Best bets and inside mail for Grafton and Warwick Farm for Monday

The Chris Waller-trained Acknowledged looks to have a big future ahead, perhaps even all the way through an Oaks of some description

A promising Chris Waller-trained filly looks hard to beat. Picture: Jeremy Ng - Getty Images

Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over Monday’s meetings at Warwick Farm and Grafton.

WARWICK FARM

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 12: Acknowledged

Has ‘classic filly’ written all over her. In the right stable and the perfect race.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 6: Jacob’s Ladder

Well-bred resident of a form stable and did trial well 18-days ago.

VALUE

Race 2 No. 4: Heavenly Kiss

Opens her 2025 campaign here and looks a ‘better horse’ this time.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3,5,8

Race 6: 4,5,11

Race 7: 1,3,4,6

Race 8: 8.16

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Reigning Champion Sydney Apprentice Zac Lloyd has some great rides on Monday.

Zac Lloyd has a strong book of rides on Monday. Picture: Jeremy Ng - Getty Images

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 7: Zumbo

Brett Cavanough and Ben Looker combine Nice trials.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 3: Humphree Bear

Trialled up a treat ahead of his return. Drawn to win.

VALUE

Race 4 No. 10: Harriet

Was building up to that win last start and it was impressive.

INSIDE MAIL FOR WARWICK FARM

RACE 1

Jacob’s Ladder was bought by the great Neville Begg for $100,000 at the Classic Yearling Sale. The horse is by Written Tycoon whom Mr Begg bred and raced himself and was trained by son, Grahame. Trialled really well the other day behind a subsequent winner. Firework can perhaps improve off an already impressive and encouraging first-up second at Wyong he beat Everybody Rise home. Volatile sent out some positive signs there in the Magic Millions Maiden first-up.

Bet: Jacob’s Ladder each-way

RACE 2

Heavenly Kiss is another Neville Begg purchase, this one is from same as son Grahame’s former crack sprinter Dance Beat. The filly is trained by Ron Quinton, the jockey who partnered Begg’s champion mare Emancipation throughout. Heavenly Kiss looks to have returned in really good shape. Handkerchief has looked the part in every one of her five trials, none of them better than her last one which he won by four. Twinkling Star has claims.

Bet: Heavenly Kiss each-way, quinella 2,4

RACE 3

Acknowledged is owned by Waikato Stud is bred on the exact same cross as Saturday’s Karaka Million winner. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves but this filly has got Oaks written all over, the way she races and her breeding being from the same (great) family as Slight Chance. Bernen Win is a horse on an upward trajectory. Trialled well since being beaten a neck at this track and distance on Jan 8.

Bet: Acknowledged to win (best bet) exacta 12 to beat 2, Willie Oppa to place

RACE 4

Our Uptown Girl has a very misleading Benchmark rating of 57. That’s just not any reflection of her ability. In fact it is so low that she got balloted out of a race at Wyong on Sunday, a 64, so is now coming to the Farm for a 72. The highest rated horses are on 66 so it is doable for her provided she can bring her usual excellent first-up self. Clearly the Waller duo Luxe Eternal and Ryabinka have the most upside.

Bet: Our Uptown Girl each-way (in a field of eight)

RACE 5

Cosmic Lad, is a son of the Cox Plate winner Adelaide. His grand-dam is Miss Meliss whose 15th and final start was in Media Puzzle’s Melbourne Cup where she ran an honourable 10th of the 24. This will be Cosmic Lad’s first run for new trainer Joe Pride, off a nice recent trial. Cosmic Lad’s (new) stablemate The Replicant has won 3 times but placed on 20 occasions and 10 of them are seconds. One of those rare wins was here at the Farm.

Bet: Cosmic Lad to win, quinella 3,5

RACE 6

Hessen is out of a mare named Zimaretto whose eight foals that have raced are all winners. In fact, three of them are stakes-winners. This daughter of Astern broke her maiden on January 4 at Kembla over 1300m beating the aforementioned Acknowledged by almost five lengths. Tiger Town was in the perfect race to win last start but the Heavy 8 was anything but perfect. That said, he still ran a really good race. He’s getting close! Heed The Omens likewise.

Bet: Hessen to win, quinella 5,11, trifecta 4,5,11,12 (boxed)

RACE 7

Akua’rius didn’t look to do much first-up in the January Cup behind Osipenko but he wasn’t outright awful even with the finishing position and the beaten margin. This race was/is his target being 2400m at home. He is a stakes-winner at 2800m in Germany so has a class factor. Taramansour lines up to start number 40 today having won start 39 at Flemington over 2500m. Ran fourth to Saltcoats at Randwick before that. Bullets High was tough last start and is very fit!

Bet: Akau’rius each-way

RACE 8

Winning Proposal has won 2 from 7 and placed twice. Note that she is one for one here at the Farm. But what is perhaps more illustrative of her talent are some of her unplaced runs. For example, 4th in the Inglis Millennium, 6th to Manaal in the Furious and her final run of the last prep which was 4th (albeit of 5) in the Heritage. Trialled like a bomb on Jan 14. Weeping Woman has done some very good things herself in her half dozen starts. She is a Lonhro to Saturday’s Midway winner Magnatear and looks like she will just keep taking ‘steps’.

Bet: Winning Proposal to win, Weeping Woman each-way

Originally published as Best bets and inside mail for Grafton and Warwick Farm for Monday