Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle

A progressive gelding from the Richard and Will Freedman stable can post his second career win. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Misty Legend can bring up his second win at Newcastle on Thursday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Daily Telegraph form analyst Adam Sherry 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: MISTY LEGEND

The Richard and Will Freedman-trained closed off strongly from last out wide when a close third at Eagle Farm last start. Won his maiden here two starts earlier.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 1: DEVON COUNTY

Had to wait until straightening to get an inside run before finishing a close second when resuming. Will get more room from the gate and can make his run when he needs to.

VALUE BET

Race 2 No. 1: ALL ABOUT OLLIE

Has turned in handy effort to place runner-up at his last two starts and looks a good each-way chance.

BEST EXOTIC

Race 6: Quinella 1, 2

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 4, 5

Race 6: 1, 2

Race 7: 2, 4, 6

Race 8: 3, 10, 11, 12

Aaron Bullock has a good book of rides at Newcastle and can go close in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Last season’s NSW and Australian premiership winner Aaron Bullock has good book of rides including Prime Impact and Calamity Fox.

INSIDE MAIL - NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Moravia is a Michael Freedman-trained first starter by Snitzel from the dual stakes winner Our Crown Mistress. Raced very wide before cruising down the outside rail to win his Randwick heat from Platinum Jubilee on July 14. Restrained to sit behind the leader and not pressured in his fourth to that same filly in his heat two weeks later. Perfect Proposal was favourite when runner-up to stablemate Perfect Proposal in the Gimcrack on debut. Was wide throughout in first trial back this preparation then led when fifth in her latest. Helldancer was good in her first campaign and has won both her recent trials. Carveti has trialled well.

Bet: Moravia to win

RACE 2

All About Ollie is knocking on the door after placing second at his last two starts. Was doing his best work late when beaten a head by Prime Impact over 1600m at Gosford on July 22. Steps up to 1850m here where he has placed runner-up previously and his maiden win was over 1900m. Diamond Drummer ground out his maiden win by a length from his younger half-sister Irene’s Best at Goulburn two starts back before going down a half head to Sidereal at Nowra. Changed stables since and now with Kylie Gavenlock. Condrieu has been just behind the placegetters in both run back from a spell and will appreciate stepping up in trip. Nicodemus is worth consideration.

Bet: All About Ollie each-way

RACE 3

Devon County raced on the rails and was able to get an inside run on straightening before going down by a short neck to Crewman when resuming over 1600m at Kembla two weeks ago. Drawn out here which should see him get plenty time and room to wind up. Irish Anthem was a short neck back in third in that same race. Was held up badly in the straight when third to Futtaim here the start prior. Frank Express was hard ridden at the 600m but picked up to finish a half-length second to Dancemania at Gosford on July 22. Has since been gelded. Mr Papera tracked Deelbreaka and ran him to a long neck over 1400m here last start.

Bet: Devon County to win

Keagan Latham rides Devon County at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 4

Prime Impact came between runners in the straight to win his maiden at Taree then raced outside the leader to win his Class 1 from All About Ollie 16-days later. Hard to go past again. Too Good To Be Tru was good late when resuming at Kembla before breaking through with a narrow win from Been Foggy in the Maclean Cup at Grafton on July 16. Placed six of 12 this distance. Miss Shalaa raced outside the leader and battled away for fourth at Taree last start. Runner-up twice at the 1600m. Two Up can be included in the multiples.

Bet: Prime Impact to win

RACE 5

Legolas was very good in his first two starts before stepping up in grade at his last two before a spell. Trialling well and can kick off campaign with a win. Calamity Fox resumes from a spell and showed he is ready to go with a nice all-the-way trial win from The Bopper and Spangler at Gosford on July 28. Drawn well. Yankees has plenty of talent when she put it all together. Drops back from a Bm 68 at Kembla to a Class 1. He’s Purring hasn’t been far away in both runs this time in.

Bet: Legolas each-way

RACE 6

Global Empire started his preparation with two close second placings at Kembla and Canterbury before a fourth to Mural Crown at Canterbury two weeks ago. Back to provincial grade and drawn nicely to break his maiden. Externus raced outside the leader before being claimed late by Broadway Bouncer with a big gap to the others when resuming at Newcastle on July 25. Broadway Bouncer has since won again at Hawkesbury on Tuesday to frank the form. Catchy Tunes has been just over two lengths from the winner in each of her three starts including a last start second to Wooloowin at Gosford. Daytona Girl can run well first-up.

Bet: Global Empire to win

Kerrin McEvoy partners Misty Legend on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Misty Legend drifted back to last from the outside gate before coming widest off the bend and storming home for a long neck third to Shamedy at Eagle Farm on July 29. Was a big winner her first-up and looks hard to beat. Double Scoop followed a second at Canterbury with a break through maiden win over 1350m at Wyong. Battled away when fifth to Sir Godric at Kembla last start at his first run over 1500m. Shuttle Run was wide throughout on debut when fourth to Hellova Nature over 1000m at Hawkesbury on July 9 before scoring a length win from Exsensible at Nowra two weeks later. Blinkers go on. Showsumgrit raced well last campaign and should run well first-up.

Bet: Misty Legend to win

RACE 8

Silvanito came out a clear last before working home for a 1.5-length third to Orlabent when resuming at Wyong on July 4. Was checked off heels and lost some momentum approaching the 400m when fifth to Silentsar at Canterbury last start. Can settle close from the better draw. Sheza Marvel was held up until about the 150m when a half-length third to Biographer at Gosford last start. Will be prominent again. Orzala resumes from a long lay-off. Won her maiden here at her second start before contesting the Listed Reginald Allen last time out. Was good late in her latest trial at Randwick. Little Baia drops back from Saturday grade. Drawn out but can figure in the finish.

Bet: Silvanito to win

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