Coffs Harbour races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

A Brett Bellamy-trained mare will use her love affair with her home track as she strives for a first-up win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Local trainer Brett Bellamy has his sights on a feature race double at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.

Boncassie has a real affinity for her home track which trainer Brett Bellamy hopes will prove an advantage when she kicks off her campaign in the Trevor Hardy Sprint (1215m).

The four-year-old has had six starts at Coffs Harbour for two wins, two seconds and a third with both wins coming over 1215m and 1205m.

“Her record at Coffs Harbour has always been very good. She has always been thereabouts,” said Bellamy.

“Drawn the pole makes life a lot easier for her as well.

“It’s a very open race and because she has gone up in grade now to a level where they can all gallop, any little advantage is needed.

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“Also, because she has gone up in grade, she does get in better at the weights now.”

Boncassie closed off her last campaign with a second to Mikado at Coffs Harbour before a two length fifth behind Valley Of Dreams at Doomben and pleased Bellamy during her spell.

“She has done really well during her time off and her lead-up to this,” he said.

“She isn’t fully wound up yet but isn’t too far off it because I would like to run her in the Daniel Baker in a few weeks.

“It will be a similar preparation to last time when she was second in the Pink Silk Cup here first-up then won the Queen Of The North at Port Macquarie.

“Hopefully it works out like that this time.”

Former Victorian Baglioni made the perfect start to his career with Bellamy when he overcame a wide run to score at his new home track at big odds in the Woolgoolga Cup on June 16.

Things didn’t go his way at Eagle Farm two weeks ago when a good thing beaten when a nose second to Kronenbourg after being held up in the straight.

He heads into the feature Sawtell Cup on Sunday with Bellamy looking for the gelding to book his spot in next month’s Coffs Harbour Cup.

Apprentice Courtney Bellamy will again partner Baglioni. Picture: Bradley Photos

“It was a big win first-up after racing wide and he should have won at Eagle Farm last start,” he said.

“He zigged and zagged, was in and out, and just failed by a freckle.

“Back on his home track, he is going every bit as good.

“It’s a very open and even race. Hopefully he can get the win which would get him into the Coffs Harbour Cup on August 4 with the winner eligible for the Big Dance.”

Bellamy’s two-year-old filly Boambee Beach may have beaten two home at Grafton last start but there was plenty of merit to the run according to Bellamy.

Prior to that, she produced an eye-catching second on debut at Taree and is ready to show that again in the opening event.

“Last start, she was on the fence which wasn’t the best place to be that day but also, it was a 1000m race and Grafton is a track where it is very hard to make ground but she still ran home in 33-something,” he said.

“She steps up to the 1200m on Sunday and has drawn a good gate where they won’t go as hard and hopefully, she can be a bit closer in the run and I’m sure she will run very well.”

Bellamy also give La Cache A Vin a good chance in the Maiden Plate over 1415m.

“He is knocking on the door. Every run this time in has been very good,” he said.

“It would be nice if he could get across the line first and pick up the BOBS bonus because he won’t be eligible for it after this weekend.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 4: PASSIONATE REBEL

Has been very impressive winning his past two starts. Overcome trouble in the run and track bias last start. Set to bring up the hat-trick.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 5: STREET SMARTS

The Matthew Dunn-trained filly raced well last campaign and has trialled nicely ahead of her return.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No. 8: BOAMBEE BEACH

Flashed home from well back for second against older horses on debut. Last run tenth had merit and will appreciate stepping up in distance.

DAILY DOUBLE

Leg 1; No. 9. Leg 2: No. 4

QUADDIE:

Race 4: 3, 5, 6

Race 5: 3, 7, 8, 9

Race 6: 1, 3, 6, 8

Race 7: 1, 4, 7

Aaron Bullock is looking to continue his charge towards the national jockeys premiership. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW:

The state’s leading rider, Aaron Bullock, will be keen to add to his tally as he looks to also secure the national jockeys premiership.

INSIDE MAIL - COFFS HARBOUR

RACE 1

Boambee Beach debuted against older horses at Taree on June 6 when she flashed home from last down the outside to finish second behind Tayla’s One over 1007m. Beat two home at Grafton over 1015m last start but still ran home in quick sectionals. Step up to 1200m should suit. Invincible Alf sat outside Volcanic Love and won comfortable at Grafton on July 13 over this trip. Drawn ideally. The Astronomer led all-the-way over 1006m at Grafton on July 9. Wide draw is a query. Imposant has won both recent trials and has the pole.

