Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Moruya

A grey Brad Widdup-trained filly is poised to make it two from two when she heads to Muswellbrook on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Brad Widdup has an exciting filly in Flashy Gift who is out to make it two from two at Muswellbrook on Friday. Picture: AAP Image

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Muswellbrook and Moruya.

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!

MUSWELLBROOK

BEST BET

Race 7, No.9: FLASHY GIFT

The winning margin on paper wasn’t big but she had her debut race in total control and would’ve taken plenty out of it judging by the way she raced.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.8: DENETTA

Shoots for three-straight here and has never missed a placing. She’ll get a cushy run from the barrier and handles all types of track conditions. She’s fourth-up and shouldn’t be going backwards.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 7, 11, 14

Race 6: 7, 8

Race 7: 1, 2, 6, 9

Race 8: 2, 4, 5, 6

Mitchell Bell can kick off the day at Muswellbrook on a high note. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Mitchell Bell could win the first two races of the day with Secret Revolution and Nullify while Dot Com produced an eye-catching run last time.

MORUYA

BEST BET

Race 8, No.3: SMARTER THAN YOU

This horse had promised a lot leading up to her first-up run at Wagga and she delivered in very exciting fashion with an easy win. Drawing out at this time of the day might be a positive too.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Joe Cleary will be happy to see the rain come for Choccy Gaf while Epaullo Creed and Pink Panther are contenders from their draws.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 5

Valoria was quite good on debut at Canterbury three weeks ago considering she was covering a lot of ground around the home bend before finishing it off strongly. This is obviously easier and if she gets some luck from a wide draw she can be running on well and threatening late. Powerful Peg has been taking a sit in her trials and that might have to be the plan on debut from a wide gate. She has looked very comfortable in her heats and might just explode here late. All Too Scottish probably leads this and was only beaten by two promising horses first-up at Wyong so is better placed here.

Bet: Valoria to win

RACE 6

Denetta will be well supported here as she shoots for three-straight wins. She likes to take a sit and let down in the straight and she’ll do that as long as she doesn’t run into traffic from barrier three. She hasn’t run here in a race but did have a winning barrier trial on the track before her first-up run this time in. Stablemate The Chosen One got too far out of his ground fresh at Wyong but was rattling home better than anything and he’s won second-up in the past. Groover will set the pace and may be a better hope now if he can dictate.

Bet: Quinella 7, 8

Trainer Damien Lane can land the quinella with The Chosen One and Denetta.

RACE 7

Oakfield Duke got flushed wide approaching the home turn at Scone second-up and had plenty of work to do but knuckled down and made up plenty of ground to win and might have to make up ground again after drawing wide. Alicia Roma has drawn out to but has plenty of speed and will look to cross them and lead and she should be in this for a long time. She did have two barrier trials leading up to a 1000m run so it’s not like she should be hugely improved from it, but the form is still good enough to win this. Flashy Gift ran above her odds to win at Goulburn when a little green but won convincingly in the end.

Bet: Flashy Gift to win

RACE 8

Keikoku has won here before first-up so there’s no surprise new trainer Brad Widdup is bringing here back out this way. He’s got barrier four to get the right run and one barrier trial should have her ready for this as the blinkers go on for the first time. Shen Gui doesn’t win out of turn and might need a run before he’s ready to win and this is the shortest trip he’s raced over fresh so it might be the key. Holy Tycoon has built a good record to date and is without a barrier trial but trust her to come back better.

Bet: Keikoku to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MORUYA

RACE 5

Stratum Pride has only won once from 12 runs but has placed on six occasions including her past four and she ran in a handy Highway race last time and that form is good enough to be winning this. Ivira won here last start on a heavy track but drops back from 2000m to a mile in a week which isn’t always the worst formula. Brainzes should’ve won at Goulburn last start but got blocked at a crucial stage before hitting the line hard and being in front a stride after the post. Rebellious Miss loves wet ground.

Bet: Brainzes to win

RACE 6

Spitfire Sun appeared to get through wet ground well on debut and has to be an improver after having just one barrier trial leading up to the debut run. Cuban Granchico hasn’t been on a heavy track yet but is by Casino Prince so should handle it and has run second here twice from as many starts. London Skies should be able to be handier from a better gate now after being away slowly first-up off a long break.

Bet: Cuban Granchico to win

RACE 7

Victory At Omaha won in convincing fashion last start and isn’t going backwards third-up and will lead Theresa Bateup’s charge here but stablemate Steve Steve Steve will provide more than a challenge after working well leading up to this and race craft is the issue with him at start three. Choccy Gaf doesn’t win out of turn but is an improver off a good fresh run and all his best performances have come on heavy ground which he gets here so must come into it.

Bet: Steve Steve Steve to win

RACE 8

Just Go Bang lived up to his name on debut to put them away easily at the Sapphire Coast three weeks ago on a Soft 6 track. It’s a whole different ballgame now on what could be a Heavy 10, but it’s hard not to like him. The penny may have dropped with Smarter Than You after a very good win at Wagga a fortnight ago when showing plenty of promise leading up to it. Get Shafted got no luck first-up from the back of the pack and has won here before.

Bet: Smarter Than You to win