Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Newcastle

A Chris Waller-trained gelding can take another step forward this preparation when he heads to Newcastle for the perfect race on the Cup Day undercard. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Yet He Moves looks well placed to make it back-to-back wins at Newcastle on Friday. Picture: Bradley Photos

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

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 4 No. 5: Yet He Moves

Son of Adelaide who is timed to the second for a Newcastle 1850m Class 1 and Maiden Plate.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 1: Side Show

Well-bred colt who has Corniche and Shinzo form. Ready to win now second-up.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 16: Outlandos

Sturdy and underrated type who was runner-up in the Grafton Cup after winning the Stayers Cup at Randwick.

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 4 No. 5 to beat No. 6

QUADDIE

Race 5: 2,3,11,13,14,15

Race 6: 4,5,13

Race 7: 16

Race 8: 2

Kerrin McEvoy looks hard to beat in the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Damien Oliver and Ben Melham are in Newcastle for Cup Day but Kerrin McEvoy has the rides to win the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Twigman, a great grandson of local legend Max Lees’ 1997 VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Ruffles, has inherited a fair bit of stamina from his sire Preferment hence why he was tried in the ATC Derby at the end of his three-year-old preparation. The fact that this is a mile on a big track in a small field means he can win. Pushy is unbeaten in his two starts, the last one here over 1400m. The mile looks perfect. Orzita, the daughter of dual Group 1 winner Norzita will love getting back onto a big track. Last Straw is a huge improver.

Bet: Twigman each-way

RACE 2

Allapercanto must have run some pretty spectacular splits when she chased home the above average Write This Way at Kembla on debut. She is certainly bred to progress; the Per Incancto’s are a sturdy breed. This filly’s third dam is the mother of Private Steer and All Silent. Speaking of breeding, Alvinia’s Luck is trained by Ron Quinton and is ostensibly the ‘niece’ of one of his six Coolmore Classic winners - Ofcourseican. She is crying out for 1400m and has the draw to be handier perhaps.

Bet: Allapercanto to win

RACE 3

Side Show, is by Trapeze Artist and is a grandson of Lady Jakeo. Fair to say that no one knows this family like the co-trainer Gerald Ryan. As for the colt himself, he was fourth in the Skyline to Corniche and Shinzo, spelled, and ran a big race here first-up. Damien Oliver’s mount, Meet Me In Bondi, was tipped out after finishing last in the Tulloch Stakes. The son of Snitzel looks to be absolutely flying at the trials. Superstitious, another Ryan/Alexiou colt, ran on very well late in the Super Maiden at Wyong. Newcastle suits him much more.

Bet: Side Show to win, exacta 1 to beat 3

RACE 4

Yet He Moves was good in his only two runs at the first campaign and has been very good in his two starts this one. How could he not be? He is trained by Chris Waller and is a son of the Cox Plate winner, Adelaide. He couldn’t be in a more suitable race. Diabelli was rolled at $1.70 over this track and trip last start but he was beaten by Condrieu who goes better than the market gave her credit for that day. Snowman, the grandson of More Joyous has come back really well this preparation. Has Frankel close up to help him stay a trip.

Bet: Yet He Moves to win

Political Debate looks a great chance in the Cameron Handicap. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Political Debate, a $900,000 yearling purchase, has won back one-third of that figure and counting. He can shave off another $140,000 should he win the Cameron here or Saturday’s Tramway at Randwick. He was good first-up, better again the next time which could lead to a third-up peak. That goes the same, if not even more, for Inver Park. The Kris Lees-trained import has had ‘next time’ written all over him in those two Australian runs. No Compromise, Luncies, Skyman are all in it.

Bet: Political Debate to win, Inver Park each-way, quinella 11, 13

RACE 6

Times Square drew 14 in the Tibbie and 16 in Saturday’s Bill Ritchie. Granted, you wouldn’t call them ‘ideal’ barriers but she was most likely going to be off-speed in either race and have one big, last crack at them and that being the case, Jason Collett is ideal. Razeta has drawn 12 but here’s another one with a big finish. If this is run fast, as you would imagine, Razeta will be one of those charging home. Speak Up was very good in the Mona Lisa.

Bet: Times Square to win or if scratched, Razeta each-way and Speak Up the place

RACE 7

Outlandos has won from 1200m to 2600m but these days, we really don’t see him at his absolute peak, ratings-wise, until he gets past 2000m. That mile race was more or less a contested barrier trial for the horse who has Zoumon form from the Grafton Cup. Cleveland started favourite in the Sydney Cup. Fast forward to the present and his Premier Cup fourth had ‘next time/Newcastle Cup’ inked all over it. Raging Bull has run some huge races in some huge around the distance.

Bet: Outlandos each-way, Raging Bull to place

RACE 8

Zoukerino, a $500,000 Magic Millions Yearling in 2021, won her first two starts (of five so far) including the Rosebud. She resumes here under new management and off the back of two predictably impressive trials. She is the one to beat but certainly won’t have it laid on a platter now given the 11 of 11 draw. That, and the presence of Alicia Roma. This Angela Davies-trained mare has raced eight times for four wins, three seconds and a third which goes close to guaranteeing her a medal. Jilloni ran them off their legs at Gunnedah.

Bet: Zoukerino to win, quinella 2, 5

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