Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Bathurst
A Joe Pride-trained gelding almost landed a plunge on debut and will have even more admirers this time out at Gosford. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gosford and Bathurst.
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GOSFORD
BEST BET
Race 5, No.2: SMOOTH FLIGHT
The Joe Pride-trained gelding was $18 into $13 on debut and ran accordingly; in fact, he got very close to the winner at the finish. Can only improve.
NEXT BEST
Race 8, No.10: ADIOS STEVE
Has been known to charge past his rivals on occasions. Creates a lot of interest here first-up.
VALUE BET
Race 3, No.2 ONE WAY STREET
Made a one act affair of it when he ran his rivals off their legs to win at Wyong last start on the Heavy 10. Will give them something to chase again
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2,5
Race 6: 1,2,6,9
Race 7: 8.10
Race 8: 8,13
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jason Collett will be popular with the punters in the TAB Jockeys Challenge, barring any scratchings.
BATHURST
BEST BET
Race 2, No.8: KARAOKE KING
Opens his second racing preparation off the back of two excellent trials in town that suggest he has improved a great deal.
NEXT BEST
Race 7, No.3: ZOU LOVER
Huge winner at Nowra on Anzac Day prior to her creditable second there 18-days ago. Handles the wet and excels at this trip.
VALUE BET
Race 1, No.7: MANDALORIAN
Last start winner at Nowra beating main rival, Rodrick’s Secret who backs up for another crack himself.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD
Smooth Flight, a direct relative of the mighty Super Impose, was backed in from $19 into $12 on debut and only needed a few more strides and the mini plunge would have been landed, As it was, the son of Air Force Blue turned in a very encouraging debut and shapes as the one to beat this time. Wonderwomen has placed at three of her seven starts and boasts some genuine depth to her form. Resumes here off the back of two rock solid trials. Hamaki, the half-brother to Yamazaki, carried 62.5kg first-up on a Heavy 8 so has to be forgiven.
Bet: Smooth Flight to win.
RACE 6
Team Hawkes filly Valentina Express has trialled especially well prior to her debut on the Kensington track on Anzac Day where she started $4.60. Granted, she was comfortably handled by the winner - but she beat the rest. Taurasi is another one coming back to provincial grade after running in town. In fact, all three of her starts have been in the city, one in the Kindergarten behind Paulele, another one, a second at the Farm. Hey Little Sister has trialled well enough to play a role.
Bet: Valentina Express to win, exacta 6 to beat 1
RACE 7
Royal Ballet was scratched from a race at Canterbury yesterday. The Kris Lees trained filly is by Fastnet Rock out of the stakes-winning mare Ballet Suite who is by High Chaparral. In short, she has been waiting to get out to a trip like this one since the day she was foaled at Coolmore. Love Rules is quite typical of her sire Pierro in that she ‘stays’. The Rodney Northam three-year-old is very fit and best of all, she is a last start winner over 2000m at Wyong on a Heavy 10. Go well. Tavistock son John Of Lancaster was fourth behind Love Rules at Wyong and improved again since.
Bet: Royal Ballet to win or if scratched, Love Rules to win
RACE 8
Adios Steve is an Allan Denham-trained gelding in the Diatribe colours. This flashy chestnut has raced four times first-up for two thirds so with no trial, he is a definite market watch here. Handles the wet and his ‘best’ is surely good enough to figure. All Girls has some compelling numbers to take this out. The Matthew Smith trained daughter of Not A Single Doubt has raced at the venue three times for a win and a third and was a Heavy 10 winner at Kembla either side of her two seconds this prep. Note that Symo’s Girl - who is bursting to win again - is also entered for a race at Bathurst on Thursday. Crimson Rock and Tucson Valley are both major contenders.
Bet: Adios Steve to win or if scratched, All Girls to win, quinella 8,10
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR BATHURST
RACE 4
Miandelle is quite a consistent mare; she has raced 10 times so far for a win and four placings and comes off an eye-catching fourth at Muswellbrook last month when closing off from a rearward position. Drawn more favourably this time. Neon Moon is trained locally by Dean Mirfin but even so, is yet to place in her three starts at the home track. That’s not necessarily a deal-breaker and one has to be a bit forgiving for her disappointing performance at Gilgandra last start - it was bottomless that afternoon. O’Not A Doubt is way down in class back to Bathurst (has placed here) after failing in town 9-days ago.
Bet: Miandelle to win
RACE 5
Sheer Elegance had trailed okay prior to her ‘even’ debut at Newcastle on May 14 where she passed a few in the straight to finish a distant sixth in the 1200m maiden. Will obviously find this race a fair bit easier and picked up some race experience in defeat. Perkoca is a Bjorn Baker trained filly by Per Incanto, the sire of Lost And Running, whose colours she shares. Let the side down as am odds-on favourite first-up but there was merit in the run nonetheless. Expect better this time. Waterhouse/Bott filly Bright Flight will no doubt aim to be prominent from the outset and could take running down if circumstances permit.
Bet: Sheer Elegance each-way
RACE 6
Dollareuro has only been able to win twice in his 14 starts and both were on form tracks. Not suggesting he is a duffer, but hopefully the track rating is within his range because it shapes well for him to win again on a few levels. Jonjo’s Comet opens the new campaign here bearing in mind that the son of Tickets has raced five times fresh for a win and two placings. Certainly has enough ability to be in the finish. Market the ultimate guide still. Cool Encounter is another of the Bjorn Baker trained westbound gallopers with undeniable claims given his current C.V of a win and a second from four starts. Twice The Value and No Statement are in the mix.
Bet: Dollareuro to win or if scratched, Jonjo’s Comet each-way
RACE 7
Zou Lover has been flying this time in. The Matthew Smith trained daughter of Zoustar has raced twice during the current preparation, kicking it off with a huge six and a half lengths win at Nowra. Zou Lover backed up there a few weeks later finishing second but did herself no favours when a tad slow away. Stick with her. Take note that Symo’s Girl was also entered for Gosford but could easily turn up here instead. Whatever the case, she is bursting to win again. Astrolith, a Dean Mirfin local, pulled out plenty when required to win at a wet and wild Gilgandra first-up.
Bet: Zou Lover
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Bathurst
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