Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wyong

After two strong finishing efforts from a spell, Jesse James is ready to come out blazing and break through for his maiden win.

Onemore Sapphire is looking to make it two wins in-a-row at Wyong on Wednesday. Picture: Bruce Thomas/News Regional Media

The Daily Telegraph’s Racing Editor Ray Thomas has studied the form and is keen on a lightly raced gelding to claim his maiden victory.

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!

WYONG

BEST BET

Race 2, No 1: JESSE JAMES

Jesse James has shaped promisingly in his two starts for the Annabel Neasham stable, closing off strongly to finish second at Gosford and Canterbury. He will appreciate getting out to 1350m and just needs to avoid bad luck in running to break his maiden.

NEXT BEST

Race 4, No 10: TESTING TIMES

Testing Times careered away to win at Goulburn first-up then had no luck after enduring a wide run at Gosford. She should get the right run from an ideal draw here. Hard to beat.

VALUE

Race 6, No 9: ONEMORE SAPPHIRE

Onemore Sapphire scored an impressive win at Tuncurry last start and although this is tougher, he drops 4kg, has the rails barrier and should get the run of the race. He can win again.

QUADDIE

Race 3: 3,4,5

Race 4: 4,5,6,10

Race 5: 1,11,13,14

Race 6: 1,2,4,9

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Peter and Paul Snowden have three winning chances at the Wyong meeting including Barbaric (race 3) and Astrologer (race 5) in the feature races. Sedona (race 4) also looks hard to beat.

Tim Clark has a number of good rides at Wyong on Wednesday including Testing Times. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tim Clark, who rides Wyong particularly well, has four good rides including Yao Dash (race 3), Testing Times (race 4) and Swift Witness (race 5).

INSIDE MAIL WITH RAY THOMAS: WYONG

RACE 1

An even contest to start the meeting. I’m leaning to topweight Amoretti. His three runs this campaign have been good efforts and he should have finished closer when fourth behind Mollycoddle over 1350m here last start. Amoretti was in an awkward spot coming into the straight and was held up for a couple of strides before working home well to just miss a place. He is stepping up to 1600m for the first time but gives the impression this is his right distance range. Suited by the claim and will be hard to beat, Clear Blonde, a flashy chestnut, was also a touch unlucky when third at Newcastle. Expect her to be running on strongly. Castlecomer is fitter for two runs back and Dance Too Hard is the value runner.

Bet: Amoretti to win, watch betting moves for Castlecomer

RACE 2

This looks a race in two between Jesse James and Jana, as the market suggests. Jesse James has settled back in the field and charged home to finish successive seconds at Gosford and Canterbury since resuming. The step up to 1350m is in his favour and if he is within striking distance of the leaders on the turn, he should overwhelm his rivals late. Jana is an improving mare and ran the best race of her career so far when closing fast for second over this course and distance last start, losing narrowly. She might be looking for further now but her last start effort was encouraging. Of the others, Chateau Park ran on well for third at Canberra and is improving with racing. Benoni is a minor place chance.

Bet: Jesse James to win

RACE 3 Magic Millions Wyong 3YO and 4YO Stakes

There’s plenty of early speed with the likes of Spaceboy and Yao Dash so Barbaric, well drawn in gate three, is likely to tuck in behind the leaders with the run of the race. Barbaric showed plenty of talent last season winning on the Kensington track and then finishing hard to score in the Black Opal at Canberra. Resuming here but impressive winning a Randwick barrier trial last week with authority. Spaceboy found the track too firm for him in the Razor Sharp last Saturday and is on the quick back-up. The tight Wyong track suits his on-pace racing style and if the track is rain-affected, that’s a further boost to his chances. Yao Dash is rock-hard fit after two recent runs but he will enjoy racing in the right-handed direction again. Eleven Eleven should appreciate the solid up-front tempo and watch for him swooping late.

Bet: Barbaric to win, Box trifecta 2,3,4,5

Black Opal winner Barbaric (white cap) can resume with a win at Wyong on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 4

Testing Times finds herself in a very winnable race. She was impressive thrashing moderate opposition when resuming at Goulburn then was trapped three-wide without cover yet wasn’t beaten far when seventh at Gosford in similar grade last start. She is perfectly drawn here in barrier four, will get the run of the race and is definitely worth another chance. Sedona was last into the straight but weaved through the field to finish a close fourth at the Warwick Farm midweeks when resuming. Fitter now but tends to get back in his races so will need luck getting clear galloping room from his inside gate. On Her Word is an interesting runner. She’s a city winner who hasn’t been out of a place in five start but is resuming after a 14-month break. Her recent barrier trial win at Gosford was very impressive and she looks poised for a competitive comeback effort. Skyray is racing consistently and has to be included among the main chances.

Bet: Testing Times to win, saver On Her Word

RACE 5 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic

Team Snowden can claim the feature race Wyong double with Barbaric (race 3) and Astrologer. Promising colt Astrologer made his debut in the Breeders Plate and ran a very good race, coming from near last on the turn to finish third to Shaquero on Epsom Day. He hasn’t raced since but was tuned up for today’s race with a barrier trial win at Rosehill where he raced on speed. Drawn wide here but provided he gets cover early, he is capable of powering home off what is expected to be a solid up-front tempo. Swift Witness does look hard to beat. She has shown good tactical speed in her barrier trials, racing on pace and then finishing off strongly to win both heats. Snowdrop is way over the odds. She showed brilliant speed to lead at Newcastle and didn’t shirk her task when second to Sliders in the Max Lees Classic a month ago. Drawn to advantage, she is the likely leader and will run a race although the final 100m or so will test her stamina reserves. She’s All Class was very good on debut in the Victory Vein Plate during spring, leading for home and showing plenty of fight when third to Captivant. She’s been freshened and had a soft trial at Rosehill to prepare for this race. Drawn well and should be in the contest for a long way.

Bet: Astrologer to win, Box trifecta 1, 11,13,14

RACE 6

Onemore Sapphire was impressive second-up at Tuncurry, racing clear to score easily. He’s third-up here, racing over his preferred 1600m trip, and drawn to get the run of the race on his home track. Segrill has won both her starts over this course and distance including her second-up effort here late last month. She should be right at her peak for this race and excels at a mile. Aristograts is racing consistently and well placed here after the claim. Foxborough is fitter for two runs back and her chances soar if the track is rain-affected.

Bet: Onemore Sapphire each way, watch betting moves for Foxborough

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