Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Goulburn, Port Macquarie

Following a solid first-up effort, John O’Shea’s regally-bred Tavi L'Amour can start the day on a high note at Goulburn. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer John O'Shea can start the day off at Goulburn on a winning note with Tavi L’Amour.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Goulburn and Port Macquarie.

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!

GOULBURN

BEST BET

Race 1, No.2: TAVI L’AMOUR

Did enough in defeat first-up in town chasing home the subsequent winner and Queensland carnival bound Chilko Lake.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.1: BOOMSONG

Was never going to get beat when he led at Kembla first-up and duly bolted in. On his way to better races.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.7: ALLASANDRA

Gave a good account of herself on debut at the midweeks. Up in trip and will be better for the experience.

QUADDIE

Race 3: 1,3,4,5

Race 4: 1,3,7,13

Race 5: 2,3,7,8

Race 6: 4,10,12,14

Jean Van Overmeire has a couple of good rides for trainer David Payne. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jean Van Overmeire has a couple of good rides, winning chances in fact, for David Payne.

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 1, No.5: CHEROKEE CHERRY

Hit the line with purpose at Taree 15-days ago. At home for this and extra metres will assist.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No.2: WHATEVER I SAY

Three runs at this track/distance heralded two wins and second. Ran okay in a Highway last start.

VALUE BET

Race 6, No.5: DARCI DIVA

Could easily peak third-up today at her home track off back to back placings at this same venue.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOULBURN

RACE 1

Tavi L’Amour is a hugely valuable filly. For starters, she is by Tavistock out of a Danehill mare but on top of that, her fourth dam is none other than the Eight Carat. This John O’Shea-trained three-year-old has raced four times for two seconds, the last one of those was first-up at Warwick Farm where she started favourite and beat all bar the repeat winner and Queensland carnival bound, Chilo Lake. Facetious is a Ron Quinton-trained filly who races in the Torryburn Stud colours. This great-granddaughter of AJC Oaks winner Savana City was doing her best work late when she ran fifth at Newcastle first-up. Can only improve from her on. Pioneer Lass has placed at three of her four starts and chased home a handy enough horse at Kembla last time. Blackall is overdue for a win.

Bet: Tavi L’Amour to win, exacta 2 to beat 6.

RACE 2

Boomsong, a half to Wandabaa and Malkovich, was never going to get beat once he found the lead at Kembla first-up. Truth is, he was a city-grade horse taking on provincial horses that day hence the easy win. Take note that he has accepted for Kensington on Wednesday. Flower Moon is a Maher/Eustace housed filly who has raced three times for one win. Important to note that the win was at this same track and distance where she led and won with a bit in hand. Has trialled well since her lacklustre first-up run. The ‘real’ Sir Artie stood up and stood tall when he won at Newcastle on April 30. Can keep progressing. Wuddacuddashudda has been trialling well in recent times and could play a role.

Bet: Boomsong to win

Tom Sherry rides Boomsong for his boss Mark Newnham. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Don Luigi is a stablemate of Think It Over who, Don Luigi that is, would have been better off had the races stayed at Kembla but they’re off and Goulburn is on. That said, the son of Nicconi has been here before and run well. In fact, he has three starts for a win and two placings at the venue. In good shape. That goes double for Espirito who is coming off back-to-back wins at home at Kembla. He won them both on Heavy 10s and he put panels on them in his maiden win. Has to be respected. Former Victorian Rubian Bleu ran a huge race at his first start for Matthew Dale in the Wagga Town Plate Prelude.

Bet: Don Luigi to win

RACE 4

Pierosa races in the Redzel and Mazu colours of Triple Crown, Speaking of Triple Crowns, this Snowden Racing filly is a daughter of the great Pierro and is also a half-sister to a Listed winner. As for her own ability, Pierosa was the rolled-gold eye-catcher on debut when she finished fast from the back to run second at Canterbury. Go well. Sacred Alba has a future. The John O’Shea-trained gelding is by the dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls and you would think that he will be one of the ones finishing fastest here. May need the run but looks to be something there. Indifference, the half to Spring Champion Stakes winner, Complacent, has been trialling exceedingly well of late. Captain George has claims if he makes the trip.

Bet: Pierosa to win

RACE 5

Allasandra is a David Payne-trained filly by Pride Of Dubai who turned in a commendable debut fifth of the 10 runners when she made her debut at the midweeks on May 4. That was Canterbury 1200m that afternoon, the step to 1400m on the bigger track is tailor-made for her to get an early win on her C.V. James Cummings-trained colt Manzoni was quite impressive himself at Canterbury 13-days and should be ready to deliver here from the favourable draw third run of his life. Awesome John is an improving type who is down in class - a lot, from his Clarendon Stakes tilt at just his second appearance in a race. Don’t dismiss. Montana May, the Snitzel/Colorado Claire filly from the Neasham camp was well backed and ran accordingly on debut at Newcastle.

Bet: Allasandra to win

Jason Collett partners the Gary Portelli-trained The Maxinator. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

The Maxinator is a Gary Portelli-trained son of former European Champion Sprinter Dream Ahead who has done little or nothing wrong in his eight starts. The gelding has won twice and placed four times. Best of all, he arrives at Goulburn as a last start winner and seems to handle the sting out of the ground. Hinchinjive has drawn a little wide but we could be in for a fair few scratchings. Has a good on-pace style of racing; so, if he gets over, he is sure to remain prominent throughout. The rising ten-year-old Tenorino retains a zest for racing after 83 starts. He too will need some luck from the gate but he loves the slop. Honourable mentions to Sealion and the noted mudlark, Blue Missile.

Bet: The Maxinator to win, quinella 4,12

INSIDE MAIL FOR PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 6

Darci Diva gives every impression that she is going to peak today. The Paul Shailer-trained mare is third-up on Tuesday having placed here at her adopted home track, the last one was on a Heavy 9. Drawn 3 so she should be able to take up her usual prominent role. Dr Demon is trained at Taree but seems to save his best for Port Macquarie. In fact, he is three starts for a win and two seconds at this same track/distance. Rapids, the horse with the multimillion-dollar pedigree has claims, so too Ciao Uno.

Bet: Darci Diva to win

RACE 7

Whatever I Say will obviously find this race a good deal easier than his creditable 3-lengths sixth in a Randwick TAB Highway on April 16. ‘Numbers’ tell the story with him; he has raced here four times for two wins and two seconds and is ‘two from three with a second’ at the track/distance. Harlem Groove’s both wins are at Scone but he goes quite well fresh and his ‘best’ would be good enough to pick up a medal. John Shelton has Cabsav flying right now. This is a deep race but he has a lovely draw.

Bet: Whatever I Say to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Goulburn, Port Macquarie