Raceday focus: Best bets for Goulburn, Port Macquarie

Matthew Smith has a progressive stayer on his hands who can atone for losing his latest effort on protest. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Matthew Smith has a promising stayer in Mediaro who looks hard to beat at Goulburn. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Goulburn and Port Macquarie.

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GOULBURN

BEST BET

Race 6, No.5: MEDIARO

He looks like a really nice up and coming stayer for Matthew Smith. He was doing his best work late last time when first over the line before being relegated to fourth on protest which was really unlucky considering how good he was on the line.

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Race 8, No.6: SEA TREASURES

He’s drawn poor which is why he’s not the bet of the day. But he should be too good for these after running pretty well in a high class Group 1 last time. He’s back to a Benchmark 58 now.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 7, 9

Race 6: 4, 5, 10

Race 7: 1, 2, 4, 6

Race 8: 6, 7

Alysha Collett can close out the Goulburn meeting on a strong note. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Look for Alysha Collett to have a strong finish to the day with Sizzle Chic and Travelling Kate looking like good chances.

PORT MACQUARIE

BEST BET

Race 6, No.6: SURJIN

Paul Perry has given his veteran seven-year-old his easiest assignment in a long time here. If he holds his current form he should be good enough to break through again.

TRAINER TO WATCH

Kris Lees is a really good chance of going home with a winning double with the likes of Mauricently, Luscinia and Terrameades looking good chances.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOULBURN

RACE 5

California Press has trialled up in comfortable fashion for Team Snowden and gets all the favours from the gate so, as an improving horse, he should be hard to beat fresh off two top trials. Feuilla is the one to watch regarding the betting on the day. We didn’t learn much off her lead up trial when she wasn’t pushed too hard. She’s from a yard that will have her well educated for her debut. Miss Adrenalin is set to peak now and has the fitness on her side and should be pushing forward from a wide gate. Fashion Fort was a fair trialler but is in a top stable.

Bet: California Press

RACE 6

Mediaro is a horse on the rise and goes up to 2100m for the first time and he should be suited by that trip after doing his best work late last start. He was first over the line that day but was relegated to fourth so his from is much better than it reads on paper. Circling won at this track and distance two runs back and would like a drying track to get back into winning form. He too is a hose with more wins in front of him. Bastida gets in well at the weights which is important over this trip and he surprised punters with a second placing at Newcastle last time as a $151 chance. His trainer John Sargent is a master at getting young horses firing over a trip though.

Bet: Mediaro to win

Jay Ford (pictured) rides Mediaro for trainer Matthew Smith. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Never Cry should be getting an ideal run one off the fence and a pair back and that gives him his chance to win another race after two good runs this time in. He won at this track third-up last preparation and it wouldn’t surprise if it happened again. American President is a consistent type and is pretty familiar with this track now and will sit off the speed and should be coming home late. Sizzle Chic will push forward from a wide gate after winning in fine fashion at Newcastle last time when odds on which suggested that she can go on with it up in grade.

Bet: Sizzle Chic to win

RACE 8

Travelling Kate was unlucky not to win last time over 1500m at Newcastle on a heavy track and the extra 100m is what she may need to run them down from the back this time. Sea Treasures drops back from a Group 1 to a country Benchmark 58 so he won’t know what hit him here. All he has to do is hold his current form and he wins. Yasamine has got the blinkers on for the first time and if they improver her a length she’ll be in the money.

Bet: Sea Treasures to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR PORT MACQUARIE

RACE 5

Off Her Roca is finding racing in this part of the state easier, having run two fourths at Port Macquarie this time in when beaten less than two lengths on both occasions. The tongue tie is on for the first time too. Miakdo drops back in grade after running at Canterbury last time when attracting some support there so he should be a favoured runner at this level. Theo Legion should also find this easier and it’s his pet trip too so it’s hard to see him not being in the top four across the line.

Bet: Off Her Roca to win

RACE 6

Mauricently has been costly for punters last her past two when defeated at $2.05 and $2.60. She’s only lightly raced and is on the rise and should be an improver here but she will need a good ride from Dylan Gibbons to win. Bacio Del Mist is back on grade here and is more suitably placed to go close again and getting out to 2000m should suit her. Surjin is also going to find this field easier to defeat. In fact, it’s the easiest race he’s been in for a long time and the veteran proved last time in a cup race that he wasn’t done with yet.

Bet: Quinella 6, 8

Trainer Todd Howlett prepares Holy Tycoon who looks well placed to score at Port Macquarie. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Put a line through Holy Tycoon’s sixth at Newcastle last time. She gets the run of the race from the barrier and she’s raced well here before with a win and a second from two attempts so expect a bounce back. Moyassar has a pretty good record already and he raced better than punters expected at his first run for new trainer Lisa Sheppard and he’s raced best with second-up. Crimson Rock presents fresh for a new trainer and has won at the provincials so he’s in this.

Bet: Holy Tycoon to win

RACE 8

New Republic broke through in impressive fashion at Taree second-up even if he looked a little green. It was a good sign that he won on talent alone. He can only get better with each run. Luscinia was spelled after winning on debut at Taree when showing a fine turn of foot and he’s trialled up well enough to give them a fright again. I like the last trial of Terrameades who did it against some pretty handy horses but she will need luck from the wide gate.

Bet: New Republic to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets for Goulburn, Port Macquarie