here off two trials where he wasn’t at all shown up. The son of Fastnet Rock went within a half-length of being unbeaten last prep so is a talented type. Hinchbeast has form around Peltzer, Stellar Pauline, Aim, Acrophobic, etc.

BET: KEY LARGO TO WIN

Keagan Latham will partner Key Largo for trainer Bryce Heys. Photo: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Zoumist returns to the scene (and distance) of her memorable win first-up on November 10. She has run in town at her next two and was not disgraced, even the 8th of 12 at Randwick last start was pretty good given a few circumstances. Flash Point is lightly-raced and has done some good things in her four starts. Trialled well before her first-up 5th of 11 at Wyong on the Heavy 9. Fitter and probably appreciate some firmer footing, certainly away from a bog anyway. Satin Ruby showed that she was back in good nick and ready for a big 2021 campaign with that flashing light resumption at Newcastle on December 19.

BET: ZOUMIST WIN, BOX TRIFECTA 5,7,9,10