Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Moruya, Gunnedah

Trainer Joe Cleary is plotting a path to the Country Championships with a promising mare. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Thursday is at Moruya and Gunnedah.

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

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!

MORUYA

BEST BET

Race 4, No.6: PRINCESS DE ROCA

She’s getting ready for the Country Championships so this isn’t her target but she’s got the class on her side to get the job done over a shorter than ideal trip.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.5: BLAAZAY

He’s a track specialist who has never run worse than third from seven starts here and has four placings from five attempts at 1200m.

QUADDIE

Race4: 6, 7

Race 5: 2, 3, 6

Race 6: 5, 7, 8

Race 7: 1, 6, 12

Trainer Theresa Bateup has a couple of good chances at Moruya.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Theresa Bateup has Factorize and Crackalacka going around and both are good each-way chances.

GUNNEDAH

BEST BET

Race 6, No.1: ONEMOECHOICE

He drops back in grade for this so looks well placed and is third-up now and looking primed to win at a distance he thrives at. He just doesn’t want any rain to hit the track.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Grant Buckley has a few good rides including Lord Bronn and Nicator who has drawn barrier 13 in the last race so his ride is crucial.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MORUYA

RACE 4

It’s a bit short for Princess De Roca but she’s got the talent to salute fresh over 1010m off no barrier trial. She’s won both times first-up and it’s hard to think she won’t be there when in counts. Factorize got the breaks in terms of ground covered first-up but she was still impressive over the final 200m. Her second-up performances however have been the best and these patterns usually stick so she’s a risk. Linden also tends to put in an average second-up run but it’s only had a couple of them so don’t write it off just yet.

Bet: Princess De Roca to win

RACE 5

Airliner looked home on debut but just got pipped late as a $41 chance. There’s no doubt that he will start much shorter here for a top country trainer and an extra furlong only suits him. Densaur will take up the running and look to cross them from a wide gate and hold on. Pink Panther ran sixth first-up but was only a length off the winner and had drawn better now and is no doubt looking for 1425m now so he gets a much better chance with extra fitness. Topple has been going well without winning and looks well place here and she’s very fit.

Bet: Pink Panther to win

Jockey Louise Day partners Pink Panther for trainer Joe Cleary. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 6

Crackalacka is clearly enjoying her new surroundings with two wins from as many starts under Theresa Bateup and she carries 1.5kg less than last start but also faces her toughest test. She still looks well placed however. Rapidity has been pretty consistent of late and two of her four career wins have come at this track and she handles wet ground well so there’s good reasons to back her. Blaazay has only missed a place once in seven starts at his home track and he loves getting his toe into the ground and must be respected here.

Bet: Blaazay to win

RACE 7

Sucrose has been pretty consistent as a lightly-raced six-year-old and will take plenty of benefit off a first-up fourth off no trials and a 50-week spell. She should be much better for the run. Jac The Great loves racing here with two wins from four starts and goes well off a run and will appreciate more ground but doesn’t want the track too wet. Brave Maso looked to dip down in the straight yet still won third-up and it was coming off two seconds to kick off her career. She finally draws a gate for the first time and is on the way up unlike many of her rivals.

Bet: Brave Maso to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GUNNEDAH

RACE 4

First starter Emissive looks to be very forward going into this run where she’s got the services of Aaron Bullock from barrier six. She should sit off the speed and be close enough to win if good enough. Lord Bronn has placed seven times from 10 runs without a win but one has to come soon and he looks well placed here for a leading trainer. Sheriff Woody hasn’t been seen since a barrier trial last July where he beat home Devil’s Inn who has come out and raced well.

Bet: Lord Bronn to win

RACE 5

Jesellix is an interesting runner first-up over 1000m. She tends to get over more ground so this is different placement fresh off no trials. But she’s under the care of a good trainer. Tools Down has drawn wide but will put himself into this with a positive style and he’ll take plenty of benefit out of a fresh run and go close here. Fourth Protocol has only missed a placing once in seven starts at this track and has won here on three occasions so he must be respected.

Bet: Quinella 2, 3

RACE 6

Onemorechoice has to carry 60kg from barrier nine but he’s been going well enough to overcome those issues. He’s raced well in better grade of late and his best effort id better than what most of his rivals can come up with. Eureka will be positive from an awkward draw so luck and Aaron Bullock’s ride are going to be key to his chances but he’s rock hard fit and ready for this. House Wins has been going well of late but in easier races than this while Rumberella gets a chance her after dropping in grade.

Bet: Onemorechoice to win

RACE 7

Nicator has been fairly consistent to date and the tongue control and lugging bit is an important gear change which can help him go one better than the last start second at Tamworth. Haven will get better after a first-up fourth at Orange and the noseband is off and Blake Spriggs is on and he won on the horse last preparation. Danza In The Dark was good enough in a Highway last start to be a chance here but hasn’t overcome a wide gate and should be coming at them late. Military Bay drops back 100m which is a good thing and he’ll give this a shake.

Bet: Nicator to win