Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford

A step up in distance sees a Chris Waller-trained import perfectly placed to post his first Australian win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Chris Waller prepares imported gelding Fiordland who can end the day on a high note at Gosford. Picture: Getty Images

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

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 7, No.5: FIORDLAND

Chris Waller-trained Irish-bred gelding who ran a really good race at Newcastle first-up down here then went better than it looked at Warwick Farm after that. Mile is the key.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.4: SPATLET

Could be in the Midway on Saturday if not here. Plenty of trainers will be hoping he goes to Randwick on Boxing Day.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.3: DESTINY’S BOUNTY

Have to suggest that he has talent above the norm judging on his three trials, won two of them and went super too at the other one. Nice horse.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 2,3,9,10

Race 5: 2,3,7,8

Race 6: 1,2,3,4

Race 7: 5

Chad Schofield can make a splash on his return to Australian racing at Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Grant Guy

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Cox Plate winning jockey Chad Schofield is back in town and can mark his return to Sydney racing with a double.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Spaltet has accepted for the Midway on Boxing Day. Annabel Neasham could give these other trainers an early Christmas gift by scratching here and going there because from all angles, Spaltet is a giant obstacle. He’s been unlucky - clearly - but surely this is his day if things go his way. Son Of Emperor’s presence removes any suggestion that Spatlet is a ‘moral’. This David Payne-trained son of Canberra Cup winning mare, Fill The Page, overdid it up front at Canterbury the other night. Blinkers off. Conference beat Son Of Emperor here two runs ago and may be hard to pass again.

Bet: Spaltet to win or, if scratched, Son Of Emperor to win

RACE 2

You don’t see too many horses circle the field, come wide and charge over the top of them at Gosford but that’s exactly the nature of Midori Beauty’s amazing debut win back on October 7. It’s never easy of course to win a Class 1 after the maiden and this isn’t a bad little field if they all start. That said, sticking with the Baker gelding unless the market says otherwise. Yardstick has run in much better races than a provincial Class 1 and often run well. This will be his first start for Jason Deamer who would have been pleased with his trial no doubt. Moon Reader didn’t have a lot of room late in the Kensington race and has done nothing wrong.

Bet: Midori Beauty to win

Jason Collett partners Midori Beauty for Bjorn Baker. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

Cristalino is a daughter of Tarzino and is in-bred to Sir Tristram so you can be sure that Kris Lees has been waiting for an opportunity to step him up to a mile and more to come later on. You could make the case that he probably should have won at Mudgee first-up but whatever the case, we can all at least agree that is in a bonza race for him. Den Moss has raced three times - 1100m, 1200m, 1400m and now 1600m. Just has that nasty draw to overcome. Apache Jewel is by ATC Derby winner Nom Du Jeu out of a mare by Nothin’ Leica Dane. Trips suits big time.

Bet: Cristalino to win

RACE 4

Dijon’s rider, Chad Schofield, will be as keen to make his return to Sydney racing a memorable one. He could actually ride a double because these two debutants - Dijon and Destiny’s Bounty - have trialled like they can win. The danger might be Flying Shamus which is only appropriate given that Chad Schofield rode her father, Shamus Award, to win the Cox Plate. This one has also trialled nicely. Wolf Queen was costly at odds-on at Mudgee but it was a Heavy 9 on debut miles and mile from home.

Bet: Dijon to win, quinella/exacta 2,9

RACE 5

The aforementioned Destiny’s Bounty is Chad Schofield’s second, and only other ride, at Gosford and by some coincidence, both horses are by the Silver Slipper winner and Vinery sire Headwater. This one is trained by John O’Shea and has trialled three times, he won two of them and was the best one on the heat when runner-up at the third. Nice horse in a nice race though because everyone knows if the best Overlord turned up, he would be a hard one to toss. Loved the trials but hate the barrier. Speaking of trials, the Team Hawkes trained Nickelback has looked the goods and so did Starmoss on his heat.

Bet: Destiny’s Bounty to win, box First 4: Nos. 2,3,7,8,14

Regan Bayliss (pictured) rides Rifles for trainer Brett Partelle. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 6

Rifles has won three races in 14 starts but it is worth noting that two of those three wins have been first-up as he is here. The Brett Partelle-trained son of Smart Missile lacks nothing in pace and speed, where he gets to from a wide draw remains to be seen. Cracking trial at Wyong at the start of the month. Da Nang Star is a lightly raced half-brother to Peeping and Inglis Guineas winner, France. Super at the first campaign, went out a winner, and has trialled twice for what is the perfect race for the horse. Secretively was scratched from Warwick Farm on Wednesday to run here. Moralist is always a chance and has the rails draw.

Bet: Rifles to win

RACE 7

Fiordland is a Chris Waller-trained import who ran a really nice race at his first Australian starts at Newcastle on October 16 when finishing a shrinking two and a half lengths from the winner and stablemate Sur La. Mer. Next seen on December 1 at Warwick Farm in a 1300m Benchmark 64. Didn’t do a whole lot to be sure but he just couldn’t get a mile quick enough. Weekend Affair has only won four times but has 20 placings and bet that he paid $3 or more at most of them. Crosscube and Schoona The Better are the pacemakers. Go well the pair.

Bet: Fiordland to win (best bet) but, if scratched, Weekend Affair to place

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