Raceday focus: Bets bets, inside mail for Gosford
The Matthew Smith-trained mare turned in a eye-catching run when resuming and can end they day on a high note at Gosford on Thursday.
Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.
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!
GOSFORD
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 1: ANGEL FUND
Tipped out after finishing a close and still creditable third on debut at $1.70 back on December 3. Has a bright future starting now.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 3: HARRY TUDOR
A Frankel three-year-old who opens the new campaign with a new trainer and as a gelding.
VALUE BET
Race 8 No. 6: MIDNIGHT OASIS
Will appreciate what looks like a warp speed 1000m race here. Will be strong late.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 3
Race 6: 5, 9
Race 7: 2, 4
Race 8: 1, 2, 4
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
James McDonald heads to Gosford on Thursday for all of about 65-odd seconds work on boom colt Ozzmosis.
BATHURST
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 11: TERRA MATER
Runner-up at three of her four starts and third at the other one in town no less. This is it surely.
NEXT BEST
Race 1 No. 1: TOO SHARP
Runner-up at three of his seven starts and third in another. Say it again - this is it surely.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No. 7: EAST HARLEM
Chased home a very fast horse first-up. Fitter and his only win so far was here.
THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD
RACE 1
Adjourn wasn’t as bad it looked first-up at Warwick Farm. He was good late. How about ‘very good late’ the next and last time we saw the GB-born Novocastrian when he ran third in a mile Class 1 on Scone Cup Day. Wish this was 1850m at Newcastle. Pacific Warrior was scratched from a 1500m at Canterbury on Wednesday. Great draw, right jockey and back to 1600m from 1800m is the key. Lichester has been perfectly prepared, and is eager for, a look at the mile.
Bet: Adjourn to win
RACE 2
The Professor was $71 into $51 at one point in the betting when he debuted at Kembla. The reason why he was such a long price to begin with was that he was up against a shortie and that 1400m was always going to be a bit short. That said, he ran a very creditable race. He’s bred on the Tavistock/Zabeel cross and is a good looker too. Unowho, the one in the Winx colours, turned in an encouraging and eye-catching debut in town; wants 1600m big time.
Bet: The Professor each-way, Unowho each-way
RACE 3
Angel Fund had trialled like a bomb three times ahead of her debut at Newcastle on December 3 last year hence why she was $1.90 into $1.70. Okay, she got beat but not by far and barrier 7 played a role. Trialling well but has the dud draw again. Divots has been very costly indeed in her two runs; both at the midweeks. That said, there is a good reason she has been so fancied in both of those runs. I thought Spiritchaser was a moral at Goulburn first-up - ouch.
Bet: Angel Fund to win
RACE 4
Mickey’s Pride was scratched from a race at Canterbury on Wednesday and has also accepted for one at Bathurst on this very same day. This looks a nice race for the son of Sebring when it is all said and done. Small field, good draw, 2100m, 2kg off. Tiva Bay has finished on the podium 10 times in 17 starts. Great stuff huh? Well, only one of those is a win but to be fair to the horse, he has finished second eight times. Caring Lass and Great Week are players.
Bet: Mickey’s Pride to win or of scratched Tiva Bay to win
RACE 5
Harry Tudor is a son of Frankel and look at some of the dam sires - Pivotal, Sadler’s Well, Seattle Slew, etc. Suppose it is something of a moot point given that he has been gelded since we last saw him. His two first runs were for John Thompson; one was good, the other was okay. Loving his recent trials. Misty Dreams is still searching for her first win after 15 starts. She has placed at nearly half of them. She’ll get there one day, could be this day given that this is the home track and all. Extreme Merger is out of a Group 1 winner and has trialled okay.
Bet: Harry Tudor to win
RACE 6
Ozzmosis has quite the boom on him. Not surprising considering he has won all three of his trials. James McDonald rode him in the last one 10-days ago. He is headed up to Gosford to ride him and him alone. Barrier 1 should help you would think. Mister Fox is a worthy adversary. Not sold on him being as precocious or wound-up as the other horse but he’s a talent and a bright future. Denman Star is a better horse than his C.V reads. The breed invariably go well when fresh. Tamarao has a wide draw but a big finish like his dad, Spieth.
Bet: Ozzmosis to win
RACE 7
Ringdembells was born, bred, raised at and retained by Macquarie Stud who have been nurturing this stunning black-coloured filly’s family for decades. Ringdembells found Black Iris too nippy first-up then went down to Kembla and a quick time to win, not by far, but maybe she beat a decent horse. Deep Expectation more or less held her ground first-up at Kembla in a 56.78s seconds 1000m Class 1. Twitch is a generally consistent local. Climate Control was a distant second, but second nonetheless, to Once Again My Girl last start.
Bet: Ringdembells to win, exacta 4 to beat 2
RACE 8
Midnight Oasis is a valuable dual-purpose mare being by So You Think and a member of the influential ‘Tennessee family’. She had specking - and for good reason - when she resumed at Wyong in a good quality and ultimately fast-run 1000m race. Black booker, eye-catcher, call her what you like but it was a pretty nice return from a horse in for a good campaign. The elephant in the room is her Matthew Smith-trained stablemate Frilled who will either be off and gone at the 100m or, just gone. Smiling Prophet is lightning fast herself.
Bet: Midnight Oasis each-way