Raceday focus: Best Bets and Inside Mail for Sapphire Coast plus Bega Cup preview
Trainers Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt have a strong hand to play as they shoot for back-to-back Bega Cup wins.
SuperRacing
Don't miss out on the headlines from SuperRacing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Joseph/Jones stable are looking to continue their purple patch of form with a home track win in the Bega Showcase Cup (1600m) on Sunday and co-trainer Paul Jones is confident they have the firepower to do it.
Barbara Joseph along with her sons Paul and Matt Jones saddle up a strong quartet as they bid to go back-to-back in the feature event after victory last year with Mercurial Lad.
Last Saturday’s $71 Randwick winner Room Number heads the charge for the stable although she will start favourite this week as she shoots to bring up a hat-trick of wins.
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!
“If you asked me 12 months ago, would she be winning in the city and running in an $80,000 Country Cup, I would have said ‘No’ but she has really come on with age,” Paul Jones said.
“A part of that improvement is from Quayde (Krogh) joining the stable.
“He has brought a bit of the Gai Waterhouse (former boss) positivity out of the gates which has really helped this mare.
“She has always been a horse that is a bit slow to step but Quayde is really driving her for the first couple of hundred metres and she is finding herself four lengths closer in the run.
“She has come through last week’s win very well. We couldn’t have hoped for her to be any better.”
Joining Room Number in the Bega Cup is She’s All In, Nieces And Nephews and Roman.
While Room Number took the prize last week, Jones was pleased with the effort of She’s All In from the same race.
After racing outside the leader, the daughter of Casino Prince boxed on well for fifth.
“They went nearly a second quicker than the other mile race on the day and she only just got pipped for fourth,” he said.
“Sapphire Coast can favour horses near the speed and she is adept on all track ratings as the other three in the Cup are with some rain forecast on Saturday afternoon and night.
“She is not without a chance on Sunday.”
Nieces And Nephews had a tough run in the Cowra Cup last start but wasn’t disgraced when beaten just over a length into fifth place.
“He sat four deep and Quayde thought he was still a chance at the 50m but just got tired late,” said Jones.
“His work this week was really good and we’re very happy with him.”
Lightly-raced seven-year-old Roman, a half-brother to Mercurial Lad, is the roughest of the stable’s runners but could be the smoky of the quartet according to Jones.
“It was a great run first-up in the Moruya Cup behind Peyton Place after missing a run leading into it,” he said.
“If he had that run under his belt, I think he would have been challenging for the win.
“He has really come on since and we couldn’t be happier with him.”
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 5, No.3 CAVALIER CHARLES
A lightly-raced five-year-old who closely related to Happy Clapper and Thankgodyou’rehere. Resuming from a spell and has won two from three first-up with a close second in the other. Trialled nicely at Canberra last week.
NEXT BEST
Race 6, No.1 PEYTON PLACE
Freshened since scoring a good win in his second Moruya Cup earlier this month. Drop back to 1200m won’t bother him and he will take catching.
VALUE BET
Race 8, No.5 BRAINZES
Scored a smart win here two runs back before winning again at Moruya last time out. Drawn to get the right run and can make it three in-a-row.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 4
Race 6: 1, 2, 7
Race 7: 3, 5, 6, 12
Race 8: 5, 6, 8, 12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jason Maskiell is making the trip to ride for Victorian trainer Richard Laming and they have a big team that must be respected.
TRAINER TO FOLLOW
Theresa Bateup has enjoyed plenty of success at the track with a career 20.9% winning strike rate and has some good chances.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 1:
Harley Street resumed for a new stable with a handy second at Moruya on January 3 after leading. Previous efforts were okay. Drawn the pole and is the one to catch. Hello Jack raced on speed and boxed on well for a close third at Canberra on debut. Will benefit from the run and drawn to be prominent again. Debutant Stone Lizzie has trialled well. Thieving was okay last start and is worth including in the multiples at odds.
