Newcastle, Dubbo best bets, inside mail for Friday, March 7, 2025

Hall Of Fame trainer Les Bridge saddles-up Zizette, the granddaughter of his famously fast finisher Miss Zoe, and she can continue her fine form at Newcastle. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Zizette can continue her good form with another win at Newcastle. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and analysis Newcastle and best bets for Dubbo on Friday.

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 3 No. 5: Zizette

Holding her good form now and lobs in the perfect race again.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 2: Matias

Blueblood who put the writing on the wall with a sterling debut.

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 11: Heavenly Miss

Ron Quinton-trained, Neville Begg-owned filly whose runs are better than they look.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 9, 10, 11

Race 6: 2, 9, 10

Race 7: 1, 2, 13

Race 8: 1, 5

Jason Collett looks set for a big day at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jason Collett will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

DUBBO

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 2: Silver Chair

Runner-up to a handy horse on debut here on Feb 16.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 9: Syrian Star

Saturday city class horse on his best day. Big finisher.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 12: Smart Buy

Beaten by a wide gate at her debut run at Quirindi.

INSIDE MAIL - NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Audenzia is a lightly-raced mare who has finished runner-up twice in her four starts. The second of those seconds was first-up at home at Kembla on Feb 25 where she was passed late in the 1500m Midway Maiden. Drawn 4; Jay Ford again, fitter. Share The Joy remains winless after 18 starts but she has placed six times and four of them are seconds. You’d be hard pressed to find a bad run on her behalf. She’ll get there one day.

Bet: Audenzia to win, quinella 4, 6

RACE 2

Dubai Darling shapes as a real bargain buy; Matthew Smith paid $7,500 for the daughter of Pride Of Dubai at the Inglis Classic in 2023. She’s trialled four times, two in August, one each in January and February and all of them have been impressive to varying degrees. Ah, but no more impressive than From The Peak in the Yulong silks. She’s won both of hers last month with a little bit in hand it seemed. She Swings has the (good) race experience.

Bet: Dubai Darling each-way, quinella 3, 5

Zizette (red, green sleeves) can turn the tables on Nyota (left) when they meet again at Newcastle. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 3

Zizette is a modern-day member of a family that has been winning races, lots of them, and good ones too for years for Les Bridge. Long story short, Zizette is a granddaughter of Mr Bridge’s famous barnstormer, Miss Zoe. Zizette is fit, in form and stays. As likeable as she is, Zizette has to find a length and a half to catch and pass Nyota who held her off in that 2100m Benchmark 64 at Wyong. Different racetrack this time.

Bet: Zizette to win, exacta 5 to beat 3

RACE 4

Matias was a $450,000 Magic Millions Yearling. He’s a son of Snitzel so who else would give one of those too than Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. Just on that, Matias will be worth a lot more than they paid for him if he wins a good race given his third dam is Savana City. As for Matias, he put the writing on the wall that a win was imminent courtesy of a great debut. Napoleonic ran rather well in a very, very strong midweeker on debut. Nice horse.

Bet: Matias to win, exacta 2 to beat 5, box trifecta 2, 3, 5, 9

A busy finish in the Canterbury opener with State Visit getting there! 📸@cmaherracing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/PFlfQBV6D9

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 21, 2025

RACE 5

Heavenly Kiss is trained by Ron Quinton and owned by another Hall Of Famer, Neville Begg. Granted Heavenly Kiss is no Emancipation but what is not in doubt, is that she is way better than her current resume reads. She is third-up and back from two midweekers to provincial grade and ready to win. Even though it is provincial grade, it is still a rather strong one. Local Golden Smile is a midweeker (easily), so too Shanoni. Patissier has scope.

Bet: Heavenly Kiss each-way, First 4: Nos. 7, 9, 10, 11

RACE 6

Inferencia is a daughter of Inference who just happened to win the Randwick Guineas this time eight years ago. Inferencia is bred/owned and trained here at Newcastle by Rebecca Dunn who has placed her with military precision hence why she has won four and placed seven times in her 25 starts. A repeat of either of his last two Midways runs would win this. Etched In Time’s already bright winning prospects went up considerably when he drew box 3.

Bet: Inferencia each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg (9), 2nd Leg (1)

Just magic! 🪄

Magic Time wins the G1 All Aged Stakes!@aus_turf_club@Grahame_Beggpic.twitter.com/iN79h3bCih

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 20, 2024

RACE 7

Amenable has run some huge races in strong company including a neck second in the All Aged to Magic Time, a nose second in the Luskin Star, fourth in a Toorak, fifth in the Stradbroke, etc. Not so good in the Spring but looking sharp again in those two trials. Makarena was very costly indeed first-up but it could be that she is better second-up than first-up? Looks that way at the moment. Whatever the case, she’s a massive player.

Bet: Amenable to win, quinella 1, 2, box trifecta 1, 2, 12, 13

RACE 8

Our Empress Zoe is a Mick Price and Michael Kent-trained mare in those famous Dorrington Park colours, think Magnus, She’s Extreme, Catchy, etc. This mare’s last run was on October 12 last year when 11th of 12 in the Murray Bridge Cup. Last of the two trials was a ripper. Big weight, bad alley but her best if better than some/most. Lounerse was off the map when it won on the Beaumont on Feb 10. Not hyperbole to suggest it was probably in the Top 10 rides of Bullock’s 1000+ winners.

Bet: Our Empress Zoe each-way, box trifecta 1, 3, 5, 11