Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Goulburn, Tamworth

The Team Hawkes-trained gelding Nicodemus should be able to capitalise on his favourable draw in a winnable race when he travels to Goulburn on Friday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Team Hawkes have found am ideal race for Nicodemus to break through for his maiden win at Goulburn on Friday. Picture: AAP Image

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

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!

GOULBURN

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 4: NICODEMUS

Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old who has a favourable draw in a winnable race. This looks to be his day.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No. 1: EIGHT OF A KIND

Making her stable debut at the new home track. Seems to have the necessary talent to prevail.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 9: MY BLUE JEANS

Lining up for his 97th start but almost won his 95th. Has some good numbers at the track and the distance.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1

Race 6: 2, 5, 9, 10

Race 7: 2, 5, 11

Race 8: 2, 5, 9

Beany Panya looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Beany Panya has three chances to rack up some points in an open edition of the TAB Jockeys Challenge at Goulburn.

TAMWORTH

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 4: GUNMETAL

Grey son of the Festival Stakes winner White Sage who has trialled like he will be on the podium.

NEXT BEST

Race 7 No. 6: THE CHOSEN ONE

Placed four of five on heavy tracks. Placed three of five first-up. Go well.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 1: DON’TCHA THINK

Was $2.45 into $1.90 when resuming and beating a handy local at his only visit here so far.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOULBURN

RACE 1

Nicodemus is a Team Hawkes-trained three-year-old by Impending whose first five starts were in Victoria; most were good; the best of them on paper at least was his third at Geelong. Nicodemus was excellent at his NSW debut finishing third in a 1400m maiden. The mile should be right up his alley now. Flying Flossy has been consistent all the way through. She has finished runner-up here twice, the last one behind Kenichi who goes rather well. Diamond Drummer and Irene’s Best are siblings. Their dam, Diamond Drille, won a Group 1.

Bet: Nicodemus to win

RACE 2

Thoughtful Woman was bred by Gerry Harvey and is a very valuable broodmare prospect given her grandam is Lady Capel. As for her racing ability, Thoughtful Woman has hit the line better than most horses in all of her six starts including her debut second to Kovalica no less. Kenichi was heavily backed to win here on June 16 and it was never in doubt really. Can and should keep progressing. Rent A Rock is a big chance; more so with the 56.5kg now. He has won eight races and placed 15. Trained here too.

Bet: Thoughtful Woman to win, quinella 6, 10

Thoughtful Woman can break through for her first win on Friday. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 3

Mosgold has raced five times for three seconds and a third. Her other run was good fourth at Wagga. Beany Panya has been there for the last two, both at Nowra, both great rides too given she drew the outside alley in both of them. Barrier 1 this time might be the difference. Prince Papa ran a whole lot better than his $31 starting price when Keagan Lathan (who sticks) steered him into a closing fifth here on June 16. Prometio Mas has finished third at half of his 10 starts and in quite good quality maidens at times.

Bet: Mosgold to win

RACE 4

Hurricane Ablowing was impressive winning at Canberra on December 11 at his first and so far only run. Rob Potter had him then. The son of Panzer Division is with Gary Kirkup now who would have been impressed with the gelding’s trial in Canberra on June 23. Not sure he would be as thrilled with the draw. Joe Cleary on the other hand would be pleased, that is, seeing Pretty Vegas come up with box four. She won by six and a half here on debut from barrier 8 of 11. Off Da Hizzle is a million times better than what we saw at Muswellbrook.

Bet: Hurricane Blowing to win, quinella 6, 7

RACE 5

Eight Of A Kind races in the same colours as her somewhat enigmatic but gifted father, Nostradamus. This filly was spelled and changed stables twice subsequent to her ‘even’ third of five at the Sapphire Coast back on Jan 29. She resumes on Friday at her new home track for Danielle Seib off a nice enough trial in a race that looks within her capabilities. Gary Portelli-trained filly Ferrari Girl bumped into a superior and promising horse at Nowra last start namely Accredited. Shuttle Run’s last trial brings her well into contention.

Bet: Eight Of A Kind to win

My Blue Jeans (left) looks a good chance at Goulburn. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 6

My Blue Jeans is a grey son of a grey horse called Barbados who is by Redoute’s Choice out of Virage De Fortune. As for this Danny Williams-trained eight-year-old, he lines-up for his 97th start on Friday but with any luck, he could just about have won his 95th. The horse has a good set of numbers at the home track and at the trip. Super Riff has only won two from 24 but a lot of his losses can be attributed to his pattern of getting back and getting home. If things go his way on Friday, he could get into the medals. Blazing Sunrise is a player so too Jacob Joe and Taylor Be Swift.

Bet: My Blue Jeans to win, Super Riff each-way, quinella 9, 10

RACE 7

Light Press was moved on from her previous owners after nine starts for a second but some quite acceptable form at the provincials. From what we can gather, Gary Kirkup bought her and it paid instant dividends for the Canberra conditioner given that comprehensive win down there on June 23. Why not again? Lohnraki wasn’t beaten at all far in a couple of runs at the midweeks in April and May. Runner-up at Nowra last starts, things look good for him on Friday if he can convert. Skaifee can draw an alley. He’s done it again here with box two.

Bet: Light Press to win, box trifecta 2, 5, 6, 11

RACE 8

Legal Challenge was $21 to $26 when he had his first run in a long time and his first run for the new trainer, Richard Litt, in a Nowra Class 3 on June 29. Long story short, the son of Star Turn was as good as anything in the race and better than most given where he came from and where he ended up. Frisson has been the proverbial model of consistency this preparation. Going to be very prominent for a very long way. Almahero has won three of his six first-up outings and has won here at home. Nats Enough is a last start winner. Devine Miss has claims.

Bet: Legal Challenge to win

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