Bet: Harley Street to win. Quinella/trifecta 1,2,4, 9
RACE 2:
Victorian visitor Cecil Street Lad drops in grade off a fifth in a Bm64 at Sandown-Hillside over 1300m. Was a Bm64 at Wangaratta the start prior in good fashion. Freshened and drop back to 1000m is suitable. Nobody’s Puppet tried hard when fourth to Lai See on a heavy track at Moruya last start. Will appreciate getting back on firmer ground. Grand Lusitano is better than his latest effort. Keep safe on win here two starts earlier. Millime is better than her latest run at Queanbeyan. Scored here at her previous run in good style.
Bet: Cecil Street Lad to win
RACE 3:
Densaur is ready to peak third-up after placings at his two runs back. Handy second to Dam Shame here December 27 before a third to Publicist in a Warwick Farm maiden. Pink Panther has turned in some handy efforts and will be at full fitness now third-up. Any sting out of the track will help. Need For Greed tried hard when third last start and won’t be far away again. Bobsled has claims on second at Cranbourne two starts back.
Bet: Densaur to win
RACE 4:
Leather Jacket Lew has been an improver since getting out over ground. Narrowly beaten when second at Dubbo on December 7 over 2210m before winning over 2100m at Goulburn last start. Topweight Dogmatic came from well back when to finish two lengths behind Look Closely over 2000m at Flemington on January 15. Foxtrot Bravo is better than his latest effort at Wyong. Nice second at Wagga the start prior. Zarafah and Lambardi should be included in the exotics.
Bet: Leather Jacket Lew to win
RACE 5:
Cavalier Charles resumes from a spell for Matthew Dale/Nick Heywood combination and has terrific first-up figures with two wins and a second from three starts. Scored a big win at Nowra first-up last time in before a second in the Highway at Rosehill. Was lame after his last run at Randwick before a spell. Shelby Sixtysix hasn’t had a lot go right in recent starts in TAB Highways. Beaten a short half head at Randwick three starts back and will be right in the mix on that. Fatigues is back from a spell. Victorian form is good enough to be very competitive.
Bet: Cavalier Charles to win
RACE 6:
Peyton Place scored his second consecutive win in the Moruya Cup under 63kg back on January 3 and has been freshened for the drop back to 1200m. Will roll to the front and take catching. Bombdiggity was game in defeat under 63kg in the Japan Cup at Cowra last start. Has won two from three at the track. Up Trumpz is racing in good form with placings at his three runs back this campaign and is close to a win. Akeed led all-the-way at Moruya last start and will give a sight again.
Bet: Peyton Place to win. Quinella/trifecta 1,2,7
RACE 7:
Room Number was at big odds at Randwick last Saturday but scored like a favourite with a dominant win from And We Danced over the mile. It was her second win in succession after victory at Canberra on January 12. Drawn to get the right run and is the one to beat again. The Guru has been freshened since his sixth to Huetor at Rosehill in early December. Won at Randwick and Kembla the two starts prior. Girls Are Ready was good when third to Trajection over 1400m at Warwick Farm nearly three weeks ago and ready to step up to the mile. Roman was good first-up behind Peyton Place and will take plenty of improvement from it. Drawn to get the right run and is a chance at odds.
Bet: Room Number to win
RACE 8:
Brainzes is shooting for a hat-trick after wins at Sapphire Coast and Moruya. The win here was over 1412m from barrier 2 and he has drawn gate 3 this time around. Should get a similar run and will go close again. Lady Tabloid was a handy third at Wagga when resuming before just being pipped on the same course on a heavy track second-up. Bella Broadway and Tornac have claims.
Bet: Brainzes to win
Originally published as Raceday focus: Best Bets and Inside Mail for Sapphire Coast plus Bega Cup preview
Niance returns in style after mystery skull fracture
Talented mare Niance made an impressive comeback in the Bel Esprit Stakes at Caulfield after overcoming an unusual setback.
Muswellbrook preview: Ball aims for an upset with promising youngsters
As recovery efforts from the floods in northern New South Wales persist, Taree trainer Tony Ball is set to challenge the odds-on favourite in the Greg Cribb Memorial at Muswellbrook.