Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for the Coffs Harbour program

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass is keen on an in-form mare who is coming off a handy TAB Highway run. INSIDE MAIL, BEST BETS

Thoroughbred racing heads to Coffs Harbour in NSW on Wednesday.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over the eight-race card at Coffs Harbour on Wednesday.

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!

BEST BET

Race 4, No. 10: NANAKOROBI YAOKI

Racing in terrific form, career best probably, and there was plenty of hidden merit in the TAB Highway run just recently.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No. 5: BALLYBRACK

Should be going for four straight wins today suffice to say it was a massive run when he finished second in between the two wins. Sets up nicely again.

VALUE BET

Race 8, No. 9: LUCKY FOR SOME

Has been racing well without a lot of recognition or reward of late. Bucko on here in the right race on a fit horse.

QUADDIE

Race 6: 1,4

Race 7: 1,2

Race 8: 1,9,10

Race 9: 2,3,7

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Leading trainer Kris Lees has a number of chances on the program including Justitia, Misterzee and Ciao Uno.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons has rides in all nine races (bar scratchings) which kind of sums up what trainers and owners think of him. Been a big year for Gibbo Junior.

Trainer Kris Lees has several leading chances at Coffs Harbour on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL FOR COFFS HARBOUR

RACE 1

Parksville won a trial here by seven and a half lengths 13-days before he went to Eagle Farm for his debut. Raced handy from the wide draw clocking in a distant third. Back home for this and better for the experience. Two Better ran 45.98s with a 32.21s last 600m when he won an 800m trial here last month. If he runs that fast today then he will be leading for a long way and hard to catch. All Too Holy and Kentucky Grey both trialled quite nicely.

BET: PARKSVILLE TO WIN

RACE 2

Ballybrack should be going for four straight wins today. The locally trained chestnut was way too far back in the run when he ran second in between those two wins at Armidale. Makuba seems to handle good through to heavy even though he has not yet on a heavy; he has placed two from four when it is wet. Form reads well for this. Zapluck was runner-up to Makuba when they met at Kempsey. Slice of Heaven has won two from three on slow.

BET: BALLYBRACK TO WIN

RACE 3

Greenskeeper has drawn out a touch but he likes to be on the speed and he doesn’t surrender easily. Saintly Sunrise ran a huge race here first-up then was never really in the hunt in the TAB Highway by virtue of his wide alley that day. Key is the mile - he loves it. Valley’s Sister tried her heart out when a distant second to the very much in-form Onemore Sapphire at Tuncurry last start. Lucitor will relish the 1615m - and more.

BET: GREENSKEEPER TO WIN, BOX TRIFECTA 2,4,9,5

RACE 4

Nanakorobi Yaoki is in peak form at present with a win and two seconds leading into her Highway run at Randwick 11 days ago which contained considerable merit. Baileys went out well and has come back well judging on his first-up second at Tuncurry. Fitter for this assignment at home. Rest Of The World is a bit hold and cold but his ‘hot’ is good enough to win. The Kris Lees-trained Misterzee is so consistent that he cannot be left out.

BET: NANAKOROBI YAOKI TO WIN

Trainer Fleur Blanch (pictured) prepares Nanakorobi Yaoki who looks hard to beat.

RACE 5

Justitia was okay at the first preparation but she really sent out some encouraging signs first-up when four and a half lengths off her stablemate (In Her Time’s half-sister) Glowing Red, at Newcastle. Suited here big time. Gilded Crown is an ex-Victorian who was very good at his NSW debut when runner-up to the handy Rubick’s Command at Gunnedah two weeks ago. Telfer is the big watch here. He was good at Tuncurry and wants the 1415m.

BET: JUSTITIA TO WIN, TELFER TO PLACE

RACE 6

The Neon Knight was fourth to Britain at Newcastle and has gone on to split the following horses; Married To The Mob/Jaja Chaboogie, Trojan Angel/Cecilia, Charmmebaby/ Rubick’s Command. The win at Tuncurry was full of authority. Ciao Uno has started circa $1.50 twice in her three runs this preparation winning one and finishing second at the other. Has a good pattern and thus the perfect draw. Chillie Cod beat Four Egos at Grafton last preparation.

BET: THE NEON KNIGHT TO WIN, EXACTA 4 TO BEAT 1

RACE 7

Standing Bear was only beaten two-lengths in a TAB Highway at Randwick following on from those consecutive seconds at Taree and here at Coffs Harbour. Has a lovely draw here for Ben Looker. Local mare Qadira Star is a very, very fast horse and from what we saw at Taree at her second start, she is a real muddie. Fu Hao is another one drawn favourably. She is also a pretty emphatic last start winner of her maiden here - this is a decent Class 1 though.

BET: STANDING BEAR TO WIN, QUINELLA 1,2

RACE 8

Lucky For Some deserves some reward for his recent efforts, some of which are better than they look on paper. He has been getting back because of wide gates and such but really hitting the line with purpose. Wazana absolutely bolted in when she broke her maiden at Moree last start on the heavy 10. On her way now perhaps. Phylave won three on end then was quite disappointing at Newcastle last Saturday. Can bounce back here.

BET: LUCKY FOR SOME TO WIN

RACE 9

Stonecold Flex led and was run down late first-up here by the moderately handy Power Bells with the similarly moderately handy Saintly Sunrise in third. Tas Morton must have been suitably pleased with the horse’s run in the TAB Highway at Randwick on December 19. Beautifully placed here for the win. Shows Pride is by Show A Heart which is the perfect description of his win here last start. Rubick’s Command has had the four starts for a win and two placings so is pretty reliable.

BET: STONECOLD FLEX TO WIN, EXACTA/QUINELLA 3/7