Newcastle, Albury best bets, inside mail for Thursday, March 20, 2025

Trainer Sara Ryan looks set for a big day with a pair of winning hopes and a leading contender for the Provincial Midway Championship Qualifier at Newcastle on Thursday.

Racenet form analyst Shayne Adan Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Newcastle and his top selections for Albury on Thursday.

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NEWCASTLE TIPS

BEST BET

Race 4 No.3: BLUEBIRD BAY

Slow out first-up when fourth. Expected to jump better and will take beating.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No.1: KOIOS

Followed a big maiden win with a nose second in town then little luck last start.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No.5: FRENCH RULER

Good in both runs from a spell. Stakes placed here and will give this a shake.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 4, 5

Race 6: 1, 2

Race 7: 3, 5, 8

Race 8: 2, 8, 14

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

TOMMY BERRY looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.

ALBURY TIPS

BEST BET

Race 3 No.2: ROSE AYE

Scored a big win first-up before a close second to Istolea Merc.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.4: SEA STRIKE

Nice win first-up and had little luck when fifth last start.

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NEWCASTLE INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1: 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)

BUFFALO debuted with a solid third to Gobi Desert in the Max Lees on Nov 16. Doing his best work late when sixth to Beiwacht and Tentyris in both autumn runs. GRAND EAGLE took an inside run to hit the front after straightening but ducked out and cost himself the race when second to Kilman on debut at Warwick Farm. Blinkers go on. FEDERALIST is a debutant by I Am Invincible from Arcadia Queen. Closed nicely for second in his Mar 6 Rosehill trial.

BET: BUFFALO to win.

RACE 2: MAIDEN HANDICAP (900m)

MOONLIGHT GAMBLER raced greenly in the straight and shifted out noticeably near the 100m when a head second to Show Business when resuming at Kembla. Will be better for the run. NAMI’S JEWEL overraced on debut when sixth to Private Harry then knuckled badly at the start when ninth to Quartz Legend in November. Has shown good speed to lead both recent trials including a Randwick win. BULLANT is a debutant by Winning Rupert. Nice second to Kantishna in her Scone trial on Dec 18.

BET: MOONLIGHT GAMBLER to win.

RACE 3: SUPER 3YO&UP MAIDEN PLATE (1200m)

HIPPOLYTE ROCK raced greenly in the straight when fifth behind President on debut at Rosehill on Feb 26. Trialled with a nose roll on at Rosehill and took an inside run to beat Tact. TACT raced well in his first campaign with two placings and a fourth to Harlem Queen. Under a hold when third in his first trial then given a shake up when second to Hippolyte Rock. OAKFIELD SATURN is a debutant by American Pharoah. Led all the way to win her Beaumont trial.

BET: HIPPOLYTE ROCK to win.

RACE 4: MIDWAY CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1850m)

BLUEBIRD BAY was only fair away and settled midfield when fourth to Inferencia first-up here over 1500m. Raced on speed in his first two starts when third on debut at Scone and a winner over 1600m at Hawkesbury last spring. KONING has just one win from 17 starts but has been competitive in higher grades than this. Was a neck second to Vaguer in a BM72 last prep. At his peak after three runs and the blinkers come off. WEBEJAMIN is due for her first win.

BET: BLUEBIRD BAY to win.

RACE 5: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (900m)

INSIST kicked off last campaign with a fighting head win from Doralee over 1000m at Kembla. Kept under a hold when in his first Randwick trial and was good behind Omni Man and Drifting in his second. CURL CURL is closing in on another win after handy placings at his past three runs. Just missed catching Power Of The Brave here last start who franked the form with another win last weekend. RIDE THE RIVER drops in grade from metro company including a second to Misty Legend.

BET: INSIST to win.

RACE 6: PROVINCIAL CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m)

KOIOS was ultra impressive winning his maiden at Scone before a nose second to Tenderize at Canterbury. Didn’t have much luck when held up in finishing fifth at Warwick Farm last start. PRESIDES narrowly went down behind Listens Lass when resuming at Kembla on Mar 4. Has only miss a place twice and was fourth in each. LOVE THE CUBE comes out of the same Kembla race when third. Was a handy second at Goulburn before that.

BET: KOIOS to win.

RACE 7: PROVINCIAL MIDWAY CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER (1400m)

FRENCH RULER worked home from last when fourth to Step Aside at Rosehill first-up before tracking the speed when a long neck second to Snow In May in the Canberra Guineas. Was runner-up in the Spring Stakes here on Nov 16. Will be charging home. MATCHA LATTE raced out side the leader first-up when a head third to Welcometobarbados in the Prov-Midway Qualifier here on Mar 1. Will strip fitter and drawn ideally. HARLOW MIST started favourite in the Feb 20 Hawkesbury Qualifier but never got clear running. Forgive that run.

BET: FRENCH RULER each-way.

RACE 8: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1400m)

THREATENING resumed with a handy third to Mogul Monarch at Wyong before a second to stablemate Brigidine Gal at Warwick Farm. Back in grade and will give this a shake. PINITO was just held up near the 200m before closing for third to Battle Hymn over 1200m at Canterbury first-up. Her maiden win came over this trip third-up last campaign after a nose second to Shohisha. FAST TRACK started a short priced favourite on debut when a head winner from Twinkling Star at Kembla.

BET: THREATENING to win.

Originally published as Newcastle, Albury best bets, inside mail for Thursday, March 20, 2025