Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth

A highly promising filly can maintain her unbeaten record while a Tracey Bartley-trained gelding is well placed to record his first win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Friday is at Tamworth.

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

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!

TAMWORTH

BEST BET

Race 8, No.9: LE MELODY

Left a huge impression when she won on debut at Muswellbrook in mid-January running 56.71 seconds for the 1000m. Loaded with talent.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No.9: LUCKY BANNER

Only horse to make to any significant ground in the June 4 Highway. Fitter and wants this 1400m.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.8: TYQUENDO

Tracey Bartley-trained gelding who has run decent races despite being placed only once in his seven starts. Resumes off some nice trials.

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg: 6

2nd Leg: 9

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,4,8

Race 6: 5,6

Race 7: 8,9

Race 8: 9

Aaron Bullock rides Le Melody for trainer Cody Morgan.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock has some great rides (before scratchings) including the Cody Morgan duo Tiempe Passate and Le Melody.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAMWORTH

RACE 1

Montari is a Paul Messara-trained three-year-old who has placed at four of his six starts. Note that he ran fourth at the other two and wasn’t beaten far in either of those. The son of Shalaa resumes here over 1000m armed with a good barrier. Wasn’t asked to chase Burning Crown in that trial at Scone 10-days ago. The Big Seal has finished runner-up at four of his five starts. The closest he has been to winning was at his most recent outing where drew a lot worse than what he has here. Adviser, likewise, gets his big chance from barrier 2 and Ben Looker.

Bet: Montari to win

RACE 2

Really Serious has accepted for a 1400m race at Newcastle on Saturday - and drew one. Probably wins wherever she goes. If she happened to be kept on ice for 24 hours, it would surely open the door for the Scone filly So Fly Baby is building up to a win. Has the good alley again and Grant Buckley to steer. Taborca is a son of Snitzel, a half to Outrageous and a grandson of Catbird’s mother, Fitting. City placed for Waller and ran well enough at her Cameron Crockett debut at Dubbo. Jade could provide the value.

Bet: Really Serious to win or if scratched, So Fly Baby to win

RACE 3

Scorched Land could be saved for Dubbo on Sunday where he has drawn better than he has at Tamworth. On top here if he happens to make the trip. He loves the venue. Fanmalia is a Rodney Northam-trained son of Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner, Animal kingdom. He’s got a pretty decent strike-rate of four wins and six placings from his 19 career starts. Better still, Fanmalia has raced at this track/distance three times for a win and a second. Could go without Impactful and Kingstar Bullet which elevates Scatman and Onemorechoice higher up the order. Wonder is Kadashi can improve out of sight here.

Bet: Scorched Land to win or if scratched, Fanmalia to win

Todd Howlett’s Scorched Lad can overcome the wide gate at Tamworth. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Barry’s Lane has only won once in 20 starts but he has placed on 11 occasions. The Taree housed son of Sizzling was beaten two-lengths by the handy Test The Waters first-up and then went to Scone and ran a lot better than 8 of 14 would suggest. He wants the mile now. Kennysing drew 14 of 14 and 11 of 13 at his last two yet the race of the race in each. He was so dominant winning his 1725m maiden at Grafton on June 11. Seems to be on an upward trajectory. Kermadec mare L’Esperance Rock is a huge player if she gets a run. If not, wait for Taree Tuesday perhaps. Mirror Queen was a certainty beaten here two starts back.

Bet: Barry’s Lane to win

RACE 5

Tyquendo has accepted for Dubbo on Sunday. That said, the Tracey Bartley-trained gelding has drawn 3 and gets Ben Looker here at Tamworth; a very positive scenario to say the least. As for the horse himself, his record reads as one second from seven starts but he has run some decent races in that time, a few of them at Newcastle in handy company. If it comes to pass that the race is torn to shreds by scratchings and Tiempe Passate comes in several gates from her present draw of 15, she might just brain them. She is one hundred and ten per cent the best horse in the race; it’s just a barrier thing (in a full field). Stirling Osland’s Lovelier had eight starts for Chris Waller and placed at six of them including in town in Sydney and Brisbane.

Bet: Tyquendo each-way or if scratched, Tiempe Passate to win, quinella 4,8

RACE 6

Larynx, son of Your Song, was fantastic last preparation. His last four runs were ‘1122’ and it seems to merely took up where he left off given that win in the Gulgong Cup for Gulgong’s own Brett Thompson. Drawn well, should be prominent throughout. Unrestricted has some compelling numbers. For starters, he has won five and placed five from 21. On top of that, he is one for one at the track/distance and he did beat Majestic Wings pretty easily that particular day. High Court, the 2021 Tamworth Cup winner, has the big weight but wow, he is a 90 rater these days. Cecilia is effective at this track at distance.

Bet: Larynx to win

Trainer Brett Thompson prepares Larynx who looks hard to beat on Friday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 7

Lucky Banner ran 8th of 14 in an 1100m TAB Highway at Rosehill on June 4 but in reality, she was just about one of the runs of the race. Very few horses made ground in that race but she was one of them. Steps to 1400m now which is a net positive; Bucko too. Not worried by barrier 10, probably helps her if anything. Not sure we get to see Lady Patricia here on the day but she will be a force to be reckoned with if she comes. Ditto that for Oakfield Storm who was nominated for Taree on Tuesday. McNair can never be ruled out of anything. Very fit. Hemsworth is the ‘market horse’.

Bet: Lucky Banner to win

RACE 8

Le Melody’s presence adds so much interest to Friday’s Showcase meeting. She was incredibly impressive on debut winning that 1000m maiden at Muswellbrook on Jan 17. She ran 56.71s, last 600m in 33.45s, and seemed to do it easily. Spelled, trialled like a bomb the other sat back at Muswellbrook too. Going to learn a bit about her here. As good as Le Melody may be, this a very handy benchmark 58 assembly. Take In Spades for example. He is more seasoned than Le Melody and has Provincial form to boot. The ‘best’ Ostracised would-be winning Highways. Untapped type who resumes at home off a good trial with barrier 1 and Bailey Wheeler to lighten the load.

Bet: Le Melody to win

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth