Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth and Dubbo
An exciting Scone three-year-old has been highly impressive in his two wins and can continue on through his grades at Tamworth. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Tamworth and Dubbo.
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!
TAMWORTH
BEST BET
Race 8 No. 1: REMEMBER JACK
A stunning looking horse who won’t be racing solely in the country for much longer. He’s definitely Highway class.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 7: MAZITA
Here’s another lightly-raced type who will make it to a higher grade in time.
VALUE BET
Race 3 No. 10: TRIPLE MONEY
Was found to be lame post his Taree run. Form in New Zealand is better than what the rivals can manage.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 5, 7
Race 6: 5, 7, 8
Race 7: 7
Race 8: 1
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Aaron Bullock will be Winx-odds to win the TAB Jockey Challenge if all his rides turn up on the day.
DUBBO
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 6: DUBBO WANDERER
Ran forth to Kattegat, third to Le Melody, comes back to home after a run in the Ortensia.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 10: LIFE’S A PARTY
Started even-money on debut and was just too fast on the day despite barrier 11 of 14.
VALUE BET
Race 1 No. 3: MARYLAND BRIDGE
Has done enough in her trials to suggest she will be in the finish on debut.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAMWORTH
RACE 5
Miss Milton, a cleverly-named daughter of Paradise Lost, has won just the once in her 14 starts but you could make a sane case to argue that she was desperately unlucky in the rich Inglis 2YO Challenge a few years back. You would guess she is fitter for her first-up fifth and will appreciate 1200m. Better Judgement has been a bit costly at times, note the plural, but she fronts up in the perfect race again. Leggy Point will probably be saved for Tuesday’s Scone meeting. Extessive will be happier at 1200m here.
Bet: Miss Milton to win
RACE 6
Keikoku has drawn off the track but he has the distinct advantage of Aaron Bullock to ride. This will be the gelding’s first run for Luke Pepper; Keikoku’s previous 11 were under the care and management of Brad Widdup and Nathan Doyle before that and there were plenty of ‘good runs’ among them. Hombre has drawn 5 (tick) and has raced here three times for a win and a second. The Hanger Cat is a lightly-raced last start winner with loads of speed.
Bet: Keikoku to win, quinella 5, 8
RACE 7
Mazita could have legitimate claims to being unbeaten in his three starts. As it is, he was placed at the first two then a narrow, but still authoritative winner at Muswellbrook on May 21. He is a magnificently bred colt and from a very astute and in-form stable. That is code to say he is going to make it to a better grade. Sukhbir has a winning strike-rate of 33 per cent heading into this one. The Kris Lees-trained gelding pulled out plenty to win first-up at Taree and that’s becoming a bit of a trademark for him. Lord Avatar can improve into the placings.
Bet: Mazita to win, exacta 7 to beat 3
RACE 8
Remember Jack is by Headwater but is out of a Lonhro mare and you can’t half tell. Might be stretching it to say ‘replica’ but one look at him and you think Lonhro and Octagonal. The Stephen Jones-trained colt has won two of four - and in awesome style each time. He beat a very good Class 1 field at Muswellbrook last start. Soopat won on December 24 and January 12 then went out. Resumes at home off some lovely. It is the perfect race for him but it is so strong. Iron Hat is well up to this grade when he is at his best.
Bet: Remember Jack to win
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR DUBBO
RACE 5
Life’s A Party was sent out a $2 favourite on debut in a competitive Orange maiden. She drew 11 of 14 but managed to lead and win by a length in the end beating Ida’s Rules who is quite handy herself. She (Ida’s Rules) has an opportunity to turn the tables on Friday and her cause is certainly aided at least by barrier 2. That said, she had gate 2 at Orange and the other mare beat her. East Harlem is a Dean Mirfin-trained stablemate of Ida’s Rules who is closing on another win.
Bet: Life’s A Party to win, quinella 6, 10
RACE 6
Starlink is a consistent mare who took her tally of wins to three when she won a Class 2 over 1400m at Bathurst on May 25. Ronald Simpson gave it a deadset George Moore ride, hugging the fence and driving it through late. The horse is flying so no reason to jump off. Lady Riz has only won five times in her 53 starts but she has placed on 14 occasions and 10 of them are second. That is a real backmarkers record; sometimes she gets there, other times she doesn’t. Hammoon Money was fourth to Starlink last start.
Bet: Starlink to win
RACE 7
Starane is trained locally by Paul Clisby and has raced here five times for a win and two placings. He drew barrier 14 of 14 here two runs back and was never on the track as a consequence. Made up ground last start when third over 1100m which makes you think he is spot on for 1300m now. That goes double, maybe even triple, for Feirme Prince. True, he has only won one from 14 but he gives away big starts when he draws poorly. Barrier 6 is acceptable and Kody Nestor has the reins.
Bet: Starane to win, Feirme Prince each-way, quinella 9, 11
RACE 8
Sea Of Flames is a member of racing royalty in that his fifth dam is Summoned. He’s a gelding so it probably doesn’t matter to anyone who is not a breeding nut. What does matter of course are his winning prospects which I would have thought are quite bright given how well he has run in a string of Country Cups now. Rich And Shameless is a last start Newcastle 64 winner which will take him a long way in this. Notabadidea and Majority has claims in a very absorbing and open end to the day.
Bet: Sea Of Flames each-way
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth and Dubbo
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