Raceday preview, best bets and inside mail for Armidale

Local trainer Stirling Osland is hoping for a “special” effort from his mare at his home track as form analyst Matt Jones runs the rule over the meeting at Sunday.

Stirling Osland (left) is hoping Special Day can race closer to the lead at Armidale. Picture: AAP

Local trainer Stirling Osland knows how horses win races at Armidale which is why he thinks Special Day will have to race a little more promising if she’s to win the fourth race on Sunday.

“It can be tough at Armidale for horses that like to drop back so I hope we don’t get too far out of our ground to reel them in there,” he said.

“There’s not much point in dropping way back at Armidale over 1300m so we’ll have to have a little dig and slide in somewhere and hopefully get a bit of luck.”

Special Day has to come out of barrier 12 which is why she need some luck to get a spot from that start.

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She ran fifth at both her starts last time in at Muswellbrook and under her new trainer Osland won a barrier trial at her new home track last week over 1000m.

“I thought her trial was nice the other day,” he said.

“She got through her gears and came off the back of horses and found the line well.

“I think she looks like she’s come back nicely and it’s just a matter of where we get to in the running.

“We’ve put plenty of work into here and we’re always pretty confident in putting work into horses and having them to go first-up and she’ll run 1300m on her ear.”

Osland said he was confident Hasalake will have more than one win and one placing this preparation.

She returns from a 14-week spell off a nice barrier trial to get ready for her Benchmark 58 (1100m).

“She’ll be able to sit midfield and there should be a lot of scratchings,” Osland said.

“I think she will definitely run nicely first-up. Her record in the past first-up is pretty handy.

“She tends to hit the ground running pretty well but she is fresh on a heavy track.

“She has come back nicely and there’s plenty of speed in her legs. On her win at Inverell she looks to have a bit of class there.”

Stirling Osland will be at his home track on Sunday. Picture: AAP

Hasalake has only won once from 13 starts with seven placings and Osland thinks she can convert more good runs into wins this preparation.

“I think she’ll be in the top three and she looks as good as we’ve ever had her looking and she’s not carrying a lot of weight,” Osland said.

Razzle Dazzle is the other horse Osland is running and she kicks things off for the stable in the opening race over 1400m, a Class 2 event.

The mare is third-up off 1100m and 1200m runs and is at the right time of her preparation to get back up over a more favourable trip.

“She just didn’t have the speed in those short course races but she’s been running the fastest last 600m in at least one of those two races,” Osland said.

“She’ll appreciate getting up to 1400m and I expect her to be running a really nice race from a good draw and she can position up nicely with the blinkers on as well.

“She should be closer in the run now and hopefully finishing off just as well.”

MATT JONES’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No.3: DEEPSTAR

She’s become very consistent this time in and under Luke Pepper and she’s shown she can handle a wet track and her fifth placing last start was behind a handy winner.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No.9: LADY RUPERT

She’s resuming here from a good gate and looked the part in a recent barrier trial. Her previous form last preparation showed she was a horse on the rise and can go on with it here.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No.4: ROMAN REBEL

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 5, 7, 9

Race 5: 2, 9, 10, 12

Race 6: 8, 9, 11

Race 7: 3, 7

TRAINER TO WATCH

Scott Singleton’s four horses, Hard To Dismiss, Cliffsinger, Firey Panz and Chestnut Scaffa, looked well placed here.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Mikayla Weir has a big book and Razzle Dazzle, Firey Panz, Cutandshut looked like they can threaten.

INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Thunder Fox shoots for three-straight wins and his win two back was on a Heavy 10 track and last start it was at this track on a Soft 7. He likes to be on the speed and may even lead them into the straight which is the way to go about things on a day like this. Calgary King has been racing in tougher events than this and handles it wet and has won at 1400m. Hard To Dismiss has placed at her pas three and hasn’t been far off the winner of late including a one a half-length loss to Keen Contributer who would be winning this race fairly well. Mr Severino likes the wet and will appreciate getting over more ground third-up and looks ready to win especially if Hard To Dismiss doesn’t run.

Bet: Mr Severino to win

RACE 2

Hyland Bay knows how to run a place but has only won once from 12 attempts but he comes out a strong enough race at Tamworth last start when sent out $3.90 to run a length third on a Heavy 10. He’s got to be a much better chance on a quicker back up now. Hombre Grande goes from 1400m straight up to 1700m here but it should suit him third-up and being by So You Think, he’ll get the trip. So will Ponte Pietra who ran third here last start down in grade. Cliffsinger is ready for 1700m now. She gets back so luck is needed but she teased us last start into backing her here with a strong finish.

Bet: Hyland Bay to win

RACE 3

Metal Bar hasn’t won yet from 16 starts but has placed in nearly half of them and was pushed out to win his second barrier trial this time in so should be ready to go here in what is a very weak race. Roman Rebel is an interesting runner here. He’s racing for new trainer Samantha McGuren after having one barrier trial for Ross Stitt in April. In it he looked the part in doing it comfortable behind Wizard Of Oz who has won a couple of races since and was competitive in a Highway not long ago. Watch the betting. Firey Panz has been good without winning and if she can find a length or two she’s right in this with luck from the wide gate.

Bet: Roman Rebel each way

RACE 4

Expect Special Day to try and go forward from the wide gate and slot in somewhere midfield and if she can get cover she can threaten. Suva May has run second at her past five runs and has finished second eight times to date from 17 attempts. She’s got to break through at some point and today might be the day on a wet track from a perfect gate. Scanlan has been off the scene for a long time but has run well fresh in the past. Hello Monday has to be peaking now off a couple of nice runs under a new trainer.

Bet: Suva May to win

RACE 5

Cutandshut will be better for the race day experience on debut when third at a lesser meeting. But this isn’t an overly strong race either. A Bit Bazarre was well backed to win on debut at Tamworth but flopped on a Heavy 10. He might be worth another chance if this track is drier. The Dance has been running in stronger races than this so this is his chance to show something and he should handle it wet.

Bet: The Dance to win

RACE 6

Hasalake wasn’t too bad last time in with a win placing from four runs but his trainer is certain he can do even better this time in and he has her ready to fire fresh on her home track. Sussu has the race fitness on her side and she should be able to sit outside the leader and should give this a good shake as a lightly-raced horse with it all in front of her. Lady Rupert looks to have a fine turn of speed and showed more than enough at her first preparation to suggest she’s placed to win this and I liked her barrier trial.

Bet: Lady Rupert to win

RACE 7

Deepstar smashed them at Inverell three back and has been good since on wet ground and last start was beaten by two lengths by Keen Contributer who would be winning this race. Peter Sinclair’s pair of Pyrmont and Fiocchi have drawn out but are racing well even if it’s been in lesser grade at times. Luck tells how far they go here. Quatre Zip has been racing pretty well in tougher parts of the state and has a top trainer looking after him so look for a nice run.

Bet: Deepstar to win

Originally published as Raceday preview, best bets and inside mail for Armidale