Best bets and inside mail for Grafton on Tuesday, February 3, 2025

Gooree-bred mare Got The Smarts can end a run of near misses and post another win at Grafton on Tuesday.

Gooree-bred mare Got The Smarts is from the same family as Gooree’s iron horse Desert War (above) Picture: Gregg Porteous

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Grafton on Tuesday.

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!

GRAFTON TIPS

BEST BET

Race 1 No.6: Got The Smarts

If the timing is right, she can run right over the top.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No.4: Eagle Hawk Star

Placed four from five at the track and distance and almost won a Highway last start.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.10: Magic Shannon

Maiden still after 21 starts but has never been closer to winning.

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg (10), 2nd Leg (4)

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 4, 5, 14

Race 6: 2, 10, 16

Race 7: 2, 5

Race 8: 2, 4, 5

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Apprentice Jett Newman has made a fabulous start to her career.

GRAFTON INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1006m)

Got The Smarts is a Gooree-bred mare filly from one of their (many) great families; this one is a half to Tactical Advantage and related to Desert War. Got The Smarts has a run by far more good races than bad. Her four runs for Samantha McGuren are basically all the same, that is – slow early and fast late. Jungle Law brings very good Queensland form to the table here. First-up off a narrow but impressive trial win at the Gold Coast.

Bet: Got The Smarts to win

RACE 2: MAIDEN PLATE (1006m)

Humphree Bear was beaten as the $1.75 fav here on Jan 27 but he chased a decent horse that day and was pretty strong through the line actually. The Donna Grisedale-trained, Jon Grisedale ride (same then, same now) has drawn in the middle of the pack and has plenty of pace and speed to get into a favourable position. Corvalist and Barron likewise have both drawn especially well and are mega-consistent.

Bet: Humphree Bear to win

RACE 3: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (2220m)

Rothsay’s Ruby has some solid figures overall. She has won four times, five seconds and a third. On top of that, she has a win and four seconds here at Grafton and importantly, that win was over this trip and as recently as last start. Mimessi was third in that same race on Jan 27 but it is important to remember, she was 10th of 13 at the turn and was only beaten two-and-a-bit lengths. Suit Day and Nature Boy can figure; they often do in these types of races.

Bet: Rothesay’s Ruby to win

RACE 4: BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP- HEAT OF THE RISING STAR (1006m)

Guru Class is another of the Matthew Dunn-trained string heading to Grafton. No surprise that Guru Class is one of them given that daughter of Spill The Beans’ only two career wins have been at this venue. More than that, it is vital to factor in that one of those two wins came first-up which she is here – and off two preparatory trials. Is there a more consistent horse racing here than the Lupercall? He’s “133222” leading into this. Vocation is in a good local yard and won at the track/distance.

Bet: Guru Class to win, quinella 1,4

RACE 5: MAIDEN PLATE (1560m)

Whiskey Miss was bought at Karaka by Ethan Ensby for $50,000. She is a Pierro out of Adrian Knox winner Full Of Spirit and from the same family as ATC Oaks winner and NZ Derby winner, St Reims. She is also in-bred to Zabeel, all of which is a longwinded way of saying, there is so much more to come from this filly. So You Think gelding held his own on debut in a way above the usual 1600m Tamworth Maiden. Foo Fighter is both fit and in-form.

Bet: Whiskey Miss to win, exacta 14 to beat 5

RACE 6: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1410m)

Magic Shannon remains winless after her 21 starts but she has placed nine times, although, seven of them are thirds. It is not so much that she is a “non-winner” or “non-trier”, a lot of times, she has got back and flown home and been the “run of the race”. She really deserves a win. Puligny could very well be saved for a 3YO maiden at Warwick in Queensland on Tuesday given there is a QTIS bonus available to her if she wins.

Bet: Magic Shannon each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (10), 2nd Leg (4)

RACE 7: BENCHMARK 74 HANDICAP (1410m)

Swift Charm was finally able to add a Highway win to his resume at attempt number eight last start. To be fair to the Kiwi-bred gelding, he made the long home from Sydney to Coffs Harbour a fair few times with a hard luck story. You could argue that he has never raced better. Starzam has raced twice for Fleur Blanch. He was fourth to Moskeeta and Swift Charm in the first and then finished hard and fast in the Pink Silks.

Bet: Swift Charm to win, Starzam each-way, quinella 2,5, box trifecta 2,5,8,11

RACE 8: CLASS 4 HANDICAP (1206m)

Eagle Hawk Star has won two from 24 but has five seconds and four thirds. He has raced at this same track and distance five times for two seconds and two thirds. The 6YO handed in a career PB last start when a close second to Wilbury in the Highway at Wyong on The Lakes Day. Zanardee’s Lane is a genuine talent. You only have to look at the replays of his wins to see what a capable horse he is. His numbers at the track and the distance and first-up as well are all supremely compelling.

Bet: Eagle Hawk Star to win, quinella 4,5, exacta 4 to beat 5