Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gunnedah, Moruya
A John Bourke-trained three-year-old looks well placed to break through for his first win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Gunnedah and Moruya.
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!
GUNNEDAH
BEST BET
Race 6, No.9: SKYFORGER
The three-year-old has been runner-up at three of his past four starts. Ready to put a win on the board.
NEXT BEST
Race 1, No.1: SOOPAT
Got the maiden out of the way last start and has the talent to win again.
VALUE BET
Race 4, No.3: RINGSIDE
Ever consistent galloper who has placed at his past six starts. Should be in the finish again.
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock can continue his hot streak after piloting 15 winners from his past 49 rides.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 3, 4, 5, 10
Race 6: 9
Race 7: 1, 5, 6, 7
Race 8: 1, 5, 6, 10
MORUYA
BEST BET
Race 6, No.10: REAL SALTY
Locally prepared from the flying Natalie Jarvis yard. Gets gun draw at an ideal track and trip.
NEXT BEST
Race 7, No.3: HOPE UNO
Classy mare that never runs a bad race. Always races well at Moruya too.
VALUE BET
Race 2, No.1: FORBES
Has had a freshen up but trialled in excellent order. Broke his maiden when we last saw him.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 2, 3, 10, 11
Race 5: 8, 10, 12
Race 6: 1, 6, 10
Race 7: 2, 3
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Jess Taylor is a talented rider who can end her day in a flurry with plenty of good chances.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GUNNEDAH
RACE 5
Tough race to start the quaddie and lean towards Harper’s Jewel. The Scott Singleton-trained mare doing his best work late on debut in a seventh at Tamworth. Will be suited by the step up to 1300m. Dumpus returned with a vastly improved effort in a second at Tamworth. He can feature in the finish again from the good draw. Prince Carlos is yet to place in seven starts but hasn’t been far away this prep. Watch betting moves for first starter Archbishop. Trials have been fair in the lead up.
Verdict: Harper’s Jewel to win.
RACE 6
A runner up at three of his past four starts, Skyforger is ready to breakthrough. His last start second at Inverell was his first start for new trainer John Bourke. Steps back 100m in trip for this one with a top draw in barrier two. Firey Panz has placed at her past four starts with back-to-back seconds at Tamworth and Muswellbrook. A win isn’t far away. Gunfighter was a narrow runner up at this track and trip back on December 3. Emulating that display would see him fighting out the finish again.
Verdict: Skyforger to win.
RACE 7
Boss Shelby came from last and took the shortest way home along the fence to just miss last start at Scone. Gets a better draw with Aaron Bullock sticking. Should reap the benefits of two tune up runs. Hiraishin is better than what he showed first-up from a break. Is a two-time winner previously over the 1000m journey and can improve. Midweek Hustler may find this too short but has continued to race well this prep while The Defiant One has placed twice before first-up from a break.
Verdict: Boss Shelby to win.
RACE 8
Spirit Of Pluto is deep in his prep now but finds a very winnable race. With no standouts, Todd Payne-trained galloper can take advantage of an excellent draw in barrier two. Nicator will likely start favourite. Has won two and placed six times from 23 starts but is yet to hit his straps this prep. Lady Lucilla won two back at Warren and continues to race consistently this time in. Her stablemate Zounile can make marked improvement second up for a new yard.
Verdict: Spirit Of Pluto to win.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR MORUYA
RACE 4
The Predictor returns from a break without a trial but showed enough in his debut campaign to suggest he will be competitive first-up. Won a trial in the lead up to his debut, where he four-year-old got caught in the worst part of the track on a heavy 10 that day. Meets a better surface here and drawn in barrier one. Lord Remy is placed in five of his eight starts. Was a close second at the same track and trip last time. Kool Bird is a debutant that finished second in a trial over 1000m last month while stablemate Aspired looks to have returned in good order this prep.
Verdict: The Predictor to win.
RACE 5
Monte Outlander drops back from a Provincial maiden into country grade. The Robert and Luke Price-trained galloper led the field up last start at Gosford before battling on for third. Should be fitter for that hit out over the mile and take running down. Skye’s Legacy fell in as an odds on favourite last start but that was just her second start. The Scissor Kick filly will be suited by the step up to a mile. Enament has improved with every run this prep but has a tricky draw in barrier 12.
Verdict: Monte Outlander to win.
RACE 6
Real Salty can continue home track trainer Natalie Jarvis’s top form on her home track. The Real Impact mare was a narrow second last start to another Jarvis runner on a day the stable had four winners. Ready to peak third up from a good draw. Negation reared in the gates and never went a yard last start when favourite. Certainly has ability but have to take her on trust. Get Shafted was an excellent third in the Narooma Town Plate but goes up 7kg from that performance.
Verdict: Real Salty to win.
RACE 7
Hope Uno has placed in her past six runs with two wins in that time frame. She has placed at both attempts at this track and trip including a third back on December 18. Gets the inside draw for her latest assignment. Expect a big improvement from Lights On The Hill second up from a break. Placed in both runs at the same stage on his prep previously and loves this venue with two wins and two placings from five attempts on home turf. Single Crown drops 4kg in weight from a first-up fourth in Canberra.
Verdict: Hope Uno to win.
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Gunnedah, Moruya
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