Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wyong

A progressive locally-trained three-year-old closed off first preparation with a smart win and can kick off his spring campaign the same way. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales is at Wyong on Tuesday.

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

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!

WYONG

BEST BET

Race 6, No.5: KISS SUM

Shamus Award son who was excellent in his short, sharp two-year-old preparation and bred to get better as time passes.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.8: SIR SAVALUCA

Black son of the mighty Savabeel who was specked on debut - failed, spelled, and has trialled well lately.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No.1: HOW DO YOU SLEEP

Another of the Joe Pride string headed to Wyong with an undeniable chance. Lightly-raced type this one who can improve on the first-up run.

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 6, No.5 Kiss Sum to beat No.2 Conglomerate

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg: 5 Kiss Sum

2nd Leg: No.1: Different Strokes/No.8: Mascherata

QUADDIE

Race 5: 11

Race 6: 5

Race 7: 1,2

Race 8: 1,6,8

Kerrin McEvoy has a number of good rides at Wyong including three in the Classique Legend colours. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Kerrin McEvoy has six rides at Wyong and will wear the Classique Legend silks in half of them.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WYONG

RACE 1

Raging Bull was $1.40 yesterday to win this and $51 to win the VRC Derby like his stablemate Ace High did in 2017. It’s still possible, believe it or not, even after Raging Bull’s somewhat underwhelming run here first-up. Was 1500m too short? Maybe, but no excuses this time up to 2100m in this line-up. Speaking of Derbies, John Of Lancaster is bred on the same as classic winners Tavago, Tarzino, Werther and Toffee Tongue. That being the case, he ought to run a P.B here over 2100m. Ditto that for the So You Think mare, So Incisive.

Bet: Raging Bull to win (thanks scoop)

RACE 2

How Do You Sleep is a Joe Pride/Vassallo Racing gelding who placed at two of his three starts at the first campaign and was fifth in town at the other. Trials were rock solid before the first-up run at Gosford which can best be described as ‘even’ but you could sense some improvement to come. Island Legend is a Capitalist grandson of Group 1 winner Absolut Glam. This Ryan-Alexiou/Bo Hon/Kerrin McEvoy debutant has trialled three times and each one was better than the last. Ditto that last bit for the stablemate Cochet.

Bet: How Do You Sleep to win, quinella 1,4

RACE 3

Sir Savaluca is another of the Joe Pride-trained string headed to Wyong. This Kiwi-bred gelding is by the great Savabeel and a rarity in that he is officially classed as ‘black’ in colour. Sir Savaluca was $15 into $11 on debut, ran 5th of 6, spelled, has come back and trialled up quite well. Market the real guide. Battleton is ready to go from day one judging on his trials. Legend I Am is a three-quarter-brother to Brazen Beau. Draw against.

Bet: Sir Savaluca to win, quinella 4,8

Trainer Joe Pride has lightly-raced gelding Sir Savaluca coming along nicely ahead of his return to racing. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Ma And Pa is the first foal of John Singleton’s bonny mare Dear Demi. Trainer Chris Waller has accepted in a richer race at Gosford tomorrow where he (the horse) drew barrier 1. Clearly rivals trainers in both races will be hoping he goes to the other one. The Denzel is a Les Bridge trained son of Adelaide who has placed at four of his five starts (three of them ‘seconds’) and was fourth in town to Equation at the other one. Third-up and peaks. The same goes for the filly Chitabe who was off the map when she won her mile maiden back in July.

Bet: Ma And Pa to win or if scratched, The Denzel to win

RACE 5

All eyes on Shihonka! A Waterhouse/Bott trained filly by Capitalist, Shihonka finished runner-up to Srikandi’s daughter Billiondollarbaby at Canterbury on debut in April 28 and was next seen finishing a very honourable third in the Listed Woodlands at Rosehill behind Xtremetime. Shihonka won a trial at Gosford the other day by six and a half and was twice as impressive as the margin! Astern’s Girl is a Mark Newnham trained filly who opens her second campaign off the back off two nice trials. Big watch on Young Legend, more so from the ace alley.,

Bet: Shihonka to win

RACE 6

Kiss Sum - remember the name. Where this horse ends up 12 months from now and what his C.V reads like by then will be fascinating. He might be Tracey Bartley’s next Sniper’s Bullet but rest assured, Kiss Sum is going to win much, much better races than this one. This could be run quickly, if he can hold some sort of position (drawn 3!) then he might run over the top of them late. Conglomerate should feel very comfortable indeed in a Class 1 at the provincials. That said, if I am right about Kiss Sum, it’s not your average C1. Sky Castle is handy.

Bet: Kiss Sum to win, Daily Double 1st leg (5), 2nd leg (1,8)

Spirit Ridge, ridden by Josh Parr, wins the Premier's Cup at Eagle Farm. Picture: Trackside Photography

RACE 7

Parksville is famous for winning his first three starts up on the Northern Rivers circuit with a combined margin in excess of 10-lengths. The Brett Dodson-trained gelding ran a huge race on the Kensington track first-up then had a few little ‘forgives’ for that Highway failure. Drawn 3/right circuit here. A nice draw on a suitable racetrack is the same scenario for Stoical who has the talent on his best days. Missile Heat could be the big improver. Eyewitness is classy.

Bet: Parksville to win, quinella 1,2, First 4: 1,2,4,6 (boxed) Missile Heat to place

RACE 8

Different Strokes has barely put a foot wrong in his four starts. In fact, he hasn’t. The Kim Waugh trained local won his maiden here on September 3 in commanding style. Went down to Kembla last Thursday for his mandatory Class 1 and tried valiantly to get past the winner, Jojo Was A Man, who had a dream run in front. If this was Scone or Newcastle, Mascherata could potentially barnstorm her way past them. False Step put the writing on the wall first-up for a medal of some colour here.

Bet: Different Strokes to win, trifecta 1,6,8 (boxed)

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