Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Newcastle

Leading rider Keagan Latham can end a busy week on a high note and extend his lead in the provincial jockeys standings. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Leading provincial jockey Keagan Latham can claim a winning double at Newcastle on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Keagan Latham can increase his lead in the 2023/24 Provincial Jockeys Premiership by two courtesy of Randwick trainer John Thompson who could play a central role himself at Newcastle.

Latham has won two of the last Provincial Jockeys titles and is on 21 wins, just 2 ahead of his nearest rival Tyler Schiller on the current standings.

The South African born hoop is about to cap off one of the busier weeks of his time in Australia, spreading himself far and wide - and often.

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!

Keagan Latham will again partner Emmadella at Newcastle on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I rode every other day except for Monday so it has been busy,” Latham said.

“Literally from last Sunday until this Sunday there would have been four provincial meetings and three city meetings so an abundance of choices for the trainers and that just thinned out the race card on Sunday.”

That said, Latham’s weekend commitments rest more on quality than quantity with two hugely appealing winning prospects namely Bobby Is King and the mare Emmadella, both of them from the John Thompson camp.

Latham will be having his first sit on the Ollie Tait-bred Bobby Is King but is looking forward to the occasion having watched the gelding’s easy win in a recent Heat at Wyong.

“He did look to trial up pretty well the other day,” Latham said.

“He is obviously a pretty consistent and probably unlucky not to have broken his maiden already so hopefully he can get the job done on Sunday.”

Bobby Is King’s opportunity to discard his maiden status comes via the Lexus Of Newcastle Handicap over 900m with barrier 11 of 13.

“It is probably a little bit of a touch short for him but I would imagine if his class prevails in a race like that, he should be finishing off very strongly,” the jockey said.

Bobby Is King trialled well at Wyong recently. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I think he has got a bit of natural speed so if we can just try and get over from the draw in the most economical way possible, then hopefully he can the job done.

“If anything, you have a little bit more of an uninterrupted run around the bend, you just try and save as much ground as possible but keeping your horse as tight as possible to other runners and a nice clear run up the straight.”

Latham’s second and final ride on the day for Thompson comes immediately after Bobby Is King’s return with Emmadella slated to contest the AON United Class 1 Handicap (1400m).

Latham has a much better understanding of this mare compared to the stablemate given he has ridden her twice before for a win and a last start second at Wyong.

“They went really hard that day and she just got a little bit lost around that Wyong bend, it is quite a long bend, and she is obviously a horse that is still learning a little bit about herself and learning her trade,” Latham commented.

“She was just hanging a little bit on the bend, just because she was green but really impressed me by the way she finished off.

“I didn’t expect her to get as close as what she did and I think she has got a nice future.

“We like her a lot and I think she will just get better and better as her preparation goes on.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 5: Rapbidash

It wouldn’t be exaggerating to say she might be ‘anything’. Has been nothing short of amazing in races and trials.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 4: Emmadella

Won at Kembla then didn’t quite get around Wyong but was solid just the same. Go well.

VALUE BET

Race 3 No. 13: Our Uptown Girl

Has more natural ability than her C.V. shows. This is her chance to shine.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 4

Race 5: 5

Race 6: 1, 2, 4, 8

Race 7: 2, 4, 6, 13

Keagan Latham can land a winning double at Newcastle.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Keagan Latham only has two rides at Newcastle on Sunday but both can win.

INSIDE MAIL - NEWCASTLE

RACE 1

Domingo is a John O’Shea-trained son of Contributer whom he trained. He was very underrated too bearing in mind he won the Apollo, Chipping Norton and Ranvet in succession. As for Domingo, he’s had a taste of Group 1 racing himself, running unsuccessfully in the ATC Derby. This is a beautiful race for Domingo who is charging towards a campaign peak. Supertrial’s sire and dam both ran in a Melbourne Cup and the further this horse goes the better. Vinery and Oaks participant Frankie’s Me Dad will run the trip right out.

Bet: Domingo to win

RACE 2

Spartus is trained by the Snowden’s who won a Magic Millions and Golden Slipper with this colt’s sire, Capitalist. The dam is by Zoustar and while an 11 start maiden herself, she was city placed in Sydney a few times. Trialled twice and both were ace. Deep Joy, a $70,000 Inglis Classic Yearling, was beaten seven lengths in her trial but was under triple wraps. The dam won over 900m in the United States. The Godolphin galloper Skogafoss is a close relation to Miss Finland and had trialled as well as any of his rivals on Sunday.

Bet: Spartus to win

RACE 3

Spirit Of Storm is a Newhaven Park-bred daughter of Spirit Of Boom resuming at home over the ideal distance of 900m with the perfect barrier (1). The Sam Kavanagh-trained mare finished third at her two runs at the opening campaign, both at this same track and distance. The trial at Wyong was very good. Speaking of trials, Bobby Is King cut a fine figure winning his Wyong heat on that same day - easily, as it happens. Has talent. Just Shane went a whole better on his trial than a fifth of six would suggest. Could be the exotic value.

Bet: Spirit Of Storm to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 3

Spirit Of Storm had trialled well ahead of her return to racing. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 4

Emmadella is a lightly-raced and handy enough mare from the John Thompson stable. The daughter of All Too Hard has a win, a second, a third and a Warwick Farm fourth on the C.V so plainly, she hasn’t done much wrong. Regarding her last start at Wyong, she just didn’t really handle the tight circuit but still went well nonetheless. Boominartie, a former Victorian from the Maher/Eustace stable set the scene for a bold run here for Kristen Buchanan when an eye-catching second in a recent Wyong heat. Hard Pick is shapes well on Sunday.

Bet: Emmadella to win

RACE 5

Rapbidash is unbeaten in her two starts and quite frankly, you would not see a better debut win than what she delivered at Muswellbrook back in late May. Not many of them win the Class 1 straight after but she did and was tough too. Spelled, trialled twice and the only word for the November 13 heat win is - wow. Rocstar Boy, the great grandson of Alinghi, has some compelling numbers to win this. All three wins are at this trip. On top of that, he races especially well at Newcastle which really suits his swooping pattern. Rich And Shameless gas a questionable first-up record but the trials are good.

Bet: Rapbidash to win, exacta 5 to beat 2, Daily Double 1st leg (5), 2nd leg (13)

RACE 6

Magnatear could potentially provide Sam Kavanagh with a double on the day (from his only two runners). This son of Written Tycoon has a record of two placings from his three starts, keeping in mind that he lost the rider on debut. He was beaten as an odds-on favourite first-up but it was a huge run just the same. Aix En Provence’s dam is by ATC Derby winner Nom De Jeu and a half-sister to Dundeel. This Sara Ryan-trained gelding only has to run up to that Wyong debut ‘second’ and he will be on the podium again no doubt.

Bet: Magnatear to win, quinella 1, 2

RACE 7

Our Uptown Girl has just one solitary placing from four starts but she is without doubt more talented than that. She had genuine excuses at Wyong last start, first off, barrier 9 didn’t help, even though she goes back anyway. Be sure that she will appreciate racing at Newcastle a whole lot more than Wyong. John Sargent had two in this but settled on running Burgundy Bubbles alone which is a lead of sorts. He is another one of those horses where, at the moment, his record doesn’t match his ability, much less his prospects of figuring on the weekend.

Bet: Our Uptown Girl to win

Originally published as Raceday focus: Preview, best bets and inside mail for Sunday’s meeting at Newcastle