Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wyong, Port Macquarie
Trainer Damien Lane has called on the services of champion jockey Hugh Bowman to help ensure a progressive mare gets the money at Wyong. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Wyong and Port Macquarie.
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!
WYONG
BEST BET
Race 5, No.2: LAUNCH ATTACK
Home track, Hugh Bowman, very fit, handles the wet, wants the trip - what’s not to like?
NEXT BEST
Race 3, No.3: SHIRSHOV
Placed at three of his six starts and really stretched a handy one (The Rockwell Scale) last start. Ready to win.
VALUE BET
Race 4, No.2: CALM DOWN
Savabeel filly from the Ron Quinton stable on the verge of a win. Gets her chance again.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2
Race 6: 1,2,7
Race 7: 2,5,6
Race 8: 4,5
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Hugh Bowman will don the famous Winx colours at Wyong on Thursday to steer Pool Pony around in the last race
PORT MACQUARIE
BEST BET
Race 3, No.7: MADIBA ROSE
Placed two of four, fourth and fifth at the other two runs. Fitter for this and has the talent beyond maiden class.
NEXT BEST
Race 7, No.4: EVOCATOR
Unbeaten in his two runs this prep, both at 1200m but is ready and able to stretch himself to 1500m now.
VALUE BET
Race 9, No.13: DR DEMON
Only won five from 42 but three of those wins are here at Port Macquarie and two were over this same trip.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WYONG
RACE 5
Launch Attack ticks a whole lot of boxes. For a start, she is trained at Wyong where she has raced once and was third, albeit a distant one, on a Heavy 10. Damien Lane has given her three consecutive runs at a mile and finally gets an opportunity to get her out to 2000m. One more thing - Hugh Bowman rides. Loves Rules is a one for one at the Wyong 2000m and best of all, it was at her last start and she really put a gap in them on the Heavy 10. Preferred Choice is better than what he showed at Moree. Vyner has to be respected.
Bet: Launch Attack to win, exacta 2 to beat 7
RACE 6
Black Jacamar is a consistent mare; you only have to look at her record to see as much. She’s won four of eight overall and is unbeaten in her two starts this prep, both on Heavy 9’s. She is trained here at Wyong by Kim Waugh (tick and tick) but not sure what to make of the draw? Tucson Valley is another horse in this race ‘on a hat-trick’. Barrier 1 has to be plus, surely, unless the fence was off or something. Perfect Style goes well fresh but may need it Slow rather than Heavy? Impact Star runs his races at the start of each preparation.
Bet: Black Jacamar to win
RACE 7
Sebring’s Rose beat just one other horse home when she resumed at Scone. Would be wise to forgive her for that, she was first-up off one trial on a Heavy 9. Bottom line is, she is a lot better than that. She is most certainly provincial standard and probably even midweek or more in time. My Snow Queen has some real depth to her form. Key to note with her is that has finished runner-up at both of her two second-up appearances. Buba is the designated ‘muddie’ in the race. All three of her wins have been on Heavy tracks and she lives here.
Bet: Sebring’s Rose each-way
RACE 8
Hugh Bowman will don the Winx colours here in the last when Pool Pony makes her NSW and Chris Waller debut. Bowman was aboard the former Queensland resident in his very pleasing trial at Rosehill 13-days ago. In terms of form, Pool Pony’s is very good for a race like this. Patton has run in some very strong races; in fact, two of his 14 starts were in Group 1’s. Long story short, this is a ‘good race’ for the son of American Pharoah. Cushy is on an upward trajectory and could peak here at a track/distance which he loves.
Bet: Pool Pony to win
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR PORT MACQUARIE
RACE 6
Zoom Outcome has raced six times for two wins and two placings. That’s good enough on its own but it is hugely significant to note that the Marc Quinn-trained gelding is unbeaten in two runs here and both were over the 1000m. No worries with the wet ground. Good race today but he is a horse on the up. Could well be going without Bullinachinashop here which would promote Taree gelding Flash Palace to ‘the main danger’ to Marc Quinn’s local. This son of More Than ready has raced at the Port Macquarie 1200m four times for a win and a second. Has won three times on Heavy also.
Bet: Zoom Outcome to win
RACE 7
Evocator is a Jenny Graham trained gelding who has really hit his straps this preparation evidenced by the fact that he has won his two and only runs this current campaign. On top of that, those wins have both been here at his home track - and on Heavy 9’s. Ready for the 1500m now. Stablemate Super Dooper had excuses for the Highway run at Gosford. Sharpest of improvers back home. Mariinsky ran really well at his NSW debut at Taree.
Bet: Evocator to win, box trifecta 2,3,4,6
RACE 8
For the record, Paul Shailer has a 27 per cent win strike-rate at Port Macquarie and 65 per cent for the place. Once again and as always, Shailer a very strong hand to play on Monday. One of his chief protagonists being former Kiwi gelding, Darci Diva. This mare has placed in all of her only three runs in Australia - all at Port Macquarie. Should make it known that Darci Diva also accepted for Wyong. Eager to see how the Tuncurry grey Sir Ravanelli measures-up here. He was very impressive winning his maiden at Grafton. On his way to a Highway if he can win this which he surely can.
Bet: Darci Diva to win, quinella 2,14
RACE 9
Dr Demon has won five times in his 42 starts but three of them have been at Port Macquarie. On top of that, his record at the track/distance is nine starts for two wins and three placings. He might not be an out and out mudlark but he seems to at least get through it. Par Avion is the best horse in the race, the 71 rating says as much, it’s just a matter of how fit she is for a 1200m sprint on a heavy and testing track. Not at all impossible; look at those numbers!
Bet: Dr Demon each-way, quinella 2,13
Originally published as Race day focus: Best bets, inside mail for Wyong, Port Macquarie
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