Inside Mail with Ray Thomas: Blake’s on heels of Macca

THE Sydney jockeys premiership could have a new leader after the Rosehill Gardens meeting on Saturday.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 29: Blake Shinn rides Sampeah during Sydney Racing at Rosehill Gardens on November 29, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Anthony Johnson/Getty Images)

THE Sydney jockeys premiership could have a new leader after the Rosehill Gardens meeting on Saturday.

Defending premier rider James McDonald (35.5 wins) has led the standings since early August but the brilliant form of Blake Shinn (34.5 wins) in recent weeks has seen the former’s lead whittled back to one win.

Shinn looks to have the better book of rides today including last start winners Medcaut (race 6) and Vashka (race 7), both dominant favourites. Shinn also rides You’ll Never (race 5) who also heads betting.

McDonald’s six rides include early favourites Binary (race 2), Habitual Offender (race 3) and Mohave (race 8).

“James and Blake are both riding superbly and it is no surprise that they are on six of the eight favourites at Rosehill,’’ TAB Fixed Odds spokesman Glenn Munsie said.

“They will certainly vie for favouritism in the Jockeys Challenge.

“It is good for punters to have our absolute top notch riders all firing at the same time.’’

McDonald, Shinn and Hugh Bowman (27 wins) all have outstanding strike-rates of a winner every 4.5 rides.

BEST BARRIERS

The best winning barriers at Rosehill Gardens for the last three years.

(In order of most wins)

1100m: 3,2,6,1

1300m: 1,3,7,6

1400m: 2,1,6,8

1500m: 3,5,2,1

1800m: 6,1,4,8

2400m: 4,6,7,1

THE BIG BETS

In race 1,TAB Fixed Odds has reported good support for Ready Already $8 - $7.50 including a $800 bet at $8, Voilier $6 - $4.80 with bets of $400 at $6, $1000 and $450 at $4.80, Zoutenant $600 at $4.60.

Race 2, Good Project $3.80 - $3.40 with a $1200 wager at $3.80.

Race 3, Frespanol $4.60 - $3.80 with a $500 wager at $4.20, Off The Rails $3.50 - $4.20 - $4 with bets of $1000 and $700 at $4.20, $1300 at $4.

Race 4, Auberge $4.60 - $5 - $4.80 with a $500 wager at $5.

Race 5, Index Linked $15 - $11 with bets of $1000 at $15, $500 at $13, Pythagorean $6 - $5 with bets of $400 at $6, $500 at $5.

Race 6, Saigon Tea $4.60 - $3.80 with bets of $1000 at $4.60, $800 at $4.20, $700 at $4, Medcaut $2.60 - $2.30 with a bet of $1200 at $2.40.

Race 7, One More $11 - $9.50 with a $750 wager at $11.

Race 8,Terra Amata $11 - $10 with bets of $750/$1000 at $11/$2.90.

MARKET MOVES

Race 2, Redoutable Heart $11 - $9, Berry Delicious $26 - $16

Race 3, Oh My Papa $26 - $21, Dylan’s Rojo $15 - $13

Race 4, Barge And Charge $8 - $7,

Race 5, Black Jag $26 - $15,

Race 6, Drago $14 - $9.50, Dowdstown Charlie $21 - $12

Race 8, Zin Zan Eddie $26 - $11, Forget $8 - $7.50

EARLY QUADDIE

Race 1: 1,3,4,5

Race 2: 2,4,5

Race 3: 2,3,4,7

Race 4: 2,3,6

Suggested bet: $20

Bet percentage: 13.88%

QUADDIE

Race 5: 5,6,9

Race 6: 3,4,7

Race 7: 5,6

Race 8: 5,10,11

Suggested bet: $20

Bet percentage: 37.03%

PRICE CHECK

Valcot (race 7) is over the odds around the $17 mark. He scored too very good wins at Canterbury and Randwick then was clearly unsuited by the leader bias on the Kensington track last start when only eighth behind Skarsgard. With Taylor Marshall’s claim, he gets in only 2kg over the limit and he has performed on soft tracks previously.

TRIAL POINTERS

Voilier (race 1) is a son of the current leading freshman sire Beneteau and is on debut today after a stunning five lengths trial win at Warwick Farm over 808m on November 20. The gelding ran slick time and wasn’t fully tested either by Tye Angland.

Specific Choice (race 7) has been a costly conveyance for his backers but is a talented horse on his day. The son of Lonhro looked sharp in his Rosehill trial when finishing a closing third under no real pressure. Has won first-up.

WORK WHISPERS

Saigon Tea (race 6) worked over 1000m on Tuesday at Rosehill in 1:10.11s, last 600m in 39s and 25s for the last 400m. Gets the soft/heavy ground to suit and has been frightfully unlucky of late.

Frespanol (race 3) won two on end before he even fifth last start. The son of Choisir was clocked over the 600m in 37.4s in his 1400m gallop on the dirt at Randwick on Tuesday, home the last 200m in 11.1s.

LAST WORD

THE BEST BET

Medcaut (race 6) was dominant winning at the Kenso two weeks ago. He thrashed Centre Pivot by more than three lengths and that horse won easily at Canterbury midweek. Medcaut settles up on the speed, which is an advantage in this race as most of his rivals are backmarkers, and he will simply out-sprint his rivals from the turn.

EACH WAY

Tenacitus (race 4) has been improved by three runs from a spell. Even effort last start when sixth over 1800m behind the in-form Resurrect. Finally gets up to his preferred 2400m trip today, this tough stayer can figure in the finish and appeals as great each way value at nearly double figure odds.

Originally published as Inside Mail with Ray Thomas: Blake’s on heels of Macca