Grafton, Kembla best bets, inside mail for Thursday, July 17, 2025

Form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and analysis of the quaddie legs at Grafton and Kembla on Thursday.

Adam Sherry previews Grafton and Kembla

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and analysis of the quaddie legs at Grafton and Kembla on Thursday.

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GRAFTON TIPS

BEST BET

Race 7 No.7: QUIETNESS

Good in both Australian starts. Up to her right distance.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.10: DERNIER LIEN

Resumed with a nice win and drawn to go back-to-back.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No.6: SO ROSIE

Handy run last star after being hampered. Extra distance suits.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 5, 10, 17

Race 6: 4, 5, 13

Race 7: 1, 7, 13

Race 8: 2, 3, 4, 6

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

With a solid book of rides, ASHLEY MORGAN will be popular in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

GRAFTON INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 66 SHOWCASE HANDICAP (1000m)

PORT ERIN (3) has been forced to go back to near last from wide gates before closing strongly when a length fourth at the Gold Coast and coming long the fence when third at Eagle Farm. Can settle closer from the inside gate. BOAMBEE BEACH (10) raced three-wide with cover and ran on nicely for a three-quarter-length Tryanza over 1175m here 11 days ago. Drawn better this time and meets him 3kg better. TRYANZA (17) carried 54.5kg after the claim when he led all the way. Up to 59.5kg here.

BET: PORT ERIN to win.

RACE 6: COUNTRY BOOSTED CLASS 6 SHOWCASE PLATE (1175m)

EMPEROR (5) was 25 days between runs when he came from last to be fourth behind Taltarni Fields under 61.5kg at Ipswich on June 6. Was bumped at the start and settled back before storming home to win over 1110m at Eagle Farm. GODFATHER (13) was held up rounding the home turn when a length third to King Yoshi at the Sunshine Coast first-up. Jockey stopped riding the last 50m in restricted room when fifth at Eagle Farm last start. BRAVELY (4) dropped back in grade to win at Murwillumbah last start.

BET: EMPEROR to win.

RACE 7: LISTED GRAFTON CUP (2350m)

QUIETNESS (7) was doing her best work late when third to Loch Eagle over 1600m at Randwick at her Australian debut. Stepped up to 2100m when a length second to Miss Joelene in the Listed Tatts Gold Crown at Eagle Farm. Her best European form was between 2300m and 2400m. DILLIAN (13) will find this a little easier than his recent assignments. Has been unlucky in his last three starts and could have finished in the placings in a couple of them with fortune on his side. Won smartly over 2400m at Eagle Farm in April. BELEVEDERE BOYS (1) and BEAR ON THE LOOSE (5) have strong claims.

BET: QUIETNESS to win.

RACE 8: SIR JAMES KIRBY QUALITY (1000m)

BURNING BELL (3) resumes off two good trials. Has a win and three placings from four first-up runs. Is a winner here. TWO YA GOT (2) won nicely over 1200m at the Gold Coast on June 7 before dropping back to 1000m when second there two weeks later after racing wide with cover. Boxed on for third there last start. OUTISHKA (4) has been freshened since her Gunnedah win. Blinkers go on.

BET: BURNING BELL to win.

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KEMBLA TIPS

BEST BET

Race 8 No.3: CROSS TASMAN

Appreciated a step up in trip to win last start. Go close again.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No.1: FIREWORK

Runner-up when resuming last campaign. Can go one better first-up here.

KEMBLA INSIDE MAIL

RACE 5: MIDWAY 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)

FIREWORK (1) resumes from a spell off a handy second in his Hawkesbury trial. Kicked off last campaign with a second to Fly Scotty Fly at Wyong before a second to Money Team. DENIAL (2) makes his NSW debut for a new stable. Runner-up at Horsham at his last run in April. Sat outside the leader before racing away to win his July 1 Kembla trial. INITIATE (5) chased home Divo at Wyong before a third to Capital Jacinta last start.

BET: FIREWORK to win.

RACE 6: PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1200m)

ZARAGOZA (4) was good winning over 1000m here on May 17 on a Soft 7. Followed up with a second to Be Quiet and a third to Romeo’s Choice in BM72 at Warwick Farm on heavy ground. Back in grade and gets a firmer track. THE EXTREME CAT (3) went back from a wide gate before making ground when ninth behind Motoscafo in a Midway at Rosehill first-up. Will appreciate a drop back to provincial grade and can get back to form. IRISH BLISS (6) is first-up for a new stable. Goes well fresh.

BET: ZARAGOZA to win.

RACE 7: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m)

SUPER SUGOI (7) was OK in his first two runs over shorter distances. Went back from a wide gate before working home for third to Dubai Warrior over 1600m at Wyong. Will give a bold sight from the inside gate. AUTUMN DREAM (3) returned with a third to My Mate Kate at Newcastle before a three length seventh to Heaven Bound at Hawkesbury. Blinkers on for the first time and will make her presence felt. SACRO CATINO (2) is much better than his last start failure at Randwick. Don’t dismiss.

BET: SUPER SUGOI each-way.

RACE 8: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1300m)

CROSS TASMAN (3) battled away when fourth to Duke Of Arrakis on debut on the Kensington. Took improvement from the experience and appreciate a step up in trip with a nice win over Cinsault at Hawkesbury. DIMITROV (1) placed in four of his first five starts before breaking through with a big win from Pasima over 1400m at Warwick Farm on Jan 26. Will give a big sight first-up. LA BELLA BONDI (10) raced very well last campaign with a fourth and three consecutive placings before ending her preparation with a handy win at Newcastle. Nice third to In Flight in her July 1 Kembla trial.

BET: CROSS TASMAN to win.