Monday best bets, inside mail for Monday 28 July, 2025

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Kempsey on Monday.

Shayne O'Cass previews racing at Kempsey on Monday

The Daily Telegraph form expert Shayne O’Cass previews racing at Kempsey on Monday.

FIELDS AND FORM KEMPSEY MONDAY

KEMPSEY

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 4: Hayley’s Rocket

Turned in an encouraging debut in a good looking Super Maiden.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 7: Everyready Bunny

Has 10 thirds in 28 starts, almost always with the best finish of the race.

VALUE

Race 6 No. 1: Tanglewood Jimmy

Boasts a fine record at this venue’ third-up here and closing in on another win.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 4 Nos. 5,6

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,6,14

Race 6: 1,8,10

Race 7: 1,3,5,7

Race 8: 1,3,10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Shae Wilkes has some good rides on Monday from start to finish.

LAY: Race 7 No. 2: Ready And Lucky

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INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Everyready Bunny has a unique record of no wins, no seconds but 10 placings in 28 career starts. A lot of the time, this Novocastrian is finishing faster than most of his rivals. Once again, he has drawn a wide gate but on the plus-side, he has two thirds from three visits to Kempsey. Turning Circle has been costly but consistent having placed at half of her dozen starts. No excuses if beaten. Ultimate can perhaps figure in the placings at odds.

Bet: Everyready Bunny to win, exacta 7 to beat 4

RACE 2

Hayley’s Rocket trialled well prior to her debut on South Grafton Cup Day in the Super Maiden hence why she was backed from $21 into $12. The John Shelton trained filly was a real eye-catcher in what was a pretty strong race even by Super Maiden standards. Drawn better this time. Vendemmia makes his NSW debut armed with a Sandown placing and one at Ipswich with prior trainers. Warbreccan has claims so too Subsidise.

Bet: Hayley’s Rocket (best bet)

RACE 3

Torque Ti Amo is a direct descendant of the peerless broodmare gem Eight Carat. This Matthew Dunn trained filly was a fast closing runner-up to stablemate Gaylord in the same Super Maiden alluded to above. Drawn wide but the step up in trip might offset that hopefully. Resume brings together Mark Minervini and Luke Rolls who share an incredible 32 per cent winners to runners. She Can Dance and Power Through are contenders.

Bet: Torque Ti Amo to win

RACE 4

Heart Of Platinum has a tidy resume of 12 starts, one win, two seconds and three third. The daughter of All Too Hard has been effective from 1400m up to 2018m so this 1900m Class 1 & Maiden fits perfectly for her. Not sure the barrier is a plus but has Ben Looker and does get back most times anyway. Justice Please hasn’t fared much better in the barrier department hence why she is nominated for a very suitable mile race at Scone later in the week.

Bet: Heart Of Platinum to win, quinella/exacta 5,6

RACE 5

Got The Smarts was bred at Gooree and hails from one of its most prized families, of which it has had a few. She is by Gooree’s own Smart Missile, is also a half-sister to Tactical Advantage and from the same family as their iron horse Desert War. Got The Smarts has a tidy little CV, is super reliable and good enough to win better races. That said, Mofeed is a genuine obstacle. He too has done by far more good than bad in his nine starts. Written Fame is a reliable horse. October Revolution loves the slop.

Bet: Got The Smarts to win, box First 4 Nos. 1,2,6,11,14

RACE 6

Tangelwood Jimmy is third-up and ready to hit a peak after two most encouraging runs at Muswellbrook. The only glaring negative is that he is unplaced in all three starts on Heavy tracks. Pity really, cause he loves it here at Kempsey. Dane Ripper’s granddaughter Shine Like It Does ran rather well at Grafton on Ramornie Handicap day. Will be winning races up this way from now on. So You Can Torque (a ‘nephew of Vow And Declare) is going to eat up the 1450m now and more after that.

Bet: Tanglewood Jimmy to win or is scratched, So You Can Torque to place

RACE 7

Yareakh has so far only managed one win in 16 starts but that was on a Heavy 10 at Scone beating Little Beginnings and others. Granted, that win came on debut but he has placed four times since and gave a pretty honourable account of himself in a Highway on Golden Eagle day. Champonnet has had three runs for Matthew Dunn; he won the first of them at Casino on a Heavy 8, easily, and with Jett Newman in the saddle, same as this. Marine Girl is from an astute yard. Resumes off a couple of decent trials.

Bet: Yareakh each-way, quinella 1,3

RACE 8

Crowie’s Shout has the highest benchmark rating in this race and that always has to count for something. It is clear that his ‘best’ is better than what most, if not all of these others bring to the table. It is just a case of how close this Anamoe relative is to said best. Whatever the case, barrier 3 and 3kg off for a really talented apprentice boosts his prospects. Miss Uchitel is a big player, she’s got Dunn training and Bullock riding, but how will she go if we are on a Heavy 9 or 10?

Bet: Crowie’s Shout to win

Originally published as Monday best bets, inside mail for Monday 28 July, 2025