Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Queanbeyan

A Rodney Northam-trained mare is coming off a barnstorming win at Gosford last start and can repeat that effort again. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Tuesday is at Gosford and Queanbeyan.

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.

The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 6, No.5: VERY SHARP

Raced here twice for a third and barnstorming last start win. Just needs some pace and clear air.

NEXT BEST

Race 7, No.4: CHILLI JAM

A pretty exciting filly in the Joe Pride/Proven Thoroughbreds camp like Private Eye and Stockman. Trialling like she will make the grade.

VALUE BET

Race 1, No.2: GIGANTIC

Could just about be on a hat-trick leading into this; whatever the case, he’s in great form.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,3,7

Race 6: 5,8

Race 7: 1,4

Race 8: 1,9,13,14

Tommy Berry has a good book of rides at Gosford on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tommy Berry, the VRC Oaks and Five Diamonds winning hoop, can keep the momentum rolling at Tuesday’s Gosford meeting.

QUEANBEYAN

BEST BET

Race 1, No.9: ROCKBARTON ROAD

A Joe Cleary-trained filly with home ground advantage. Raw but talented enough to beat these.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.1: LITTLE LANAI

Unlucky not to be a city winner. recent form isn’t flash but gets her chance to regroup.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.1: BIG BAZ

Placed at seven of his 15 starts and six of eight at this track. Running out of chances but this could be the day.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Gigantic could be considered as somewhat unlucky not to be on a hat-trick of wins coming into this. The Ron Quinton-trained gelding in the Mamzelle Pedrille silks won at Kembla on October 13, 12 days prior to his close second at Hawkesbury in a Midway. Perfectly drawn in the middle of the field. Dreamdeel was inches behind Gigantic when they met the other day. Lightly-raced and has talent. German-bred Taraashoq beat Love Tap in a trial recently. Gold Witness will have admirers.

Bet: Gigantic to win, quinella 2,3

RACE 2

Captain Bond is a Vieira family-bred son of Capitalist who was a beaten odds-on favourite on debut at Hawkesbury. Struck a Heavy 10 after that at Randwick on April 23 then on May 18, turned in another underwhelming run in town. He trials like a good horse, he just needs to show it on race day. Right race and right track here. See You Again was the only Menari yearling that made it into the Easter Sale in 2021. His dam is a half to Headturner, etc. The fact that he made $210,000 says a lot. Nice horse for the mid to long term. Remlaps Commander should run a race.

Bet: Captain Bond to win, See You Again to place, quinella 5,10

RACE 3

Watch The Clock is trained by Ron Quinton. This horse is by Impending, himself a son of Mnemosyne who was bred by Quinton (and others). As for Watch The Clock, he was $10 into $7 at his one and only start at Gosford in the winter and ran a decent race. Has been trialling quite well. Huge watch on Kingston Charm whose fourth dam is Spirit Of Kingston, her fifth is Kingston Rose. Going to get better with time but could be ready to start her upward trajectory as early here. Shigeru has drawn well and trialled nicely here recently.

Bet: Watch The Clock to win, Kingston Charm to place

Sam Clipperton rides Watch The Clock for trainer Ron Quinton. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Desert Spring was scratched from a mile race at Scone yesterday where he drew a very wide alley. This is 1900m but he is by the US Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and has run over 1500m twice leading into today. Both of those were at Hawkesbury; Gosford will be even better given the way he races. Mist Of Battle debuts at 1900m (if he comes). Sounds like a task but not as big when you look at who trains him (David Payne). Avago Ava could be a sharp improver stepping up to a trip that she is bred for. Single Babe has more ability than a 15-start maiden.

Bet: Desert Spring to win, Mist Of Battle to place

RACE 5

Whanga Wonder is an interesting mare. She is by Proisir and her mother won 10 races from 1200m to 2100m in NZ yet Whanga Wonder was a mere $7000 at the Karaka sale in 2018. She is an Ellerslie winner in NZ over 2400m. With Kim Waugh now and the two runs in Australia have been a lot better than they read on paper. Sky Ace is a winner either side of that Heavy 10 failure at Newcastle. Has won here at home but even with Tommy Berry on, 61kgs is getting up there for this horse in this race (bar scratchings).

Bet: Whanga Wonder each-way

RACE 6

Very Sharp was ridden very well indeed by Reece Jones when she won here last start. You wouldn’t think she would ever win at Gosford given the layout of the track and her barnstorming pattern but she got the frenetic pace up front that she needed and of course Jones timed her run to perfection. This looks a fast race again; she just has to get to the outside again. Passistas has been running quite well on Heavy tracks at her last two but reckoning on her really appreciating some firmer ground. Denetta and Arale are players.

Bet: Very Sharp to win

Regan Bayliss will partner Chilli Jam on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Chilli Jam could end up being on the best horses to come through this meeting. She has a lot of class and a lot of quality. She’s a Hellbent great granddaughter of Oakleigh Plate winner Miss Kournikova and was sold for $160,000 at the Classic which says it all. Debut run at home was quite okay. Spelled and this time her trials have been outstanding. I’m anticipating that My Eloise is saved for Hawkesbury on Wednesday. Lucky Variety was spelled after two outstanding runs in town behind Koshu (would have been a star) and then Spicy Hotpot.

Bet: Chilli Jam to win

RACE 8

Operative, a grandson of former crack WA filly Covertly, was sold for $900,000 at Easter in 2021 but looked a million dollars when he won at Newcastle first-up on Oct 15. He camped off them from the inside alley then joined in quickly and boom, it was all over. Drawn wide this time. If they were to go fast here - and there is no reason why they won’t - it could be a horse like Joey’s Chance to sweep home and ambush them late. Granted he is hard to catch on the punt but given the right set of circumstances, he is dangerous.

Bet: Operative to win or if scratched Joey’s Chance each-way

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford, Queanbeyan