Race day focus: Bets bets, inside mail for Moruya, Dubbo

A Matthew Dale-trained gelding was gallant in defeat first-up but a better barrier drawn can see him break through for his maiden win at Moruya. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Matthew Dale has found an ideal race for Ken'Ker at Moruya on Friday. Picture: Grant Guy

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over the Quaddie legs at Moruya 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!

MORUYA

BEST BET

Race 3 No. 1: Ken’Ker

The Matthew Dale-trained gelding drew barrier 10 of 11 first-up and was run down. Barrier 4 this time will make him harder to pass.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No. 14: Never Lose Faith

Has only won two from 45 but that’s down to her pattern. Still capable of winning.

VALUE BET

Race 2 No. 4: Jimmy Nails

Looks like he could figure prominently third-up from a good draw.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,6

Race 6: 3,12

Race 7: 1,3

Race 8: 2,3,14

Nick Heywood looks set for a big day at Moruya. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Nick Heywood will be as popular as ever in Friday’s TAB Jockey Challenge

DUBBO

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 5: Viganotto

Turned in two supremely meritorious efforts at her only two starts to date so has talent.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 2: Joshua

Led throughout and won easily here on Sep 10. Can keep progressing.

VALUE BET

Race 8 No. 11: Eilrahc

Runner-up at the track and trip 19-days ago. Drawn well to go one better.

INSIDE MAIL - MORUYA

RACE 5

Espirito has such a good C.V that it is worth highlighting; that is, 15 starts for five wins and six placings, four of those are seconds. On top of that, the Paul Murray-trained son of Bel Esprit has a win and a second when first-up, same goes for his record at Moruya. All in all, he is the one to beat, hence the big weight. Kelvedon Road is a big talent with a big finish. He will either run home over the top of them or he might run out of ground/time.

Bet: Espirito to win, quinella 1, 6

RACE 6

Arteluce is owned and bred by Gerry Harvey. He is a son of Star Turn and a great grandson of the Golden Slipper winner, Ha Ha. The Joseph Ible trained chestnut is a four-year-old on debut so it is fair to say, it has taken time to get to this stage but nothing wrong with that - or his trials. Outback Angel ran a huge race on debut to get as close as she did to the odds-on favourite at Corowa over 900m. The extra 110m might be the difference this time.

Bet: Arteluce to win, quinella 1, 12

RACE 7

Zarni is another of Paul Murray’s major players on the Moruya card on Friday. This daughter of Nicconi has two wins, two seconds and two third from nine starts and just so we know, her other runs are two fourths and a fifth. Long story short, if she brings the ‘Tags’ and ‘Extreme Freedom’ form to Moruya, she just wins. Manzoni hasn’t been too bad in those two Highways leading into this at her home track where she is ‘one for one’. Stablemate Rouge Line is in fact ‘two for two’ here at home.

Bet: Zarni to win

RACE 8

Never Lose Faith has only won twice in her 45 starts but has placed 10 times. It is pretty easy to see from her strike rate of wins to placings that her pattern holds her back a bit. Clearly, she doesn’t win many but she can normally be relied upon to hit the line. She’ll get there again one day. Hasty Duchess creates a lot of interest here, certainly market-wise, given that she is having her first run for the new stable and is way, way down in class compared to what she has raced against virtually her whole life. Forbes has a wide draw but a big finish.

Bet: Never Lose Faith each-way

INSIDE MAIL - DUBBO

RACE 5

Joshua was trained by Les Bridge when he finished second to Agita at Kembla last start. Agita is in the Dulcify Stakes on the weekend and could end up being a big time stayer for David Payne. Joshua was sold online subsequent to Kembla, Clint Lundholm bought for him for $13,000 then won $22,000 at Dubbo on September 10 in the easiest fashion you would see. The mile is perfect for him now. D’Oro Choice has been in good form this preparation and he’s found the right race again. Shibuck finished in front of D’Oro Choice here last start.

Bet: Joshua to win

RACE 6

Outishka has also accepted for the Denman Dash at Muswellbrook on Monday. Wow, what a race that looks on paper. So much so, that this is a million times easier by comparison, more so with barrier 2 and with Mitch Stapleford’s 3kg claim. ‘Market watch’ is putting it mildly when it comes to Precious Socks who is first-up since August 22 last year and making his NSW debut. Good stable, great trial. The ‘best’ Star On Fire is hard to beat. Bare To Witness has some real depth to his form.

Bet: Outishka to win, Precious Socks each-way

RACE 7

Transplant, the great granddaughter of Bold Promise (mother of Merlene), has been around. She started off with Tony McEvoy then went to Joe Pride and has been with Clint Lundholm for half a dozen starts and has done well at all of them. That said, her best two were here at Dubbo, one win and one second to Dollar Magic. Stablemate Beauchamp is another one who races well at home. At the end of the day, it will come down to which one of them, if either horse, is actually ‘ready’ to win first-up. Sussu and Castlebar have claims.

Bet: Transplant to win, quinella 1, 2

RACE 8

Eilrahc is a lightly-raced five-year-old son of Shamus Award who has just eight starts on his board this far for a win, a second and a third. The Alison Smith-trained bay has run more good races than had in his time and he went very, very close indeed in his September 10 maiden here at Dubbo. Grant Buckley sticks and he has a good alley. Avalicious has only managed two wins from 22 starts but she has placed seven times. This is her home track and the right race at the right time if she can hold up her end of the bargain. Midnight Dream has been racing in strong company.

Bet: Eilrahc each-way, box trifecta 2, 7, 8, 11

Originally published as Race day focus: Bets bets, inside mail for Moruya, Dubbo