Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle, Narromine

A Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trainec colt has looked a million dollars in his trials ahead of his return to racing at Newcastle on Tuesday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainers Sterling Alexiou (left) and Gerald Ryan have a promising colt in Cappelletti who looks hard to beat at Newcastle on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

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

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 7, No.4: CAPPELLETTI

Pricey Capitalist colt who was all at sea on the Heavy track on debut. Spelled and once again is trialling like a bomb.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.1: WRATHFUL

Promising grandson of Galileo who looks to be a horse bound for city racing in the near future.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.1: FAST RESPONSE

Shown talent in his two trials, winning the last one by two lengths. Gets the sweet draw in the right race.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,4,5,7

Race 6: 3,4

Race 7: 4

Race 8: 1,5

Andrew Adkins looks set for a big day at Newcastle on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Andrew Adkins will give the TAB Jockeys Challenge a red-hot go at Newcastle on Tuesday.

NARROMINE

BEST BET

Race 7, No.2: SIZZILE MINIZZLE

Loaded with promise; his maiden win at the end of the first preparation bore all the hallmarks of a horse bound for better.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No.1: ROCKIN’ EDITION

Good looking horse who belied his $20 starting price when finishing runner-up to a decent horse at Dubbo.

VALUE BET

Race 5, No.3: THE NEON KNIGHT

Has mixed and matched it in better races against better horses. Loves the wet and has drawn well.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Arale came a long way last preparation - her first for Peter and Paul Snowden - bearing in mind that she kicked it off with a fifth at Muswellbrook and rounded it out with a consecutive wins at Hawkesbury and Kembla. Trialled like she is ready to take up where she left off in the winter. Leggy Point adds huge interest. She was utterly dominant and super impressive winning a maiden at Gosford on debut. Kiss Sum’s sister, Irish Kisses, ran third in a high calibre Benchmark 64 at Kembla last start.

Bet: Arale to win, quinella 2,8

RACE 2

Wrathful is a grandson of Galileo meaning that he could be suited right the way up to 2000m or more when asked. Plenty of time for that. As for right now, trainer Sam Kavanagh has him lining up in what must surely be the perfect race for Wrathful, a mile, third-up off two cracking runs at 1400m. As good as Wrathful may well be, he does have at least one obstacle in the shape of Viennoiserie. She is building nicely to another win. Dreamdeel should race handy and is very fit.

Bet: Wrathful to win, exacta 1 to beat 6

RACE 3

Smiling Prophet caught the eye at her debut run here back on June 4 and certainly had some excuses for the run in town after that (she went too fast early and tired). Trainer Mark Minervini couldn’t have found a more suitable race for the filly over 900m at home and with the dream alley. So Rosie is a Richard and Will Freedman-trained filly on debut. Her trials may not look all that flash in black and white but they have both been good. Parrying won his November 4 trial by six lengths. Fast horse who just has to keep it going to the finish line.

Bet: Smiling Prophet to win

RACE 4

Fast Response is another Sooboog three-year-old trained by Richard and Will Freedman scheduled to make his debut. This one is a very handsome chestnut with a white face and more importantly, it looks good when it gallops. Easy trial on Oct 21 and was an easy heat winner on Nov 8. Might pay to keep an eye on the betting of My Artie who hails from an astute stable and those trials back in June and July were not bad at all. Capital Theatre is well served coming back to the 900m.

Bet: Fast Response to win, My Artie to place

RACE 5

With Your Blessing was a neck off Bacchanalia and Kooled on debut a two-year-old. At the next start was fourth in the Pago Pago followed by a fifth in the Baillieu. Everything he has done since has been good to varying degrees. Two trials for a 900m return. If the Vegas Raider that turns up here is the same one that won the $200,000 Inglis Challenge on debut, they will have a hard time holding him out late. This is Mr Polar’s 15th start at the Newcastle 900m and it will be his fourth win if successful.

Bet: With Your Blessing to win

RACE 6

Ruberto is a son of Rubick but has Zabeel close up on his dam’s side which explains why his future will be at a mile and even up to 2400m. The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt was $26 into $21 on debut in a 1600m maiden at Goulburn and you could make a case to say he was the best run of all the 13 that went around. Fitter and smarter for the run and the big track suits. Flexing finished second ahead of Ruberto at Goulburn so needless to say, he goes in here as a massive player. Pantech sent out some encouraging signs at Kembla on Derby Day on debut.

Bet: Ruberto to win

Jay Ford rides Ruberto for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Cappelletti was sold for $725,000 at the 2021 Easter Yearling sale. A son of Capitalist out of USA Grade performer, the Ryan/Alexiou-trained colt was all at sea on debut on the Heavy 9 at Warwick Farm on June 1. He is one of those horses that you can safely say that if he brings his trial form to the races, he should be too good for them. Good Girl has been turning heads among the trial watchers. Vaneto is unplaced in his five starts but none of them have been all that bad. First run for the new camp here. Oceanique has talent and trialled well.

Bet: Cappelletti to win

RACE 8

Ka Bling has some compelling numbers. The Macquarie Stud-bred gelding has raced nine times for two wins, two seconds and two thirds. On top of that, he has placed at two of three runs at Newcastle and was runner-up to Sur La Mer at his only run at this track and trip. Was good first-up following a great trial. Plagiarized, the son of dual Group 1 winning mare Platelet could be saved for elsewhere but has claims if he comes. WA-bred Walkin’ Talkin’ is a mighty fast horse just like his sire, who was also trained by Gary Portelli.

Bet: Ka Bling to win

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