Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Sapphire Coast
Midori Fuji bolted in last start at Nowra and going by that win he will do well again here in a higher grade. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
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Daily Telegraph form analyst Matt Jones gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gosford and Sapphire Coast.
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GOSFORD
BEST BET
Race 3, No.7: MIDORI FUJI
He’s only coming off a bush win but it was some performance at Nowra last start, winning by nearly seven lengths. He gets another wet track to thrive on.
NEXT BEST
Race 6, No.3: MR WALLACE
He returns a gelding now and going off his trial form it has made a big difference to him and he can get show off his true ability.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 4, 5, 7
Race 6: 3, 4, 9
Race 7: 2, 6, 7
Race 8: 1, 2, 3
JOCKEY TO WATCH
Apprentice Zac Lloyd only has three rides but Credit Crunch, Mr Wallace and Egyptian Tycoon are all winning hopes.
SAPPHIRE COAST
BEST BET
Race 4, No.1: CONSTANTINOU
She’s not been seen for 13 weeks since winning in fine fashion at this track on heavy ground. Trust her to return in good order and sprint well fresh which she’s done in the past.
TRAINER TO WATCH
Natalie Jarvis looks to have good chances with Constantinou first-up in the fourth while Flying Cathay is a good hope in the opening event on the card.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD
RACE 5
Flying Witness comes into this off a last start win at Goulburn which was expected as a well backed horse. He does sit off them but has run second here in the past and will run it out strongly. Credit Crunch will like the track conditions and is on a quicker back up here which should make plenty of difference so look for a bold performance. Dissenter just missed out here last start over this trip when well supported and she will be in the first few in the run and should be looking the goods approaching the home straight.
Bet: Credit Crunch to win
RACE 6
Mr Wallace returns after failing here on debut last December when sent out a $2.80 chance. He’s back now as a gelding and has looked the part in his barrier trials so expect a much better result this time. Lovero has barrier one and is well placed here by an in-form stable and she should lead or box seat and get every chance if she’s come back good enough. Never underestimate Tracey Bartley who has placed his first starter Let Her Speak here and she should be very forward for this.
Bet: Mr Wallace to win
RACE 7
Oakfield Blue Bell was sent down the road for a barrier trial here no doubt with a view of debuting on the track and she jumped and led all the way on a Heavy 8 surface to win the heat by five lengths. Brett Partelle has found Willie Pike to ride Iconic Story first-up and he looked pretty good in a trial here and didn’t disgrace herself at her only run last prep at Newcastle and the winkers go on now. She’s A Bad Girl wasn’t shirking the task over the line first-up and they’ve put the tongue tie on now so expect an even better horse this time.
Bet: Iconic Story to win
RACE 8
Assiduity presents first-up off two winning barrier trials and his on pace style will suit this track and he’s by Deep Field so he should like the wet ground here and he won fresh last time in so he’s got to be a leading contender. Kim Waugh’s pair Oxford Vision and The Bullring take each other on and the former has the fitness on his side while the latter runs well fresh. Egyptian Tycoon trialled up just in behind a couple of Group 1 standard horses and he won first-up in town last prep and is a horse on the way up and is well placed at the provincials fresh from a good drawn with a claim.
Bet: Egyptian Tycoon to win
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 4
Constantinou hasn’t been seen since winning well here in July but she’s relished wet ground thus far and she’s draw fair enough and should be trusted to perform here fresh. Morezmo gets in well here with the claim and inside gate but she does sit back off the speed so she will look to avoid slow horses as she makes her move in the home straight. Maybe a touch of luck will be needed but she has the finish to threaten if she gets clear air. I Am Mighty won three starts back and hasn’t been bad since and was only three lengths off the winner at the provincials last start.
Bet: Constantinou to win
RACE 5
A weak race so we might look to the lightly raced horses here. Vain Invader is one of the them after having just two runs and he ran second last two weeks ago at Tamworth when just missing out on a win on a Heavy 8 track. He’s drawn much better now and with natural improvement off a first-up run and he should get all the favours this time and be hard to beat. Battle Award may have only run fifth at Bathurst last time over 1100m but she wasn’t weakening on the line and will like a little extra ground here. If Bonus Tempus starts he’s a hope off a third placing at Goulburn last time out.
Bet: Vain Invader to win
RACE 6
Merc got back into form first-up at Goulburn with a nice win and he’s well placed here with a claim and good gate but he’s never put two in a row together. That can change here. They were all going to the outside fence at Goulburn last start and Fantini couldn’t do that after coming out of an inside gate so she may not have got the best chance to win but she wasn’t far off them. Lock Up The Kittens ran second last week and he loves heavy ground so look for a good run from the handy barrier. Lucky Tabloid had to do too much work to find a spot last start so forgive that result.
Bet: Merc to win
RACE 7
Urjuwaan is knocking on the door now third-up after two placings to kick off her career for new trainer Matthew Stephens. Ivira drops back to 1400m off a 1650m flop but a four week freshen up should suit her now in an average race. Big Steve was trapped three deep with no cover last time and that won’t happen now from barrier six and while he hasn’t won here yet he’s generally always run top three at this circuit.
Bet: Big Steve to win
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Sapphire Coast
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