Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Goulburn and Ballina on Tuesday

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses Tuesday’s NSW cards at Goulburn and Ballina, presenting his best bets, quaddie picks and inside mail.

Minnehaha Falls, pictured winning at Wyong in September last year, is Shayne O'Cass's best value bet of the day at Goulburn on Tuesday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Form expert Shayne O’Cass analyses Tuesday’s NSW cards at Goulburn and Ballina, presenting his best bets, quaddie picks and inside mail.

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GOULBURN TIPS

BEST BET
Race 4 No.2 NAVY BUOY: Lightly-raced type who has trialled in encouraging style ahead of this.

NEXT BEST
Race 5 No.7 MAISON LOUIS: Blueblooded NZ bred galloper with a future beyond country racing.

VALUE
Race 7 No.12 MINNEHAHA FALLS: Sister to Icebath; loaded with potential and beautifully placed here.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 2,3
Race 5: 6,7
Race 6: 5,8,9,15
Race 7: 12,15,17,18

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Andrew Calder will steer Navy Buoy and The Professor at Goulburn on Tuesday.

GOULBURN INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1400m)

SON OF RUBICK (5) is trained locally by the Highway Queen, Danielle Seib, which explains why both of the gelding’s career starts have been here at home at Goulburn. Both were quite good, the first one was very good in fact. Suspect back to 1400m today from 1500m is a plus. CAMMI (7) has placed four times from 11 starts, three of them are seconds. Hasn’t won yet of course but is reliable and appeals in this line-up. MALINGA MISSILE (3) could race handier today from a good alley and up in trip.

BET: SON OF RUBICK (5) to win, exacta 5 to beat 7.

RACE 2: Maiden Plate (1000m)

NAMI’S JEWEL (8) has been trialling exceedingly well ahead of her return to racing in March 20 in a Newcastle 900m where she led and was passed late. Just for the record, she was beaten eight lengths on debut in a Super Maiden there won by, wait for it, Private Harry! Drawn to run well again. EXCESS CAPITAL (6) hasn’t yet been able to bring her trial form to raceday but there is still time. Fast run 1000m would suit. CAPITAL BABE (5) won’t be a maiden for long.

BET: NAMI’S JEWEL (8) to win, box trifecta 5,6,8,11.

RACE 3: Benchmark 58 (900m)

WEDDING PLANNER (4) is worth a fortune at stud being by I Am Invincible; her third dam is Shantha’s Choice. This Gerry Harvey-bred mare won on debut at Muswellbrook on Feb 3 when Anthony Cummings had her. Looks a mare that will just keep on improving as she goes. XSPIRITOUS (5) has a tidy record of two wins and two thirds from seven starts. Not sure that she is as talented at Wedding Planner but she has experience on her and local experience as well. Could be hard to pass from box two here.

BET: WEDDING PLANNER (4) to win, quinella 4,5.

RACE 4: Maiden Handicap (1200m)

NAVY BUOY (2) came from well back to finish third on debut over 1200 in Canberra on December 13. He was last seen, holding his ground, on January 2 at Muswellbrook when and where he clocked in fourth in the 1500m Maiden. Nice race for him today and the trial was an absolute ripper. TWINKLING STAR (3) has been running well in some good quality provincial maidens of late. She won’t get many better opportunities to break on through with barrier 5 and Keagan Latham. DEEP EMOTION (6) put the writing on the wall, somewhat, with that distant second at Beaumont.

BET: NAVY BUOY (2) to win (best bet).

RACE 5: Class 1 Plate (1600m)

MAISON LOUIS (7) was a $250,000 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale purchase in 2023. He’d make twice that now given how hot the Super Seths are at the auctions. Born and raised at Pencarrow Stud, his dam was a stakeswinner, this is the Richeboug family that gave us Ethereal and lots more. Got lots of scope this horse and is going places. THE PROFESSOR (6) has been off the scene a long time but he’s trialling like a happy horse and maybe the mile gives him his chance to win. ROSE’S LEGACY (16) has claims.

BET: MAISON LOUIS (7) to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 7, 2nd Leg 12.

RACE 6: Benchmark 58 (1200m)

SO YOU PENCE (9) is by dual Cox Plate winner So You Think but her pedigree is all Golden Slipper! Her first three dams are by Sepoy, Stratum and then Roy’s Jester. So You Pence (in the Private Harry colours) has an impressive record of three starts for a win and two seconds. That most recent second came here on march 11 where he was getting ever closer to the (handy) winner Xcessive Force. PRINCE PAPA (8) was excellent in a very good quality Benchmark 58 at Wagga last start. How odd, and a little troublesome, that he has raced 7 times here for zip.

BET: SO YOU PENCE (9) to win.

RACE 7: Benchmark 66 (1400m)

MINNEHAHA FALLS (12) races in the colours of her breeder Mark Chittick and hails from one of the best Waikato Stud families. We could go on and on but the main reason why this mare is worth so much later on is that she is a sister to Icebath. Did some good things at the first preparation and is bred to be better again this one and the one after. Trialling well. This is just the ideal race for DUBAI WARRIOR (18). He could/should end up a city grade horse and maybe sooner rather than later. OCEAN DIVA (17) first-up 1400m at Goulburn; that’s classic Sarge! Can win too.

BET: MINNEHAHA FALLS (12) to win, quinella 12,18, box trifecta 12,15,17,18.

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BALLINA TIPS

BEST BET
Race 8 No.10 DAZZLING ROBERT: Has won here on a Heavy 8. Go well.

NEXT BEST
Race 3 No.10 DEEP STEALTH: Won then placed in his only two so far.

VALUE
Race 5 No.6 VEANDACHANCE: Ploughed through the Heavy 9 in an 82 last start.

Originally published as Shayne O’Cass’s best bets and inside mail for Goulburn and Ballina on Tuesday