Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Saturday, May 3, 2025

The ultra-consistent Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich-trained Tapa Kick can return from a let-up on a winning note when heads to Newcastle. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Tapa Kick can return from a let-up on a winning note at Newcastle. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Newcastle on Saturday.

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!

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 6 No. 3: TAPA KICK

Very consistent gelding who has only missed a place once. Can return with a win.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 1: APOLLO RIDGE

Good in first campaign. Narrowly beaten first-up and can go one better.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 6: MAID OF MOOLAH

Was doing her best work late in both run and extra trip suits.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 4: 4, 8

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 3, 7

Race 6: 3, 12, 13

Race 7: 4, 5, 7, 9

Race 8: 1, 2, 3, 6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jean Van Overmeire has a good book of rides and will be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

Jean Van Overmeire looks a good chance in the Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL – NEWCASTLE

RACE 1: SUPAGAS MDN PLATE 1890m

TEMPRANILLO (12) battled away when fifth to Meridiana on debut over 1400m on the Kensington before a second to Sisu Spirit here over 1500m. On pedigree, she will relish the step up in trip. DWAYNE (3) placed at his first two starts at Kembla and Gosford over 1500m and 1600m before a two length fifth to Sacro Catino in a Warwick Farm Super Maiden as an odds-on fav. Back to provincial grade and blinkers come off. GOLDEN SMILE (10) is knocking on the door. Has placed on heavy ground.

Bet: Tempranillo to win

RACE 2: BOTTLEMART MDN PLATE 1250m

APOLLO RIDGE (1) ran well in his first campaign including back-to-back third placings at Hawkesbury. Kicked off this preparation with a neck second to Tiberius when resuming over 1000m at Wyong. CHIBA (3) was runner-up to Tuned over 1200m here at his second start before a sixth to Snitzanova on the Kensington. Resumed in that same Wyong race when fourth to Tiberius. RUSTEMO (10) debuted with a length fourth to Gobi Desert in the Max Less here last November. Held in the straight when fourth to Matima at Hawkesbury when resuming.

Bet: Apollo Ridge to win

RACE 3: AUSURE HOSPITALITY MDN PLATE 1250m

MAID OF MOOLAH (6) debuted with a handy neck second to Nymphadora in an 1100m Hawkesbury Super Maiden on April 5. Tracked the leader and bumped by eventual winner Silver Wedding when fourth at Canterbury second-up. BLUE WILLOW (2) when back to last from the outside gate and was doing her best work late when third to Rose Of Dubai here on debut. SKETCH (12) settled last of nine on the fence and made steady ground in the straight when a two length seventh to Perle De Chocolat at Warwick Farm on debut.

Bet: Maid Of Moolah each-way

RACE 4: IMPACT BUILDING MIDWAY (BM64) 1890m

NOVEMBER FALLS (4) made a wide run from the 600m and was claimed in the final 100m by Magicon who had the cart-up at Kembla last start. Gets an ideal run from gate 1 and can go one better. ROCKBARTON ANGEL (8) scored back-to-back barnstorming wins at Quirindi on a good track and Newcastle on the heavy before a sixth to Otium at Scone. Back on his home track will be strong late. PERFECT JUSTICE (5) has a win and three placings from his last five starts and won’t be far away again.

Bet: November Falls to win

RACE 5: THE TOOHEYS NEW PLATE SUPER MDN HCP 1500m

THE BEAST (1) was good in his first campaign with four placings including a second at Hawkesbury over 1600m and a third at Canterbury over 1900m. Handy third in his recent trial at Warwick Farm trial. STAR PREDICTION (3) was a handy second on debut at Port Macquarie and raced keenly when last to Reducio at Wyong. Boxed on for third to Mia Ballerina at Canterbury last start. BACKWARD GLANCE (7) jumped from 1000m to 1400m on the heavy when third to Caltsar here last start.

Bet: The Beast to win

RACE 6: BIDFOOD NEWCASTLE (BM64) 1500m

TAPA KICK (3) missed a place for the first time in his career when fourth behind Hurstville Zagreb at Canterbury on Feb 28 after blundering at the start and was given a let-up. Was an 1800m Highway winner before that. Is a winner at this trip. SCHOLL DEEP (13) has placed third at two of her last three starts and didn’t have a lot of luck when seventh here two starts back. Is a winner on the heavy here. MISS SPACEGIRL (12) was just nosed out two starts ago. A win isn’t far away.

Bet: Tapa Kick to win

RACE 7: PITCHER PARTNERS NEWCASTLE & HUNTER PROVINCIAL (BM68) 1250m

LOS PADRES (4) went back from a wide gate and came with a strong run down the outside score in a tight finish when resuming over 1200m at Kembla. Drawn to settle closer and is a second-up winner. SHEHASATTITUDE (5) had difficulty getting a clear run in the straight when second last behind the progressive Candlewick at Warwick Farm first-up from a long spell. Beat Know Thyself at Canterbury to end last preparation and is two from two at the track. FIRST PERSON (9) drop sin grade from here fifth to Lonhro’s Queen.

Bet: Los Padres each-way

RACE 8: MCCAIN SURECRISP HCP (C1) 1300m

REDUCIO (6) led all-the-way for a handy Super Maiden win from Satin Sparkle over 1200m at Wyong. Settled midfield when third to Bonjour Madame in the Bm64 at the same track. Drops back to a Class 1 here. GORBACHEV (3) also scored a first-up Super Maiden win when a nose winner from Alpine Ski at Gosford. Beaten a length when sixth to Puerto Banus at Wyong. TASORAAY (2) was good in his first preparation with placings at Doomben and on the Kensington before breaking through with a length win on the Beaumont. Wide gate the query.

Bet: Reducio each-way