Bet: Boambee Beach each-way

RACE 2

La Cache A Vin raced three-wide on speed and ran to the front on straightening before being caught late by Prime Impact at Taree on July 6. Previous runs had merit and deserves a win. Diva Carolina was narrowly beaten by Raised By Wolves at Port Macquarie to start her campaign then just found a couple of handy maidens at the provincials. Back in grade helps but drawn very wide. Fiddler On The Roof covered ground and was game when third to Decider at Ballina last start. Freshened and drawn to get an ideal run. Edgewise was good late when fifth at Taree over 1007m first-up for his new stable. Will appreciate the 1414m.

Bet: La Cache A Vin each-way

RACE 3

Miss Mazerati needs a scratching to get a run but will be a leading contender if she does. Ran on well for this at her last start at Taree before a spell. Now with Paul Shailer and was good late in her recent trial after missing the start a long way. Cool Fizz turned in a nice effort when closing strongly late for a length second to Cavante at Port Macquarie in January before a spell. Resumes here without a trial. Star Emblem was wide early before racing outside The Astronomer when third at Grafton two weeks back. Mumma Sue had excuses when down the track as favourite at Grafton at her last run in January. First-up run was good.

Bet: Miss Mazzerati to win

RACE 4

Street Smarts was a handy fourth behind Above The Sky at the Sunshine Coast last start before a spell. Kicked off last campaign with a win over 1010m at Ballina and has trialled nicely ahead of her return here. Cavante raced three deep and pushed wide in straight in beating one home behind Lady Wardell in a Class 2 at Grafton on Ramornie Day. Was third to the in-form Givara at Newcastle two starts earlier. Drawn well has placed two from three runs here. Supidoman boxed on well first-up when second to Hot And Strong at Ballina before a third to impressive winner Tanglewood at Grafton two weeks ago. Drawn ideally. Blue Acres had excuses when well beaten at Grafton last start. Worth consideration on debut win.

Bet: Street Smarts to win

Matthew McGuren rides Street Smarts at Coffs Harbour on Sunday.

RACE 5

Boncassie is resuming from a spell in open company but she loves her home track, has the limit weight and has draw ideally in gate 1. Was a length of Mikado after being held up here two starts back before a fifth at Doomben. Subterranean performed better than his form suggests last campaign despite being unplaced in five runs. Was under three lengths from Fastconi at Doomben over this trip. Held together to win a Lismore trial on Friday. Ventura Ocean sat deep without cover when a three and a quarter length ninth to Super Friendship over 1300m on the Kensington track when resuming on July 5. Goes well second-up. Field Regiment was narrowly beaten by lady Wardell in his Ballina trial June 29. Goes well.

Bet: Boncassie to win

RACE 6

Baglioni has found career best form since heading to NSW. Scored a smart win at big odds from Olakau’atu in the Woolgoolga Cup over 1300m here after racing wide without cover before a desperately unlucky noise second at Eagle Farm last start. Gets in with 53kg and goes close again. Mikado has had to do it tough in recent starts but is has drawn a perfect gate. Should have just about run a place in the Maclean Cup last start after being held up ion the concluding stages. That’s Molly was back and wide before closing strongly for second behind Gently Rolled at Newcastle two weeks back. Won the Wingham Cup at Taree before that. Kapsali missed he starts by three lengths when midfield behind Cephus in the South Grafton Cup. Was second to That’s Molly at Taree.

Bet: Baglioni to win

RACE 7

Passionate Rebel was a big winner at Port Macquarie second-up and overcame track bias and bad luck to win at Taree last start. Was scratched from the Highway at Rosehill on Saturday to run here. Swift Charm was just beaten by Cliff House in a TAB Highway at Randwick on June 10. Raced keen when the blinkers went on for the first time when he pulled his way to the front before finishing ninth to Chase My Crown in another Randwick Highway last start. Blinkers come off. Agirlsbestfriend found trouble in the straight when sixth to Alamira at Grafton last time out. Close to her peak third-up and has drawn to get a nice run. Binkou made ground from last to be seventh behind Chase My Crown last time out. Will be closing late again.

Bet: Passionate Rebel to win

Originally published as Coffs Harbour races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail