Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford

An in-form mare is ready to prove she is the Belle of the Turf with her first stakes win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Daily Telegraph Racing Editor Ray Thomas gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.

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 7, No.2: BROOKSPIRE

Brookspire tuned up for the Belle of the Turf Stakes with a brilliant win at Randwick, easily defeating Blesk and Holyfield over the Randwick 1400m course two weeks ago. Her form has been franked with Holyfield winning (Blesk third) at Randwick on Boxing Day. Brookspire is perfectly drawn in barrier two, should get the run of the race and the step up to 1600m will suit.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.3: TWILIGHT AFFAIR

Twilight Affair had looked good winning three trials ahead of her debut when a game second at Kembla Grange on a very heavy track. The improving surface is in her favour here, she will have been improved by the race experience, and has drawn to get control of this race from in front.

VALUE BET

Race 3, No.4: REJOICED

Rejoiced has scored determined wins at both his starts including over the Gosford 1200m. Superbly bred colt with a fierce will-to-win. He is favourite at $5 in a very open race but that represents value given the three-year-old competitive streak.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 6,7,8,12

Race 5: 1,3,4,5

Race 6: 1,2,4,8

Race 7: 1,2

Jockey Tom Sherry will give the TAB Jockey Challenge a shake with a good book of rides. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Star apprentice Tom Sherry has a strong book of six rides including Miss Sheaf (race 1), Shadow Devil (race 2), Tympanist (race 3) and Expat (race 7).

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Godolphin’s James Cummings, fresh off preparing eight winners at four venues on Boxing Day, has four very good chances at the Gosford meeting with Transformation (race 2), Canbya (race 3), Telluride (race 4) and Bacchanalia (race 6).

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Twilight Affair, a four-year-old mare by Widden Stud’s top sire Zoustar, won three barrier trials impressively leading into her debut where she struck a heavy 10 track and was run down late by Air Of Alsace at Kembla Grange. She should take considerable improvement from that race experience and the better surface will suit. The form out of her debut race has been franked with Air Of Alsace subsequently running a good third next start and the minor placegetter at Kembla Grange, Tanzimat, winning his maiden at Newcastle. Ever Bella was game on debut when third to the talented Kanazawa at Warwick Farm and rates as the main danger. Miss Sheaf is a speedy daughter of Choisir who romped home in a recent Warwick Farm trial and should go well on debut. Blue Jager showed promise at her debut preparation and there was a lot to like about her recent barrier trial effort.

Bet: Twilight Affair to win

RACE 2

Vengeful is a first starter from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable who produced a stunning display of sustained speed to win a Rosehill barrier trial by nearly five lengths two weeks ago. Vengeful led by a huge margin after just 200m of his heat and maintained that advantage throughout even though he was hard held by his rider. His winning time of 54.32s for 900m was the second fastest of the session despite the three-year-old being kept under a tight rein. Vengeful’s sheer natural speed can overcome his wide draw. Shadow Devil is also on debut but has looked good winning two recent barrier trials. Hamaki was disappointing second-up but his previous effort to beat all but Kanazawa at Warwick Farm is a good pointer for this race. Sneaky Shark makes his debut for the John O’Shea stable but he showed ability last season including a second placing to top Kiwi colt On The Bubbles in the Karaka Magic Millions.

Bet: Vengeful to win, saver on Hamaki

Ellen Hennessy (pictured) rides Rejoiced for trainer Annabel Neasham. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Rejoiced, by super sire Redoute’s Choice out of Joy Toy, herself a half-sister to champion mare and eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous, has begun his career with tough wins at Gosford and Kembla Grange. His latest win was full of merit as he looked under siege on the turn but he was strong through the line, safely holding his rivals. Drawn wide but with even luck he can maintain his unbeaten record. Belle Espoir is better suited here where she has won at her two attempts over the Gosford 1600m course. Canbya had his chance to beat Rejoiced last start and actually meets that horse 1.5kg worse at the weights. Angelical has won both her starts in good style and Twice On Sunday comes off a fast-finishing Orange win.

Bet: Box trifecta 1,4,8,9

RACE 4

Petulant tagged the leader into the straight and quickly asserted her authority to score convincingly at Wyong. She ran well at her only other start when beaten by the handy Quatenus in fast time at Hawkesbury. The Team Hawkes-trained Petulant should tuck in behind the speedy Rupertaar with the run of the race and can win again. Telluride was doing her best work on the line when just out of the placings first-up at Canterbury and she will improve. Rupertaar is very fast and will take catching around this course and distance. Evening Bride comes off a monstrous comeback win at Goulburn and although better suited on a bigger track, watch for her late.

Bet: Petulant to win

RACE 5

I don’t think there is much between emerging mares Kibosh and Never Second. Slight leaning to Kibosh who was narrowly beaten by Forzanini when resuming at Canterbury. The John Thompson-trained Kibosh has a very good record (three wins and five seconds from nine starts) and is drawn to get the right run. Never Second was impressive at Kembla Grange is will be very competitive. Resilient Star hasn’t been far away in two runs back and is not out of this race. Osamu ran well for fourth at Warwick Farm when resuming and with the claim gets in well at the weights.

Bet: Quinella 3,5

King Of Sparta can resume with a win in the Listed Gosford Guineas. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

King Of Sparta is a talented three-year-old with a very good burst of acceleration. He’s resuming after a very good spring campaign where he was competitive at stakes level. He won a recent Rosehill trial well and looks ready to run well. Gosford is probably not his track with the likelihood of a genuine race tempo and improving track surface, he will be finishing hard. Bend The Knee won at stakes level at Flemington during the Cup Carnival is another talented young sprinter. Authentic Jewel might have to do a bit of work to cross from a wide barrier but if she gets any sort of control up front, she will take running down. Broken Hill was impressive scoring at Canterbury and Bacchanalia is in top form.

Bet: King Of Sparta to win, saver on Authentic Jewel each way

RACE 7

Brookspire returned to winning form with a dominant display at Randwick earlier this month, scoring with ease in what has proven a strong form race. She has drawn perfectly in barrier two and should be able to settle on speed with the run of the race. Expat was disappointing at Eagle Farm but is worth another chance. Her previous form was excellent and she can control this race from in front. Gin Martini is a promising filly and although still a maiden, she has the talent to run a very competitive race. The in-foal Majella has never been in better form and comes off a convincing win at Warwick Farm a week ago.

Bet: Brookspire to win