Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gosford

An Anthony Cummings-trained filly will appreciate a big drop in grade and can make it two wins from just three starts. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Burnett can bounce back to the winners circle at Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry 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!

NEWCASTLE

BEST BET

Race 8 No. 5: TIME TO BOOGIE

A progressive sprinter from the Michael Freedman stable who scored a good win first-up last campaign before a second to a very smart filly. Trials excellent and can kick off with a win.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 8: BURNETT

Came from last in a big field with a run down the outside fence to score on debut. Jumped up to metro grade second-up at Randwick. Back to right grade and will take beating

VALUE BET

Race 5 No. 7: MISS SHALAA

A consistent filly who placed runner-up if four of her first six starts before breaking through when resuming at Taree. Can go back-to-back.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2, 3, 4, 7

Race 6: 6, 7, 9

Race 7: 3, 4, 8

Race 8: 2, 3, 5

Jason Collett looks set for a winning day at Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Jason Collett has some nice rides for the day including Extremely Frilly (race 3) and Burnett (race 7).

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

David Pfieffer has had winning doubles at Wyong on and Beaumont in the last week and can notch another here with Explosive Torpido (race 1) and Extremely Frilly (race 3).

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Explosive Torpido started an odds-on favourite on debut at Goulburn and although beaten, it wasn’t a bad run. She was trapped out wide and gave away a big start at the top of the straight before closing fast to finish a half-length third to Riva D’Amor over 900m. She looks ideally suited stepping up to 1100m and should get an ideal run from the good gate. Encroachment boxed on well for second to Sinner when resuming from a long lay-off here on June 8. Little Baia beaten a nose under 61kg at Bathurst last start and drops to 56.5kg here. Biographer was good in his trial second behind Time To Boogie before winning his heat next time out.

Bet: Explosive Torpido to win

RACE 2

Estriella sat back and wide before closing strongly for a close second in her Warwick Farm trial in late May. Showed speed to hold inside running before cruising to a length win in her second heat there on June 9. John Allen makes the trip from Melbourne to ride her. Sicilian has the benefit of race experience with a sixth in the Gimcrack on debut and a second in the Listed Lonhro Plate. She too has trialled well. Spring Lee only got clear late when second in her Randwick trial on June 13 after winning a heat there 11 days earlier. Waterski was hard held to win his Rosehill trial on June 6. Wide draw is a challenge.

Bet: Estriella to win

RACE 3

Extremely Frilly settled back on an inside run in the straight when just nosed out by Free Enterprise when debuting here over 1100m back in March. She will take plenty from the experience. Sat back and wide and always under a good hold in her recent trial. Misty Dreams worked to the line well when third to Never Never Land here two weeks ago. Will be strong late again. Petra Stellam is a six-year-old on debut and has trip to Hong Kong and back under his belt. Was doing his best work late in his latest trial on the Beaumont track on June 5. Watch betting. Divine Guidance had little luck in the straight at Hawkesbury last start. Can run well first-up.

Bet: Extremely Frilly to win

Extremely Frilly (inside) was nosed out on debut but can go one better when she resumes at Gosford. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Atacama ran a cheeky race at odds when runner-up to Justela here on June 8. Stays at the 1600m and will be right in the finish again. Rockinfeller has found his best form with three placings at his last three starts, the latest a second to Miss Shalaa at Taree on June 6. Won’t be far away again. Lovely Thoughts started big odds on debut but was doing her best work late when fourth to Justela and Atacama here on June 8. Will benefit from the experience. Dancemania also went around at a big price on debut but performed above market expectations with his fifth to Missile Max at Hawkesbury on June 11.

Bet: Atacama to win

RACE 5

After four placings, Miss Shalaa finally broke through with a stylish length and a half win from Rockinfeller when resuming from a spell at Taree on June 6. Drawn to lead or race on speed and Tim Clark to rate her to perfection. Lady Gold is better than her last start ninth behind Grebeni in a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill on June 3. Drops back to a Class 1 here. Mischievous Molly won dominated her rivals with an easy win at Port Macquarie in between to close second placings. Will be prominent again. Never Never Land followed a nice third at Wyong with a tough win here last start.

Bet: Miss Shalaa to win

RACE 6

There was merit to the debut fifth of Divazino over 1300m at Goulburn. Her length and a half second to Queen Astrid over 1500m at Hawkesbury second-up was very good. She will relish stepping up to 1900m here. Doraskaya went back and was held up when fifth to Guzumped at Kembla before coming from last when fourth to Lumiere at Newcastle last start on June 3. Lake Road raced keenly before being shuffled back and then slightly held entering the straight when fifth to Lumiere at Newcastle last start. She could be an improver stepping up in trip. Fleet Commander was disappointing first-up in Australia but a step up in trip can see him run an improved race.

Bet: Divazino to win

Tom Sherry will again partner Divazino at Gosford. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Burnett was responsible for a huge run on debut when coming from last down the outside rail to score by a long head from Kokoshnik. Changed tactics from a better draw and held the inside running when sixth to Yoshino in a Benchmark 72 at Randwick. Back to a Class 1 and can get back to winning form. Chipper raced wide without cover when a half-length second to Twitch over 1000m when resuming here on June 8. Will be improved by the run. Chain Of Gold was also first-up in that same race where he was a length and a half fourth. Won’t be far away again. Another to come out of the Twitch race was Yankees who was fifth. She is a winner at this trip.

Bet: Burnett to win

RACE 8

Time To Boogie showed good improvement in his second campaign to score a first-up win and a close second to Dancing Alone second-up. Looks to have come back even better this time with two smart trials. Durnstein was narrowly beaten in both runs last campaign in higher grades including a second to Beast Mode at Eagle Farm. Goes into this without a recent trial but commands respect. Procrastinator is a promising type who has won two of his twice starts. Just nosed out by Much Much Better in his trial on June 5. Amnesty is shooting for a hat-trick after wins. Must be respected.

Bet: Tim To Boogie to win

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