Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Grafton
Blow Dart has done enough in his trials and on the racetrack to deliver his connections a victory in Friday’s coveted Lone Pine Charge at Muswellbrook. BEST BEST, INSIDE MAIL
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Daily Telegraph form analysts Shayne O’Cass and Matt Jones give their best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Muswellbrook and Grafton.
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MUSWELLBROOK
BEST BET
Race 7, No.10: BLOW DART
Lightly-raced son of Denman with a compelling set of ‘numbers’, none better than his first-up set. Go well.
NEXT BEST
Race 3, No.6: EXOSHUFFLE
Snowden Racing/Triple Crown have another highly promising racehorse here in this two-year-old debutant who trialled up nicely.
VALUE BET
Race 2, No.7: MANTARO
Speaking of trials, this one went like a bomb when he won his Scone heat on April 19.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1,3,14
Race 6: 2,4,5,7,8
Race 7: 10
Race 8: 4,7
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Andrew Gibbons has some choice rides at Muswellbrook including the unbeaten Audette.
GRAFTON
BEST BET
Race 6, No.3: SIR PAISLEY
A Matthew Dunn-trained son of Choisir who has done enough groundwork to secure a first-up win.
NEXT BEST
Race 4, No.8: MISS MIRACULOUS
Donna Grisedale housed filly who has a wide draw but loads of talent - and a great jockey to assist.
VALUE BET
Race 2, No.1: MOROCCAN LAD
Ran right up to his trials when he scored a narrow but somewhat authoritative win at Port. Can keep progressing.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MUSWELLBROOK
By Shayne O’Cass
RACE 5
Thunder Knob has done some good things at times in his nine starts, specifically four times placed around the traps. The Marc Quinn trained son of Nicconi looks to be ready, if not in fact - primed, for some Showcase money off that ripper trial at Port Mac. Another one that has been trialling rather well is Superargo who certainly ran well at his debut which also happened to be at this same venue. Tillman has been consistent without yet winning. Cloudland is the big watch being a Kris Lees trained son of Swiss Ace.
Bet: Thunder Knob to win, quinella 1,14, box trifecta 1,3,4,14
RACE 6
Test The Waters is one of a diminishing number of offspring by Testa Rossa who, by the way, has a massive 77.4 per cent winners to runners and his horse is one of his 777 individual winners. Long story short - he ‘goes well’. False Step has a tidy C.V having raced five times for a win and three placings. Her ‘worst’ run was a length and tail fourth to Never Been Kissed. Deep Snow’s trainer Angela Davies has a 36 per cent strike rate at Muswellbrook and 26 per cent with Andrew Gibbons.
Bet: Test The Waters to win
RACE 7
Blow Dart is a horse with some compelling stats. First of all, he has won three and placed three times from his nine starts. Best, and most important stat of all, is that the Brett Thompson-trained son of Denman is unbeaten in his two first-up runs. It is also imperative to factor in that has trialled exceedingly well in the last few weeks. Toto had a bit of an X-factor about him in the sense that he has more than once won in the manner of an above-average horse. I’m Not Slew may be saved for the Highway at Hawkesbury tomorrow but/and is a massive player wherever she goes. Ceasefire is unbeaten in both runs at this track/distance.
Bet: Blow Dart to win
RACE 7
Ironic Miss has drawn wide by it’s not a life sentence at Muswellbrook, less so when Mitchell Bell is there to help. This Rodney Ollerton trained daughter of Press Statement has raced well at this venue in the past, indeed, her first-up run here on April 18 was very good. Exolay is another one who comes off an eye-catching performance here at the ‘Brook. You get the impression that Kris Lees has her peaking for the big day on Friday. Miss Laquetta had been costly up until April 4 at Scone. You know what they say about ‘wins’ and ‘confidence’ and the like.
Bet: Ironic Miss to win
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GRAFTON
By Matt Jones
RACE 6
Dreamseeker returned well and should be sitting outside the leader here and should be much better off a first-up second placing over more ground. Inari Fox was good fresh at Grafton and holds his form second-up so look for a good run. Wizard Of Oz comes up to Warren Gavenlock from Chris Waller off a break and might need the run but is down in grade and has run well enough behind much better types than he faces here so expect a good performance here.
Bet: Wizard Of Oz to win
RACE 7
Amphawa keeps running places and doesn’t mind wet ground so will be suited to this race but he’s drawn the widest gate. Sheriff Cody is going better than his record suggests and is third-up now up to a mile and the wet track shouldn’t be a big issue. Turtle Rock looks the likely leader but will be suspect late. Onemoregriz will be much better up in ground now and he gets a much better run from the gate now and should be ready to run a good race here. Pretty Posy comes down from Queensland from a long break but the previous form suggests she’ll run a nice race here.
Bet: Amphawa to win
RACE 8
Endangered Species has raced eight times on a heavy track for two wins, four seconds and two thirds. As well as that, the Joanne Hardy trained gelding has gone around at Grafton five times for a win and three placings. Ticks a lot of boxes. Dollson seems to be able to handle a variety of track surfaces, even though he is yet to win on a Heavy track. That said, he is no outright ‘duffer’ and is destined to run well again here. Kingstar Bullet is racing in fantastic form evidenced by the fact that she is on a hat-trick of wins. has won four of seven when competing on Soft racks.
Bet: Endangered Species to win
RACE 9
Aheadofhistime is a Trevor Hardy trained son of Deep Field who is yet to win at Grafton in seven visits but it is worth noting that he has placed there four times, three of those were seconds. Ran a huge race at Doomben last time out and has handled Soft and Heavy tracks with ease. Magic Charlee has thrived since he joined the Lismore stables of Owen Glue. He is a Grafton winner and while not an especially good first-up performer, he doesn’t take forever to come to hand either. Northern Wilderose and The Drake are both contenders.
Bet: Aheadofhistime to win
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Grafton
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