Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Grafton

Following her smart win in the Prelude last start, Tara Jasmine can add the Jacaranda Cup to her resume. BEST BET, INSIDE MAIL

Tara Jasmine is out to maintain her unbeaten record at Grafton in Wednesday’s Jacaranda Cup.

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

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!

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 7, No.2: TARA JASMINE

Has an incredible record of 5 from 5 at this venue including the 1175m course record and won the Prelude to this race easily last start.

NEXT BEST

Race 6, No.7: COCO ROX

Matthew Dunn trained filly who was tipped out after finishing third at Doomben in February. Trialled up well for the return.

VALUE BET

Race 3, No.8: SHUKKAS

Still looking for that first elusive win after 20 starts but did enough when runner-up at her most outing to suggest that this might be her day.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4,8

Race 6: 6,7

Race 7: 2

Race 8: 2,4

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 7, No.2 TARA JASMINE to beat No.4: ZACK ATTACK

DAILY DOUBLE

1st leg: 7

2nd Leg: 4

Ben Looker has a good book of rides including Tara Jasmine in the Jacaranda Cup.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Ben Looker will be carrying the hopes of many, if not most punters, when Tara Jasmine aims to make it ‘6 from 6’ at Grafton.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GRAFTON

RACE 1

Noble Missile is a first starter who makes his debut at home but with a wide draw albeit in a small field which will help. Nothing wrong with his trial. Market the best guide. Hardley Grey raced handy and stuck to his guns in a Lismore maiden on September 9. Grey Enuff trialled well here 8-days ago.

Bet: Divine Courage to win

RACE 2

Rose Bouquet has two wins and six placings from her 12 starts. On top of that she has placed at three of her five visits to Grafton including when a neck second here at her most recent outing. Go well again. Rahaah is a very fit mare who absolutely bolted in here over 2220m on the Heavy track on October 19. Back to a mile here keeping in mind she has only won from 1900m to 2220m. Electric Miss has only won twice in 27 starts and is unplaced in five starts at the venue but is generally thereabouts in the run and at the finish line.

Bet: Rose Bouquet to win

RACE 3

Shukkas is a 20-start maiden with just one second and three thirds on her card but the good news is that she ran a P.B at her most recent appearance which also happened to be over this same track and distance. Hichaux is a 29-start maiden but has placed nine times and seven of those are seconds. Three of those seven are at Grafton and he will have no issues at all with the trip. Gaslighter is third up and seems to be on an upward trajectory.

Bet: Shukkas each-way, quinella 4,8, box First 4: 1,2,4,8

Luke Rolls partners Creme De Vin for trainer Dean Smith.

RACE 4

Creme De Vin broke through for a well-earned win at starts 14 in a 2110m maiden and won with an air of supremacy in the small field. Bumped into a superior horse here after that when the best part of three-lengths behind Laphroaig. Beautifully placed to win again. Bold Contender was on the quick back-up and was giving away a headstart when a length and tail behind Creme De Vin at his last start. Dunara is a bit one-paced but is in the right race.

Bet: Creme De Vin to win, quinella 1,4

RACE 5

Franklin Corners is racing in fantastic form; that much is clear given that the local is aiming for a hat-trick of wins. Better still, this is his home track where two of his five career wins have come, one of them at this same distance. Wewonya is an eleven-year-old gelding preparing for his 80th start here. Has one third from 10 starts at Grafton but he ran a huge race in a good race at Port Mac 11-days ago. In Hearts Wake is first-up and usually performs fresh. Trialled twice over 1000m and has drawn to remain prominent. Beckford has claims.

Bet: Franklin Corners to win, Wewonya to place

RACE 6

Coco Rox hasn’t been seen since she finished third in a two-year-old race at Doomben back on February 4. She trialled well at Lismore on October 17 so seems ready now. Market watch is essential. Ditto the debutant Byron Eyes who hails from a prolific winning stable and there was enough in her recent trial to suggest she win acquit herself. Miss Miraculous showed pace but was no match for the winner in debut here a fortnight ago.

Bet: Coco Rox to win, box trifecta 6,7,10,12

Matthew McGuren has a number of good rides including Shukkas and Coco Rox.

RACE 7

Tara Jasmine is unbeaten in five runs here including a course record win with 61.5kg on her back prior to her easy win in the Jacaranda Prelude to win her way through to Wednesday’s Jacaranda Cup. Nothing is certain in racing but how could you tip against her on all that she has done? Her main obstacle would seemingly be Zac Attack who has to reverse a two-lengths deficit on John Shelton’s mare from their Prelude ‘clash’ but Zac was first-up so has improvement in store. Bel Academy split Tara Jasmine and Zac Attack in the Prelude and could just about lead here.

Bet: Tara Jasmine to win, exacta 2 to beat, trifecta 2 (standout) to beat 3,4,6 (boxed)

RACE 8

Thunder Moon got his career off to the perfect and popular start when leading throughout to win at the $4.20 starting price in a 1200m maiden at Murwillumbah on October 11. Never easy to win and take the next step right away but he has found the right race and the right barrier. In Fiore has only won three times in 33 starts but has placed 12 times. The most crucial of all stats however is his record at home; 9 starts for three wins, two seconds and a third. La Roca is a mile maiden winner who will get better from here but has enough natural talent to run well fresh.

Bet: Thunder Moon to win, quinella 2,4, exacta 4 to beat 2

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