Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Warwick Farm

An exciting colt from the Team Hawkes yard kicks off his campaign which could see him end up being one of the star three-year-olds of the autumn. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Team Hawkes, including co-trainers Wayne (left) and John, have a couple of promising horses kicking off their campaigns at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: AAP Image

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

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!

WARWICK FARM

BEST BET

Race 1, No.2: MARS MISSION

Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old in the Deep Field colours. Trialling up a storm in the last few weeks. Nice colt.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.3: BALZANDO

Team Hawkes again. This Fastnet Rock gelding was fourth in the Mars Mission trial nine days ago but went super himself. Nice gelding.

VALUE BET

Race 6, No.11: BORN WARRIOR

Only won once in 20 starts but can be barnstorming when the opportunity presents. Each-way.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 8,9

Race 6: 1,2,3,11

Race 7: 1,2,4,11

Race 8: 1,5

A strong book of rides await Tommy Berry at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tommy Berry has the prized rides of Mars Mission and Balzando along with a few others too boot.

WAGGA

BEST BET

Race 6, No.2: INCENTIVE

Capitalist colt on debut from the Donna Scott yard who has a future beyond country racing.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.4: ALMAHERO

Placed at three of his six starts. Resumes here off a lovely trial at Canberra in a deep heat.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No.11: GEMINDS

Norm Gardner-trained filly who is on an upward trajectory and finds the perfect race on Wednesday.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WARWICK FARM

RACE 1

Trial watchers have been waiting for Mars Mission to take off in 2022 after two absolutely stunning trials in the last few weeks. At $800,000, he is the most expensive Deep Field (same owner/trainer) yet sold and it might end up being a bargain. Nice colt going places. Have Mercy had excuses on debut, spelled, resumed and faded in a deep Gosford maiden. Trialled since. We haven’t seen her best yet by a long shot. Shades of Rose was scratched from a race at Bathurst yesterday. Has trialled well.

Bet: Mars Mission to win

RACE 2

Balzando is another very exciting and talented three-year-old from Team Hawkes. Just for the breeding buffs; his fourth dam is Emancipation. Had the one run in Victoria on September 3 and went okay. Had two trials in NSW in January and went more than okay. Edgewise and Soprano both ran quite well here two weeks ago. Ditto that for Russian Ruble. Packer is getting better with every run. Not sure Galactic Angel can win but she has that ‘upset’ profile about her.

Bet: Balzando to win

Champion jockey James McDonald (pictured) partners Tuhinga for trainer Chris Waller. Picture: Grant Peters - Trackside Photography.

RACE 3

Tuhinga was great buying at $40,000 at the yearling sales. His three runs this campaign can be summed up thus ‘good, better, best’. The Chris Waller-trained gelding won with a bit of authority a Wyong last start. Gate 2 and James McDonald here. Tick, tick. Stablemate Scat’s Surfer Girl is unplaced in three runs but she has been in much, much harder company than most of these could claim. How about a two and a half-length fifth to Profondo. Bon Vivant is a lightly-raced Godolphin galloper who puts in every time.

Bet: Tuhinga to win, quinella 2,7

RACE 4

Fire won like ‘a good horse’ at Bendigo on September 3. The son of Fastnet Rock trialled like a ‘really good horse’ at Rosehill nine days ago. This is a pretty handy little midweek line-up, a couple of these are Saturday class, so Fire has a task but he looks like he will progress to better himself. Star Cherie was marginally disappointing first-up but coming back to 1000m is a plus, so too barrier one and the claim. Sixgun will be the one coming fastest late. Duchess has to be considered as a genuine contender.

Bet: Fire to win

RACE 5

Zoo Station is on her way to the 2022 Country Championships Qualifier at Mudgee in about a month’s time. You would think she would progress to the Final at Randwick on April 2 but first things first, she is second-up here off her convincing Highway win. Bonny mare with a bonny strike-rate. Confessed has hit her best stride now. Lees/Bowman are a lethal combination. If Molly Nails was guaranteed to run a strong 1400m, she probably just wins. Not saying she won’t run it. Decisive Move will have fans again.

Bet: Zoo Station to win, quinella 8,9

Zoo Station can make it two from two this campaign at Warwick Farm. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Born A Warrior has raced 20 times for one win but he placed eight times, five of them are seconds. Just going back to that win, it was Chautauqua-like but therein lies the ‘problem’ with this horse - his pattern. When it happens for him, he can launch himself, other times no. Zell is building up to a win. Zell has raced at this track and distance twice for a win and a second. Silent Agenda and Off Shaw were second and third here respectively here in the same race 14-days ago.

Bet: Born A Warrior each-way, Daily Double 1st leg (11), 2nd leg (5)

RACE 7

Attorney ran a great race in the Villiers first-up. Wrong part of the track in the Summer Cup after that and then was a distant third in the January Cup over 2000m again. Making the case that he needed 2400m then and now. If he doesn’t peak here, then he never will. That’s a compliment not an insult by the way. Parry Sound and Navy Cross will have admirers here and for very good reason. Mubariz is so honest he almost has to go in somewhere. Power of Attorney is the value. He’s very fit.

Bet: Attorney to win

RACE 8

Miracle Day won his first three in a row when Kris Lees took him over and boy, he was impressive in each one bearing in mind too that he started at Muswellbrook and finished at Canterbury. Had a few little excuses for the first NSW loss the other night. All eyes on Dajraan here. He’s the GB-bred son of Frankel out of Mossfun. Hard to line him up on his UK form but the trials were both very good. Box 2 and James McDonald. Head Legislator is nearly always there. Embeller is absolutely flying this campaign.

Bet: Miracle Day to win or, if scratched, Embeller each-way

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