Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Nowra

Mirror One sent out some encouraging signs that he is ready to shed his maiden status at Gosford. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Matthew Dunn has found a nice race for Mirror One to score his maiden success.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gosford and Nowra.

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!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 3, No.1: MIRROR ONE

Lightly-raced gelding who made up ground when beaten three lengths at Canterbury. Second-up and has an extra 100m tacked on.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.10: AUSBRED BLUEBIRD

Perfectly placed here at the mile after an her eye-catching debut fifth at Canberra on a 1400m maiden 19-days ago.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.9: WINDABULL

Another one who is suited by a step up in trip. Very well weighted here with 54kg after the claim.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,9,10

Race 6: 10,12,13

Race 7: 3,10

Race 8: 2,6,7

Chad Schofield is set for a good day at Gosford on Friday. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Chad Schofield has enough ‘good rides’ to take out his first TAB Jockeys Challenge since arriving back from Hong Kong.

NOWRA

BEST BET
Race 3, No.2: SHAKA ROCK

Been going great guns this summer, even the last start ninth of 13 contained some merit given it the Summer Final and he got home hard.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.3: BEDFORD SQUARE

Won at Wyong last month; tried hard at Hawkesbury at her most recent outing. Down in class here.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No. 12: SHIPTON

Ran last on debut here back in late August. She is way better than that and is at good odds here.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 5

Windabull put up a good showing on debut in a 1350m at Beaumont 18-days ago when $51 into $21. It was always going to be a wee-bit short for him bearing in mind that he gets out to a mile here with the added benefit of barrier 2. Has promise. Campeao is an Irish-bred gelding who was $2.80 to $3.70 at his Australian debut. He led and faded late which is fair enough in light of the circumstances. Absurd will just about win if they take it Nowra.

Bet: Windabull to win

RACE 6

Ausbred Bluebird is a Brad Widdup-trained filly who has been taken along steadily which is fair enough given that she has it all ahead of her and will one day be running ‘trips’ here and there. She was a real eye-catcher on debut at Canberra; that was 1400m, this is 1600m. Pink Ivory, the daughter of Lotteria, was $101 on debut in town on December 3 but actually ran pretty well. Crying out for the mile too. Flying Witness has the metro form.

Bet: Ausbred Bluebird to win, Pink Ivory to place, exacta 10 to beat 13, quinella 10,13

Trainer Brad Widdup steps Ausbred Bluebird up to a mile after an eye-catching debut. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Walkin’Talkin’ is a Gary Portelli-trained gelding by his own former flying machine I’m All The talk. The son has been very well placed and hasn’t let the side down at any stage. If he runs anywhere near to matching that fourth to Kir Royal, that’ll have some trouble beating him here. Trust Me has won 8 races and 4 of them have been at this venue. The horse is actually going better than it looks on paper. Don’t dismiss. Underboiss has ‘the draw’.

Bet: Walkin’Talkin; to win, exacta 3 to beat 10

RACE 8

Confessed has always shown ability from well before her unlucky debut at the annual Melbourne Cup Day meeting at Muswellbrook behind Patino Ruby. As it stands, the Kris Lees-trained mare has raced eight times for two wins and three thirds. If she is within a few lengths of the leader turning in, she could finish over the top. Starboreta was heavily backed and never, ever going to lose first-up/first run for Nathan Doyle. Commands respect. Ditto Evening Bride is she is here.

Bet: Confessed to win

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NOWRA

RACE 4

Shipton was rather underwhelming on here back in late August. No need to revisit the run except to she was last throughout and beaten 11-lengths. The trick is, she is better than that - surely, but with the caveat that she can work herself her up in a tizz pre-race. Miss Lennorr will need luck from the wide alley but she is arguably the most talented horse in the race. Big run at Wyong last start. The Bjorn Baker pair Little Miss Magic and Joyzel are clear contenders.

Bet: Shipton each-way, quinella 1,12

RACE 5

Trivia time; Jason Coyle-trained both the mother and father of Penopera who is owned by his own mother and father. As for the horse herself, she has been taken along slowly and the Coyle’s are reaping the rewards with a win and a second at the last two outings. Dawn Flight is the big threat here. She is a Kembla winner and has trialled up well enough to suggest she is forward enough to make an impact. Kimberley Rain’s two career wins are both at Nowra.

Bet: Penopera to win

Brock Ryan partners Uncle Al Pal for Robert and Luke Price. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

The stars align here Uncle Al Pal. The Robert and Luke Price-trained gelding is first-up bearing on mind that the last time he resumed was at Kembla and he came from a long way back to run second to one of Gwenda Markwell’s. Hedge Fund was $21 to $41 back into $31 on debut at Goulburn but ended up running more like a $5 shot. Drew 1 there, has 13 here - doesn’t run him out of course. If Press Forward brings her trials to race day, she will give them something to chase down.

Bet: Uncle Al Pal to win

RACE 7

Absurd could easily be at Gosford. I would have thought this is the easier race for the filly even though she is genuine provincial class having placed at Newcastle and Kembla at her only two runs. She’ll be midweek soon enough too once she earns a few bucks and leaps a few grades. Vega Prince is working his way towards a first win. He hasn’t run a place yet but he has been in some much, much better races than this one. Aye Darby has a wide draw but he has been known to run some big races at big odds.

Bet: Absurd to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Nowra