Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth

A pair of locals are coming off eye-catching performances and are at terrific value to register their first victories. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Racing in New South Wales on Tuesday is at Tamworth.

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

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 5, No.4: OUR BOY OLLIE

Tamworth local who was arguably the run of the race first-up at Scone over 1000m. The step up 1200m here suits.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No.4: BEAR’S BEST

Beaten a nose here on October 5 then a month later, he closed off stylishly behind a very promising horse at Scone.

VALUE BET

Race 7, No.6: ARLIEBEL

Has come into her own this preparation with a first-up second followed by back-to-back wins. Can keep progressing.

BEST EXOTIC

Exacta Race 5 No.4 Our Boy Ollie to beat No.6 Bit Of A Step

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4

Race 6: 4,8

Race 7: 8

Race 8: 2,4,7,10

Jockey Aaron looks set for a big day at Tamworth on Tuesday.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock has some great chances at Tamworth including three for Paul Messara for whom he has a huge 40 per cent winning strike rate.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAMWORTH

RACE 1

Bartender Blues has only won once in 31 starts. That was at Pakenham back in July 2021 but he has placed 10 times and more often than not, beats more horses to the line than beat him. That was the case last start when he bumped into Maurice’s Medad in a Class 1 at Taree. Unzaga is trained by Paul Messara, who had his sire, Scissor Kick (Giga Kick’s father). Unzaga had never run a bad race up until the Highway on Hunter Day and even then he wasn’t awful.

Bet: Bartender Blues to win, quinella 1,4

RACE 2

Zounique has always been a handy horse dating back to when David Hayes had him. Fast forward in time and he has been very well placed by Luke Pepper since he arrived in Canberra and now at Scone. One thing that is patently obvious is that Zounque is a miler. Four of his six career wins are at 1600m. Barellan Bandit has great figures at the track and the trip. Red Beryl is unplaced in two starts at the mile but has a nice weight and is racing well.

Bet: Zounique to win

RACE 3

Bear’s Best hails from one of the best families on the racetrack and in the Studbook. Suffice to say that his third dam is Compulsion who as well as being by Danehill out of Bold Promise, is a sister to Merlene and a half to Miss Pennymoney. As for Bear’s Best, he is a lightly-raced local who was beaten a nose here on Oct 6, a month before his rock solid fourth to a very nice horse at Scone. Herne Hill has drawn wide but is somewhat versatile. Oodles and Hoku are both in with a chance.

Bet: Bear’s Best to win

Trainer Paul Messara prepares Valoria who looks hard to beat. Picture: AAP Image

RACE 4

Valoria is trained by Paul Messara and will be ridden by Aaron Bullock. It is nothing short of incredible that they share a winning strike rate of 40.6 per cent. Messara himself is 21 per cent which is a huge figure which bumps up to 48 per cent when placings are added. As for Valoria, she was a close runner-up at Canterbury on debut and set the scene to win here off a very good third at Scone 14-days ago. Kris Lees’ well bred filly Extensive was beaten a whisker at Quirindi last start. Go well again. Lago’s Daughter can figure.

Bet: Valoria to win

RACE 5

Our Boy Ollie is a good prospect. Trainer Michelle Fleming explained how she has not rushed the now four-year-old gelding and it is starting to pay dividends and should continue. Our Boy Ollie has run some good races in good quality maidens and was the undisputed ‘run of the race’ first-up at Scone. That said, mark down Bit A Step as monumentally unlucky. He was stopped in his tracks when a horse just cut in front of him. Fenton, who was bred by Ethereal’s jockey Scott Seamer, warrants respect.

Bet: Our Boy Ollie to win, exacta 4 to beat 6

RACE 6

Really Serious is the third generation of this family bred and raced by long standing racing and breeding identity Bob Haire who won the 1996 Australia Day Cup with this mare’s third dam, All Angels. Really Serious has won at her first start for Cody Morgan in a 1000m maiden here on Sept 28 and has been adequate in her subsequent two runs. Drachenfels was his usual eye-catching self in the Guyra Cup then dropped back to 1250m. Better suited at 1400m here perhaps. Tough Case has only won three from 43 but has placed at both runs here.

Bet: Really Serious to win, Drachenfels to place

Rory Hutchings rides Really Serious for trainer Cody Morgan. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Theresa Stair has always held Arliebel in high regard and if it wasn’t before, it is now clear why. The daughter of the German-based stallion Counterattack is on a hat-trick off the back of what were in reality, emphatic wins. Movin’ Denman is a consistent horse. That much is evident given his C.V which reads 13 starts for a win, three seconds and two thirds. The son of Denman (naturally enough) has placed at his last four appearances and probably hit the line better than anything else in all those starts. He deserves a win. Powerful Peg is a huge player.

Bet: Arliebel to win, quinella 6,8

RACE 8

Iron Hat drew barrier 2 and led in that 1100m Class 1 at Scone last start. Granted, the flashy son of Salade was passed late but the winner, Quilting, goes really well so maybe it was a strong race. Mitchell Bell sticks and they have drawn even better this time. Has the talent. Demitasse, the son of Widden Stakes winner Teaspoon was scratched from the Highway at Rosehill last Saturday. Has to rank as the one to beat here given his record. Wide draw brings him back to the field a bit perhaps. Shikanic is a handy horse, well up to figuring in the finish.

Bet: Iron Hat each-way

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