Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Warwick Farm

A step up in distance looks ideal for a John O’Shea-trained filly to put on a winning display. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

John O'Shea saddles up a promising filly in Gorgeous Zara who looks hard to beat at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

Form analyst Mitch Cohen gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Warwick Farm.

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!

WARWICK FARM

BEST BET

Race 4, No.5: GORGEOUS ZARA

The John O’Shea-trained three-year-old produced an ominous performance on debut last start. She’s an Oaks nominated filly suited by the step up to a mile.

NEXT BEST

Race 5, No.2: TIP OF THE SPEAR

An imported stayer dropping back from Saturday grade. Should be ready to peak third-up over a trip.

VALUE BEST

Race 7, No.13: AIR OF ALSACE

A consistent Jason Coyle-trained mare returning from a spell. Can ran a bold race at odds.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 5

Race 5: 1, 2, 5, 6

Race 6: 2, 5, 7

Race 7: 7, 9, 13, 16

Brenton Avdulla can continue his good form at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Brenton Avdulla has a strike rate of over 20% for February and has another tidy book of rides on Wednesday.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WARWICK FARM

RACE 1

Introducing is a $380,000 yearling purchase having his first start in the Golden Slipper winning silks of James Harron. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt looked good in his only trial when edging out stakes performed stablemate Platinum Jubilee. Backed from $3.60 into $2.50 favourite since markets opened, he should get every chance to put his best foot forward on debut from barrier two. Helldancer is another first starter that’s shown promise at the trials. She’s drawn to take the shortest route home. Think Capital Heart would have learnt plenty from his debut assignment and can improve.

Bet: Introducing to win.

RACE 2

Pereille was a beaten $1.40 shot and is set to go around at a similarly short quote here. Trusting the Godolphin galloper won’t be the bookies pal again. He was only narrowly beaten in a tight finish in that first-up at the same track and trip and can deserves another shot from the inside draw. Cool Jakey makes his debut after a couple of nice trials efforts. Early betting support indicates he’s ready to run well. Givara has finished second at three of his four starts to date. Another forward first-up showing certainly shouldn’t surprise either off the back of a pair trial tune ups.

Bet: Pereille to win.

James McDonald can land a race to race double on Pereille and I Am Jade. Picture: Getty Images

RACE 3

I Am Jade returns from a 119 day break with a couple of trials to have her fit and ready to return. In typical Chris Waller fashion, she wasn’t asked to do a lot in either hit out but seemed to have plenty to offer. Expecting a forward showing first-up. Divots was forced to race wide on a heavy track on debut at Canterbury. The Hawkes Racing galloper gets the fence draw so should avoid the same issues and has trialled well since. Outlawed has been beaten favourite in both runs this preparation but hasn’t been disgraced. She will be peaking third-up and should have no excuses from the two gate.

Bet: I Am Jade to win.

RACE 4

Gorgeous Zara is an Australian Oaks nominated filly that performed admirably over 1400m on debut at Kembla Grange. The John O’Shea-trained filly raced without a heap of luck but finished within half a length of the winner in third. Stepping up to the mile second-up looks perfect from a favourable draw. Eau De Vie was doing her best work late over the same trip last start. She will be the one to hold out late. Air Bentley led the field up in the Eau De Vie race and was only just nailed late so another forward showing shouldn’t surprise. Hollywood Hero is a consistent performer that can run well again.

Bet: Gorgeous Zara to win.

RACE 5

Tip Of The Spear is an import having his first Australian preparation and should appreciate the step back from tougher Saturday grade. Both his performances so far have had plenty of merit with the rise in distance to 2400m to his liking. Keen to give him one more chance this prep. Oceanic Flash is a rock hard fit stayer that’s finished a narrow runner up at two of his past three. He should be around the money again. He put home Oz Legend last time but the Chris Waller-trained galloper ran a decent third in that event. Mikasa is the form mare and can’t be discounted provided thunderstorms don’t hit the track and drop a deluge.

Bet: Tip Of The Spear to win.

Major Beel (outside) looks hard to beat again on Wednesday. Picture: Grant Guy

RACE 6

Major Beel has only missed the placings once in seven starts at that was in a stakes assignment during the spring. The Savabeel gelding has two wins on his resume and one of those came with a determined first-up effort at Newcastle. A winner second-up last prep, he can run well again. High Court drops back to his favourite trip having already chalked up three wins and seven placings around the mile. If he can replicate his last start display, he will take some beating. Aravene holds nominations for races like the Doncaster and Queen Elizabeth. She ran on okay first-up but needs to improve second-up to scale those lofty heights.

Bet: Major Beel to win.

RACE 7

Air Of Alsace boasts a competitive record of two wins and four placings from nine starts. She begins her latest campaign off the back of two quiet trials but has won and placed first-up before. Her chances will only increase if the track gets wetter. Standing Order returns a gelding with the blinkers back on. His trials suggest he’s been tuned up for a forward showing first-up. Noble Conqueror interestingly drops back from 1400m first-up to a 1200m sprint assignment. The Chris Waller-trained should improve off for the run and is certainly among the chances.

Bet: Air Of Alsace each way.

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