Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Sapphire Coast

A progressive filly who has finished top two in all her starts so far can kick off her latest campaign with a win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Satin Ribbons looks hard to beat when she resumes at Muswellbrook. Picture: Getty Images

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

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MUSWELLBROOK

BEST BET

Race 6, No.8: SATIN RIBBONS

She’s in a good country sprint race here and has been handed a wide gate but I’m backing her class to shine through and get the job done fresh off some nice trials. She’s never run worse than second to date.

NEXT BEST

Race 4, No.8: SIMPKIN

He broke through last start at his eighth attempt but it was a good win for new trainer Melanie O’Gorman and prior to that he just got beat by Country Championships contender Amulet Street.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 3, 9

Race 6: 1, 4, 6, 8

Race 7: 2, 5, 8, 11

Race 8: 1, 3, 6

Trainer Cameron Crockett has several leading contenders at Muswellbrook. Picture: AAP Image

TRAINER TO WATCH

Cameron Crockett can win races with Salire, Primal Scream and Constant Flight in the last after it trialled up great and has good Queensland form.

SAPPHIRE COAST

BEST BET

Race 8, No.1: MANCCONI

This can be his day now that he’s drawn a good gate. He went enormous last start from a bad gate and almost won. He gets a cushy run now and won’t get a better chance to win.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Billy Owen has some good chances with Fantini, Nephradiva, Temoin Chaud, I Am Spirited, Last Quest and Espadrille looking like leading contenders in their races.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MUSWELLBROOK

RACE 5

Schiller’s Myst resumes off no trial having run some great races over a little more ground and she’s in the hands of a top trainer so back her to run a nice race here from a good enough gate with an experienced jockey to guide her. Impactful comes here off a nice win last start and did it off a month’s break but now it’s only a two-week gap between runs so he should be going even better now. Chestnut Scaffa is peaking now third-up and he’ll be in the speed, perhaps leading, and will make it tough for them at a track he’s won at before at his only start.

Bet: Schiller’s Myst to win

RACE 6

Satin Ribbons hasn’t run worse than second in five runs to date and even though she’s drawn wide, she is the best talented horse in the race and can overcome it and be in front on the line even though this is a great sprint race. Mo’s Crown has run some ripper races against some top fields which included Group-standard horse and he’s got the first-up record to win this despite giving weight away from a wide draw. Bugalugs was there to beat Primal Scream last time but couldn’t. It does get better draw then his rival now though.

Bet: Satin Ribbons to win

Welsh Legend can take out the Muswellbrook Gold Cup. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Ita is a tough, consistent mare who will put herself into this race from a wide gate and as long as she doesn’t have a torrid run in the first half of the race, she’ll be the one to beat in the home straight and she’s been here once for a win. Bobbing will be doing his usual thing and be flying home late but naturally needs the race to be run to suit which it should be. Welsh Legend doesn’t want any rain and although she doesn’t win too often, she’s been running in city races her whole career and gets a good run here. Cristal Breeze is an improver second-up while Regal Stage flies fresh and has the gate speed to get across from a wide gate.

Bet: Welsh Legend to win

RACE 8

Two Big Fari has to be one of the toughest horses racing here. He goes great fresh and almost won in town on a Saturday late last year and he can carry weight to win. More Sundays is here off a nine-week break but he too goes well fresh and gets the gun run in transit. Constant Flight looked the part in winning a barrier trial for new trainer Cameron Crockett and he’s got form behind Isotope and is well placed here and is another who is at his best fresh.

Bet: Two Big Fari to win

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RACE 5

Only one last start winner in this race which is the top weight Onsettling Down who surprised punters last week with a win in the Albury Mile as a $19 chance but he won it nicely and the winning margin would’ve been a lot bigger had he got out sooner. He’s found an easier race but does have to carry an extra 6kg which will be telling over a mile. Temoin Chaud shouldn’t have to be as used up early as she was last time from a wide gate. She can lead them here from the cushy draw and be stronger at the end this time. Cyborg will take a sit and if they go quick enough in front, he’ll be coming at them late.

Bet: Cyborg to win

RACE 6

Bold Hawk has been given a freshen up since running second over 1600m here seven weeks ago. He’s not in a strong maiden with Espadrille being scratched and has been running well of late so it might be his day to break through. Bobby’s Secret should be able to push forward from a wide gate but needs a touch of early luck to be strong late. It’s a good time to test him at 1400m again. Luckyimwithaimee looks more suited to 1400m now while I Am Spirited finds an easier race to break through and gets a decent enough gate.

Bet: Quinella 2, 12

Jockey Billy Owen partners Last Quest at Sapphire Coast on Friday. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 7

Sir Finn has the right gate to take advantage of and be right on the speed at a track he’s enjoyed in the past with two wins and a placing from five starts. Mr Aloysius has drawn the carpark but has the early speed to get across and be sitting outside the leader or he might be even out on his own in front and he too loves the track and 1400m looks to be his sweet spot. Last Quest doesn’t want a really wet track but caught the eye behind Sir Finn at Queanbeyan four weeks ago and is better suited to this track.

Bet: Last Quest to win

RACE 8

Espadrille gets a wide gate again but showed more than enough on debut, when third, to suggest she’ll be a force here with natural improvement off that nice debut run. Mancconi just got pipped late last time when doing it tough from a wide barrier and getting caught wide. He has a much better gate this time and looks tough to beat. He is having start 13 and trying to win his first start which is a worry but he’s really close to a win. Rhythmboat starts for Natalie Jarvis for the first time after coming down from the Chris Waller stable and this isn’t his toughest test.

Bet: Mancconi to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Muswellbrook, Sapphire Coast