Sapphire Coast preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, December 29, 2024

With three good chances, Canberra trainer Garry Kirkup can end 2024 with a career milestone.

Camerlengo can start the day on a winning note. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Garry Kirkup is on the verge of a career milestone which he can celebrate with a couple of early winners.

Kirkup has prepared 348 winners in his career and feels all three of his runners are strong chances but rates his first two as his best hopes.

Kicking off his day is Camerlengo in the opening event, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1000m) where he has drawn perfectly in barrier 2 with apprentice Caitlin Sinclair to ride.

The seven-year-old heads into the meeting in good form with placings at his last four starts including a nose second to Can Do It at Orange and a third to Outback Angel in a Benchmark 66 at the same venue.

“He is racing really well and with a good barrier and bit of weight off his back, he looks pretty hard to beat in this race,” said Kirkup.

How's this for a finish?! 📸

Can Do It got the nod in a four-way go at Orange. pic.twitter.com/5re4fhDpb2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 22, 2024

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!

“I thought they were bit stronger races at Orange than he faces this weekend and he was very competitive in them.

“He carried 61 kilos in a Benchmark 58 at Orange two starts ago when beaten a nose then he carried 59.5 kilos there last start and only finished a bit over three lengths from the winner.

“He drops back to a Benchmark 58 and gets in with 59.5 kilos after Caitlin’s four kilo claim.

“The only one that worries me in this race is Spirits Burn Deep. It has won first-up from a spell before and I know Neil Osborne had a good opinion of it at one stage.

“He gets in so well at the weights, everything is spot on with him and of my three runners for the day, you would pick him as my best chance.”

Bubble Tea placed in her first two starts for Gary Portelli before joining Kirkup’s Canberra stables and placed at her next two starts.

The only blemish on her short record was a last at Cootamundra at her last run before a spell but Kirkup said she had excuses.

“It was a terribly unlucky run. She got flattened a couple of times in the straight and she was still only beaten three lengths,” he said.

“With any luck, she would have been right there in the finish again.”

Three-year-old filly resumes in the second race of the day, the Maiden Plate (1000m) with Teaghan Martin claiming 2kg.

Ferrari Girl is looking to start another campaign with a win. Picture: Bradley Photos

“This race doesn’t appear to have a great deal of depth to it on exposed form,” Kirkup said.

“You always worry about an unraced horse. You don’t know how good they could be.

“I’m happy with how she is coming along and she should be right in the finish again.

“I’m really expecting both these hoses to go close to winning.”

The third of Kirkup’s trio is Ferrari Girl who resumes in the last race, the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).

The five-year-old looks extremely well placed being a 66 rater, six points clear of the next highest rating horse, and will carry 59kg after the 4kg claim of Sinead Peebles.

Kirkup’s only concern for the mare is barrier 11.

“She is super quick but I just worry about the barrier. Gate 11 is not too good there but the 1200m start is from a chute and there is only one turn.

“She is working really well. She has won first-up in the past and I’m not worried about her fitness.

“She just needs that bit of luck in running. If she gets it, she should be thereabouts as well.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 1: Camerlengo

Placed all four runs this campaign and can break through for a deserved win.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 8: Yes Isla Yes

Was fourth behind a couple of talented ones on debut. Can kick off with a win.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 1: Ferrari Girl

Class runner of the field. Won first-up last campaign.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 6, 7

Race 5: 2, 3, 4

Race 6: 2, 3, 4, 7

Race 7: 1, 3, 9

Winona Costin can have a successful day at the Sapphire Coast. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Winona Costin has some nice rides and can land a winner or two.

INSIDE MAIL – SAPPHIRE COAST

RACE 1

Camerlengo was beaten a nose with 61kg in a Bm58 at Orange before returning there to a Bm66 with 59.5kg when third to Outback Angel. Back in grade and gets a 4kg claim. Spirits Burn Deep was a long neck second to Super Norwest in a Class 2 Highway at Rosehill before an eighth in a Class 3 Highway to end her last campaign. Has two wins a second from four first-up runs. Peruno went for a break after his fourth to Pressilly at Moruya on Oct 4. Was a winner there two starts earlier.

Bet: Camerlengo to win

RACE 2

Bubble Tea has only missed a place once in five starts but had genuine excuses when bumped twice in the straight as she was trying to make a run between horses. Resumes here and can break through for her first win. Winnie Fortune tracked the leader and boxed on well for third to She’s High Society on debut here on Dec 2. Drawn out but sure to run well again. Your Magic is a first starter by Your Song. Showed good speed to lead his Queanbeyan trial and kept under a hold to the line in finishing second.

Bet: Bubble Tea to win

❄️ Not sure about snow in May... but winning in May for sure! ✅

Snow In May wins the opener for the 2 year-olds at @mtcwagga!@[e-mail]/1mJNk19Uob

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 2, 2024

RACE 3

Yes Isla Yes bumped into a couple of talented ones in Snow In May and Due Calzini when she went to Wagga for her on debut back in May. She did beat home Take The Rap that day. Resumes here off a nice trial win at Kembla. Balmoral was backed from $10 in $6 when runner-up to Couples Retreat at Hawkesbury to end his last preparation. Raced wide when fourth at Albury first-up two weeks ago. Gooloo Bucky is a debutant by Ready For Victory. Worked to the line well in his Rosehill trial back in July. Keep safe.

Bet: Yes Isla Yes to win

RACE 4

Network Error was disappointed for a run just after straightening before finishing third to odds-on Tequila Baby who raced away at Gundagai when resuming. She was badly crowded near the 150m when third to Rocco Lini here on Dec 2. Shaddap debuted with a fourth behind Cash And Cards over 1200m at Canberra on Dec 13. Will take benefit from the run. Maktabi has been just behind the placegetters at his last three starts after placing second in three consecutive runs to start his campaign. Won’t be far away again.

Bet: Network Error to win

RACE 5

Rocco Lini trialled nicely ahead of his debut and kicked off in terrific fashion when he came off the back off the leader and ran home to beat Media Coverage by more a length over 1200m here on Dec 2. The son of D’Argento should relish the step up to 1400m. That A Boy nearly fell on the home turn on debut when seventh at Queanbeyan back in January. Returned from a long break with a stylish all-the-way win at the same track on Nov 12. Big chance again. Dodge The Dark is coming off nice win at Queanbeyan.

Bet: Rocco Lini to win

Rocco Lini bursts into the clear and blows them away at the Sapphire Coast! An early double for jockey Patrick Score and the @JJRacing_ACT stable. pic.twitter.com/u8jtvq9NX2

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 2, 2024

RACE 6

Beauer tracked the leader and did a good job to finish third over 1400m when resuming at Newcastle and followed up with a fourth to Blesstas at Kembla. Ready to peak third-up and will appreciate a drop back to country grade. Mystic Diva was narrowly beaten by Fudge when returning from a nine week let-up here on Dec 2. Will take improvement from run. Has placed in three of her five starts here. Crazy Atom is on a quick back-up from her third to Fire And Gemstone at Moruya last week.

Bet: Beauer each-way

RACE 7

Ferrari Girl is the highest rated runner in the in this race with a benchmark of 66, six points clear of the second highest, and she gets extremely well with 59kg after the claim. Had solid form in stronger races last campaign. Three of her five wins have been at this trip and she was a first-up last preparation. Wide gate the only query. Sassen resumed with a win over 1000m before a third over 1200m here. Was making ground late in the Belle Of The South at Nowra last start. Missile Maiden resumes here. Was a half-length second to Chief Witness last start before a spell.

Bet: Ferrari Girl each-way