Gosford best bets, inside mail for Thursday, April 10, 2025

The Matthew Smith-trained Silencio Porfavor was too bad to be true first-up but can bounce back to form at Gosford on Thursday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Silencio Porfavor can bounce back from a first-up failure when he heads to Gosford. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Gosford on Thursday.

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GOSFORD TIPS

BEST BET

Race 8 No.2: SILENCIO PORFAVOR

Was well below his best first-up. Has the talent to bounce back in a big way.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No.5: EMERY

Closed strongly for a close second first-up. Can go one better.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No.7: ORYX

Racing well and can break through for a long overdue win.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 1: 1, 6

QUADDIE

Race 5: 3, 5, 6, 9

Race 6: 1, 2, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 4, 5

Race 8: 2, 4, 7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

ASHLEY MORGAN has three rides for the day and all are leading chances.

GOSFORD INSIDE MAIL

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RACE 1: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1600m)

MEET ME IN BONDI won well at Wyong first-up and was narrowly beaten by Rockbarton Angel at Newcastle last start. Had excuses in between when wide throughout behind Enter The Dragon at Kembla. Drawn the pole gets his chance. ECLAIR AWESOME was just pipped first-up, missed the kick and worked hard second-up before bouncing back with a nice win at Albury. ANTILOCAPRA broke her maiden first-up at Scone before a third to Ballinderry Sal on a Heavy 10.

Bet: Meet Me In Bondi to win.

RACE 2: SUPER MAIDEN PLATE (1100m)

EMERY began awkwardly and settled second last before coming wide off the bend and closing strongly for a short half-head second to Happy Bellie when resuming on the Kensington. Can go one better. LORD VETTORI was good in both runs of his first campaign at Grafton. Returned with a very good three-quarter-length third to Imperial State here two weeks ago. Will make his presence felt. Also in race 5. SASSY ABBEY was just behind the placegetters in the Black Opal Preview and at Sandown before a second at Orange when wide throughout.

Bet: Emery to win.

RACE 3: MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000m)

APOLLO RIDGE ran well in his first campaign including a third to the promising Benzou at Hawkesbury second-up. Scored a smart trial win at Tamworth before going to a big lead in his Randwick trial when second to Chiba. LADY OLENNA started a short-priced favourite on debut at Scone when taken to the front before being run down by Nation Changing. Will take improvement from the run. Wide draw is the query. RIVANA resumed with a handy third to Gorbachev here and won’t be far away again.

Bet: Apollo Ridge to win.

RACE 4: CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (2100m)

HAMPDEN was three-deep without cover when fifth at his Australian debut at Newcastle before a head second over 2000m at Hawkesbury. Held up on the turn when a nose second to Always Right at Newcastle last week. Up to 2100m and can break his maiden. BLUEBIRD BAY was a handy fourth to Inferencia over 1500m at Newcastle first-up before returning there with a length third to Webejamin over 1800m. Looks like he will appreciate the extra trip. ALWAYS RIGHT has claims on her last start win from Hampden.

Bet: Hampden to win.

RACE 5: PROVINCIAL MAIDEN HANDICAP (1200m)

LORD VETTORI has a wide gate but if he runs here, looks tough to beat. Oakfield Universe is a $340,000 Classic Yearling graduate by Written Tycoon from Listed winner Fascination Street. Tracked the speed and was a little green when third to Mercantilist in her Beaumont trial on Mar 5. Will take plenty of improvement from the run. CATHEDRAL COVE was bumped twice in the straight when second to Istolea Merc at Nowra first-up before a second to The Mona Lisa at Goulburn. I AM CARROT is a debutant by Castelvecchio. Handy trial second on the Beaumont.

Bet: Lord Vettori to win of is scratched, Oakfield Universe to win.

RACE 6: MIDWAY BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP (1200m)

ORYX has been out of the winner’s circle since December 2022 but is knocking on the door after three nice efforts this prep. Narrowly beaten by Stratafy here first-up before a third to Hellbent On You and a length fourth to Peace Centre. LLEWELLYN ended last prep with two wins and a third to Accredited at Warwick Farm. Has finished runner-up in all three first-up starts and trials have been good. CRIPPS TONIGHT pulled up lame when last in a Randwick Midway on Mar 1. Can bounce back.

Bet: Oryx to win.

RACE 7: CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1200m)

GORBACHEV shifted in behind runners in the small field and was game in running down Alpine Ski on the line over 1000m here first-up. Was a nose second to Shelstein over the 1200m second-up last prep. LYLES followed a head second to Presidents first-up at Rosehill with a smart all-the-way win from Mission Gold at Kembla. Has since won a Rosehill trial. Wide gate the query. BE QUIET led and won at Kembla first-up on Feb 25 before a second to Written Scandal here a month later.

Bet: Gorbachev to win.

RACE 8: BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1100m)

SILENCIO PORFAVOR won his first two starts in good fashion last August. Resumed from a spell but was too bad to be true when last behind Misty Legend at Warwick Farm on Feb 19. Sat back And was good through the line in his Rosehill trial on Mar 17. Ready to bounce back. RAMONES is racing well with two thirds at Newcastle and Wyong either side of a fourth at Canterbury. Is one from one at the track. FLYING ARGYLE drops in grade from his Provincial-Midway Qualifier behind Matcha Latte. Won his previous two.

Bet: Silencio Porfavor to win.

Originally published as Gosford best bets, inside mail for Thursday, April 10, 2025