Sapphire Coast preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail

Trainer Jamie Stewart is tempering expectations of outstanding trial winner Blue Grotto ahead of his debut at Sapphire Coast on Sunday.

Moruya trainer Jamie Stewart couldn’t have asked for much more form Blue Grotto at his first barrier trial and he’s not putting any pressure on his ahead of his debut on Sunday at the Sapphire Coast.

The three-year-old bolted in his barrier trial at Moruya over 920m when winning by 2½ lengths with his ears pricked.

He runs in the opening race on Sunday over 1005m and the punters could send him out as favourite on debut alongside Areeba Spirit.

The expectation is there but Stewart wasn’t putting any pressure on his horse to come and win straight away.

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“Obviously his trial was good but he was against other unraced horses too,” Stewart said.

“He’s pretty well educated and forward but I think that trial might have flattered him a bit to be brutally honest.

“I guess I’m playing him down a bit. Most of the other horses in that trial hadn’t had a jumpout which mine had but he’s pretty professional and that will take him a long way.

“He trialled on his home track and was confident but he ran home well enough.”

Blue Grotto hasn’t drawn ideal for his first career start in gate nine but Quayde Krogh knows him pretty well and he’s looking like a very straightforward debutant who will put himself into a forward position.

“I think he can take up a position which is what you want to do at the Sapphire Coast. He’ll roll forward and I’ll leave it up to the jockey,” Stewart said.

“He should do most things right which will take him a long way and that’s half the battle when they’re debuting.”

Moruya trainer Jamie Stewart is keeping his expectations in check with debutant Blue Grotto at Sapphire Coast.

While Blue Grotto is showing all the right signs at him, like most first starters, his connections and the punters will have to wait until he experiences race pressure before they know what’s really under the bonnet.

“He’s going well enough to be competitive wherever we go,” Stewart said.

“As to what he does off the bridle, it’s a bit of an unknown. We don’t know how good he is yet.”

Stewart also runs Secadia in a Benchmark 58 Handicap (1405m) after he won at Moruya last start when backed in from $18 to $7.

“I didn’t back him and I always talk myself out of backing them,” Stewart said.

Stewart has only had him for two runs and was relieved to see him win after he left him flat first-up when running ninth of 10 at the Sapphire Coast.

“I was probably little bit disappointed with him first-up at the Sapphire Coast even though he had a bit of a luckless run,” Stewart said.

“I was expecting a little bit more and that run last time at Moruya was what we were expecting first-up so I told the owners we’d forgive him for that run.”

He’s up an extra 100m in trip and that will suit him even more as he looks to stretch out to a mile and beyond soon.

“I think he’ll get over more ground as time goes on. He’s a very clean-winded horse and thrives in his work so he’s giving every indication he’ll get over further,” Stewart said.

“He versatile and preforms on all track so I’d probably say he’s my best chance because he’s got the runs on the board and has drawn well (four) but I’m going there with two good chances.”

MATT JONES’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 6 No.2: MITTATA

This horse has put together a good enough record to date but not under the easiest circumstances to due to wide barriers. He gets a rare gun draw now and won’t have any excuses.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No.1: BLUE GROTTO

It’s hard to ignore his only barrier trial. He did it with ease and on a wet track. He hasn’t drawn awkward but looks a natural three-year-old.

VALUE BET

Race 4 No.1: DESERT ROSE

She absolutely flew home last start over 1300m at Moruya and should love getting out to a mile fourth-up off some eye-catching performances this time in.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 2, 5

Race 5: 1, 3, 4, 6

Race 6: 2, 4

Race 7: 3, 4, 6, 10

TRAINER TO WATCH

Keith Dryden looks to have a good hand in the second race with Pandering and Stratum Pride while Loafing in the fifth event should be in the finish.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

Jack Martin will head to the races with confidence because Areeba Spirit, Pandering, Desert Rose and Mittata are well placed to win for him.

Jack Martin has a number of good chances at Sapphire Coast on Sunday. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images

INSIDE MAIL FOR SAPPHIRE COAST

RACE 1

We saw how good Blue Grotto looked in his only barrier trial but we get a better picture of his true ability under race pressure. The stable is talking him down a bit but he couldn’t have done anymore in his heat. The trip away and awkward draw might be what brings him undone though. He’ll be worth the risk to many punters though. Areeba Spirit has an attractive racing pattern and is starting to find her best form off two second placings and she gets the favours from barrier one and could be leading the into the straight. Steamed Hams might find this too short but expect her to be run on late while Bon Frankie should be given a pass mark from his debut and gets the chance to improve now.

BET: Blue Grotto to win.

RACE 2

Stablemate’s Stratum Pride and Pandering are first-up over 1000m which is short of their best trips with both having not won under 1400m. They both have start fresh over 1000m in the past and gone close and out of the two it’s probably Pandering who is best equipped to win over the short trip. She’s run second twice over this trip fresh. Surprise Factor surprised then at Canberra last time over 1000m when sent out at $21. She does have a wide gate now and goes up 1kg and might be suspect at the end. Nobody’s Puppet drops in grade and this is her pet distance an she’s won here so expect her to test them with a winnable weight.

BET: Pandering to win.

RACE 3

It’s good to see Last Quest get out to a mile now after two solid runs off a five-week freshen up and a senior rider in on now and his only career win came at this track. He just doesn’t want a heavy track. Howlowcanyougo ran a nice race against a promising horse at Canberra last start and there’s nothing as promising as that one in this race so he gets his chance now. Zariz No Other is back to his right grade but he’s a hard horse to catch. He will probably give a good sight here though and getting his toe into the ground won’t hurt his chances.

BET: Howlowcanyougo to win.

RACE 4

Desert Rose got way out of her ground last start at Moruya but produced the best last sectionals of the race and she put in an eye-catcher over 1300m. Getting out to 1605m now fourth-up looks ideal. Cider Bite was in front a stride after the line last week at Canberra but was beaten by a $61 chance. Noble Expectation was also doing its best work late last start over 1400m and peaks now third-up and should be able to settle closer now as Bobby’s Secret comes across from a wide draw.

BET: Desert Rose to win.

RACE 5

They smashed Secadia late at Moruya two weeks ago and he didn’t let the punters down with a solid win and he should have only improved from that confidence boosting first win. Loafing is well back in grade here and deserves every bit of the 61kg he lugs but his record suggests we will see a better horse here after running in a TAB Federal fresh. Cut To Pieces will enjoy coming back in grade also and to a track that he’s run well at a few times in the past and he should have his best racing still in front of him. Capital Venture’s best is good enough to be in the finish here and getting out to this trip is a bonus.

BET: Loafing to win.

RACE 6

Mittata hasn’t had many good draws over his short career but gets barrier two today much to the relief of his connections who have had a good opinion of him since day one. He should handle a wet track and is well placed in this grade. Alan is a tough one to follow but sucks punters in because he generally always runs close behind the winner and some of his career best runs have come at this track. Wilful Spirit has been going quite well this time in. She won three starts back and hasn’t gone backwards since.

BET: Mittata to win.

RACE 7

Mickeyrats didn’t get much luck last time from a wide gate but should get things more to her liking from barrier three and with just 54kg on her back. Another Star lost the rider last time but has trialled up nicely since and looks back on track to perform. Red Redemption also didn’t get much go its way second-up after putting in a top run fresh off no barrier trial so expect an improved run now. Neidr Dawn is on debut and has more promise than most here but does have a wide gate which is never a plus for a debutant.

BET: Mickeyrats to win.

Originally published as Sapphire Coast preview: Tips, best bets and inside mail