Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wagga, Coffs Harbour

A John Sargent-trained mare can land a deserved win in the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Pink Ivory can can be rewarded for her good form with victory in the Wagga Wagga Gold Cup on Friday. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Wagga.

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!

WAGGA

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 8: PINK IVORY

The John Sargent-trained mare has performed consistently in stakes races this autumn and can win the feature Cup.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 12: MISS FABERGE

A talented filly on her day. She drops back from a stakes assignment into a winnable Fillies and Mares event.

VALUE BEST

Race 2 No. 3: PRETTY WOMAN

She’s a proven first up performer and can add to that record back in a country Class 3.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 3, 5, 9, 10

Race 6: 1 4, 12

Race 7: 2, 8

Race 8: 6, 8, 10, 11

Tom Sherry looks set for a profitable carnival at Wagga. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tom Sherry is in town for Wagga‘s two-day carnival and should make the most of the trip south.

COFFS HARBOUR

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 4: MAROON MAGIC

Speedy filly returning from a break. A winner first up last prep, she can do it again fresh.

NEXT BEST

Race 6 No. 2: CONNELLY

The Capitalist gelding did enough on debut at Ipswich and should improve nicely second up.

VALUE BEST

Race 7 No. 4: MADAM ROCK

She’s only just missed at her past two starts. A maiden win is in her reach here.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1, 3, 4

Race 5: 2, 6

Race 6: 1, 4, 7, 8

Race 7: 4, 5, 10

Andrew Mallyon has some good chances at Coffs Harbour on Friday. Picture: Trackside Photography

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Andrew Mallyon has been making the most of limited opportunities and gets a couple of good chances at Coffs Harbour.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WAGGA

RACE 1

Best Intent is capable of breaking her maiden at just her second start. The daughter of Hellbent showed a fair degree of potential on debut where she was slowly away but made up good ground late closest to the fence in a 1000m event at Canberra. The step up in trip and good draw are in her favour. Count Kilkenny returns from a 17 week spell. He didn’t show an awful lot in his sole run last preparation but his trial in the lead up to this was good. Bull Sluice has trialled up well for his first start and should be a market watch.

Verdict: Best Intent to win.

RACE 2

Pretty Woman represents great value in her return from a break. She was competitive in Highway grade last preparation and finds a suitable first up assignment here. A two-time winner already when fresh, she gets a great draw at her pet distance. Forms Of Gear has come back a gelding for a new trainer in David Pfieffer. He’s shown a bit of talent but will need to overcome a tricky draw (barrier 13). Troika has two wins in his past four runs and they both come over the same sprint journey he faces here.

Verdict: Pretty Woman to win.

RACE 3

Lockup The Kittens ticks a few boxes here with main danger and stablemate Sister Moon lining up a day earlier. The Keith Dryden-trained gelding is fourth up now and ready to peak. He will get the perfect run in transit from barrier one before exploding late. Merc has drawn awfully in barrier 19 but rarely puts in a bad showing. He hasn’t missed the placings in his past five and gets in okay with 60kg after Coriah Keatings’ claim. Wild Irish Rover has performed in provincial grade and debuts for a new yard here in the bush.

Verdict: Lockup The Kittens to win. Quinella 1, 3, 9.

Jeff Penza rides Lockup The Kittens for trainer Keith Dryden.

RACE 4

Devine Miss has a wide draw to overcome but has the ability to do it. She rarely puts in a bad effort with three wins and six placings from 14 starts. Expecting she has plenty of scope for improvement second up after running a credible third at Canberra over the 1000m when fresh. Participator is certainly a winning hope. He is perfect in three attempts at this track and trip and has been racing well this prep. Almahero comes into his second up assignment off a determined win and should not be discounted.

Verdict: Devine Miss to win.

RACE 5

Diesel has made a promising start to his career with two wins from five starts. The Ben Brisbourne-trained gelding was an impressive winner of the Albury Guineas two back before getting a mile back and working home alright in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville. Trusting him to settle closer here and be one of the strongest late. Associate was back to his best last start as a $1.24 favourite, winning impressively over 1200m at this venue albeit only in a maiden. He can challenge again but there is a question mark stepping up from 1200m to a mile. Long Tycoon will take running down on speed.

Verdict: Diesel to win.

RACE 6

Miss Faberge may have only won one of her 13 starts but she’s more talented than that suggests. She drops in grade here after running midfield in a Listed Princess Stakes at Doomben on April 22. She gets the good draw and a significant weight swing on several of her main rivals, including 3.5kg on the favourite. Celestial Spirit has been tasked with lugging that big impost. Her form reads really well for a race like this but the weight presents a challenge. Noble Beauty is a consistent campaigner that will be competitive in a race like this.

Verdict: Miss Faberge to win.

Trainer John Sargent can land a race-to-race double with Miss Faberge and Pink Ivory. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 7

Pink Ivory has been racing well without winning this preparation. Her last run was better than it reads on paper after she got a mile back in the JRA Plate (2000m) and worked home strongly for fifth. Trusting Tom Sherry to settle closer this time and run over the top of them. Chris Waller has won three of the past five Gold Cups and has another great chance in Great House. He’s third up now and at his optimum distance range. Marsabit is on the short back up from last Saturday but can’t be discounted.

Verdict: Pink Ivory to win.

RACE 8

Allaboutroy returns to the scene of his dominant maiden win last start. The home track galloper was caught wide on speed but was still too quick for rivals in a 1000m event last month. He can settle close to the speed again here and give them something to catch. Asgarda is another strong last start winner after canning rivals by five lengths at Gundagai. That was on a heavy track but certainly had plenty of merit. Fighting Zed would be likely top pick had it not been for the horror outside draw. He’s got talent but the gate makes life very tough.

Verdict: Allaboutroy to win. Boxed trifecta 6, 8, 10, 11.

Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wagga, Coffs Harbour