Sapphire Coast races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail

The Therese Bateup-trained Skaifee is racing for more than just prizemoney when he heads to the Sapphire Coast. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Skaifee is looking to secure Horse of the Year honours at the Sapphire Coast on Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Ghostly grey gelding Skaifee can secure one premiership title for himself and potentially one for his trainer Theresa Bateup at the same time if successful in Sunday’s Superior Oysters Handicap (1000m) at the Sapphire Coast.

The south coast venue is the happiest of hunting grounds for both horse and trainer.

Skaifee has won three times in his eight visits while exactly one third of Bateup’s 210 winners have been at the Sapphire Coast.

“I deliberately aimed him for this meeting,” the Kembla based Bateup said.

“He is in front to be Horse of the Year at the Sapphire Coast with this meeting and only more to go.

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!

“I gave him a little freshen-up since his win down there last start. He had a week in the paddock and he races well fresh.

“There is a little bit of depth to the race but at the same time he is very consistent and honest so hopefully he can cement then Horse of the Year title.”

Bateup is herself locked in an arm wrestle for the Trainer of the Year crown but a good day on Sunday could see her gain the upper hand.

Bateup has won the title three out of the last four years, one of those shared with the iconic Barbara Joseph (and the Jones boys).

“I reckon that is a pretty good effort considering I am at a disadvantage because straight off the bat I get behind 30 per cent because every program there are two races I can’t go in - the country boosted races,” Bateup said.

Skaifee is one of as many as ten Bateup-trained horses heading south this weekend, none more interesting than the unraced two-year-old duo Kickamushu and West Of Dubai.

Kickamushu, a daughter of Giga Kick’s now Tunisia-based father Scissor Kick, was outstanding in every way when winning a trial at Kembla as recently as last Wednesday.

Trainer Theresa Bateup is chasing another premiership win at the Sapphire Coast. Picture: Bradley Photos

“I think she is a nice horse but you never quite know until you get them under race conditions,” said Bateup.

“She has done everything well within herself so that will be the testing factor on Sunday.

“She gives you the impression that there is a bit in hand but until you really press the button you never quite know and it just depends on how they handle race day conditions.

“That’s why I like to take them to the Sapphire Coast first-up, it’s a nice big track, not too dissimilar to Kembla. They have got a nice long straight line to balance up on.”

Kickamushu was bought online for $7,000, half as much as her stablemate West Of Dubai sold for at the 2020 Scone Yearling Sale.

“He is probably a little bit rawer than Kickamushu at this stage,” Bateup said.

“I think he is going to develop into a really nice horse.

“He is still doing a few little things wrong. He is not brilliant out of the gates and he is still finding his legs but he is taking nice progression.”

SHAYNE O’CASS’ TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 10: KICKAMUSHU

Looked the goods in her trial win at Kembla on Wednesday and has a favourable draw on debut.

NEXT BEST

Race 4 No. 5: DIAMOND STAR

Made up a stack of ground to go close at Canberra last start. Fit and placed to win.

BEST VALUE

Race 1 No. 5: FUNKY LITTLE SHACK

Best run of his brief career was a booming win here in March. Drawn barrier 2 which is a big help.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 5

Race 5: 2, 5, 8

Race 6: 1, 4, 5

Race 7: 2, 3, 9

Robyn Freeman looks a great chance to win the TAB Jockey Challenge. Picture: Bradley Photos

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Robyn Freeman has the quality and quantity (before scratchings) to give the TAB Jockeys Challenge a shake.

INSIDE MAIL - SAPPHIRE COAST

RACE 1

Funky Little Shack ran a huge race on debut coming from last to run third there on November 28 last year. Fast forward to March 18 this year and the son of Casino Prince raced on-speed and ran away late to win by upwards of three lengths. First-up on Sunday so the market might tell a story. Still, you have got to say barrier 2 is a huge assist. Lord Remy has finished on the podium at eight of his 12 starts. His record at this track and trip is four starts for a win and two seconds. Nice. Blue Grotto and Dreaming Of Vegas are contenders.

Bet: Funky Little Shack to win

RACE 2

Kickamushu is a two-year-old taking on the older horses but we are so near to the end of the season that it probably doesn’t mean too much. Whatever the case, the Theresa Bateup-trained daughter of Giga Kick’s sire Scissor Kick looked razor sharp winning her 790m heat at Kembla on Wednesday. Pretty Eyed was fancied on debut at Wagga. She had a very good run in transit but more or less only held her ground. New start on Sunday for her; she can easily figure. Without Fever and Heavenly Kite both trialled well in the same heat at Goulburn.

Bet: Kickamushu to win

RACE 3

Encantado was $2.70 into $2.25 on debut at Goulburn last month; led but folded like a card table to be beaten 15-lengths. It happens. Rob Potter took him to Nowra on June 1 and while he only managed sixth of nine, he was last at the 400m this time and did close off well. Got to start delivering soon but he can. Where Is Ken, a cleverly-named son of Dollhouse, has finished third at all of his three runs to date, two of them are here at the Sapphire Coast which is obviously significant. Red Oberon and Jezabeel’s granddaughter, Lynber, have claims.

Bet: Encantado to win

RACE 4

Diamond Star is a Keith Dryden-trained mare in the ubiquitous Laurel Oak colours, perfectly placed for her third career win on Sunday. The daughter of Widden Stud resident, Stratum Star, has raced 10 times for two wins, two seconds and a third, which speaks to her consistency. Barrier 1, she won’t be leading, but she will be closer than she was when she nearly won in Canberra last start. Kerry Parker’s mare Jessandi has only won once in 14 starts but she has mixed it and occasionally matched it with better horses than these.

Bet: Diamond Star to win, exacta 5 to beat 7

Diamond Star is poised to land another win. Picture: Bradley Photos

RACE 5

Zariz No Water is three from 30 coming into this race but the fact that he has run four seconds is illustrative of his pattern. Basically, he gets back and runs on, sometimes he can run on into a medal other times the task or talent is a bit beyond him. The most compelling aspect vis-a-vie Sunday is concerned is that he has raced at this track and trip three times for a win and a second. Final Comment has barrier one which could and should see him on-speed and that’s never a bad thing at this track. Tornac is always a chance.

Bet: Zariz No Water each-way, exacta 8 to beat 5, Daily Double 1st leg (8), 2nd leg (9)

RACE 6

West Of Dubai is from the one and only Australian crop of Japanese-bred Deep Impact son Real Steel. A $14,000 Scone Yearling purchase by Theresa Bateup, the now gelded two-year-old makes his debut on Sunday against older horses but Bateup’s bay has drawn well and trialled well. Plenty to like about the debut third of Craving Magic at Nowra. Shocking draw however. Factoring Profit is likely to need this one but he might just have enough talent to play a role.

Bet: West Of Dubai to win

RACE 7

Skaifee has five wins and five placings from 27 starts which is commendable on its own. The real lure of the horse on Sunday is his record at the Sapphire Coast which tends to favour fats on-speed sprinters like he is. Just to be clear, his numbers at the track and trip are seven starts for three wins, a second and a third. Puerto Rico was a fairly close third in a pretty strong Benchmark 58 here at his only prior visit. King Charles is a miler but trialled very, very well indeed on June 1.

Bet: Skaifee to win

Originally published as Sapphire Coast races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail