Sapphire Coast races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail
Mother and sons training partnership of Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones have some strong firepower ready to be unleashed at the Sapphire Coast. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL
The Barbara Joseph and Paul and Matt Jones training team are not noted for running a lot of juveniles but they can claim a rare two-year-old win with Sturn Words at the Sapphire Coast.
The son of hot sire Star Turn looked good in a Goulburn barrier trial earlier this year when a close second to stablemate Flying Jewel and has pleased his trainers since returning from a spell.
“We have only had the one two-year-old starter for the year and that was Flying Jewel who won that trial,” Paul Jones said.
“Sturn Words is probably the better of the two in trackwork but after that trial, he just showed that he had enough so he went for a break and Flying Jewel had one run at Wagga where he finished third.
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“Sturn Words has had two jumpouts recently, winning one and finishing second in the other.
“In the jumpout he won, he sat third, pulled out and went on to win well. In the other, he led and was beaten a half head but wasn’t let off the bit.
“Depending what happens at the start, he could lead or take a sit and we are expecting a strong showing from him.”
The stable is going with strength in numbers in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1000m) where they saddle up three runners - Eyes On The Sky, Half Moon and Sea Rise.
Eyes On The Sky is a debutant by Lord Of The Sky who won a barrier trial at Canberra in August year and more recently when a fourth on the Acton track last week.
“She trialled really well last year and we were heading towards a Gundagai meeting where we were keen on her chances,” said Jones.
“In her final gallop before that meeting, she pulled up a bit lame in a hind leg.
“Her owner agreed to do an exploratory surgery which found a little problem with a ligament which requited six months off.
“She has come back in good order and we are very happy with her.
“She trialled quite nicely the other day, has drawn the bets of our three in that race and I think she is going to be very competitive.”
Half Moon is making her debut for the stable after starting her career with Brett Cavanough for whom she finished third on debut at Muswellbrook and a sixth at Scone back in January 2021.
The daughter of Odyssey Moon finished a long neck second in the same trial as Eyes On The Sky.
“She had a couple for starts for Brett Cavanough and her owner decided to give her a long spell in the paddock to mature,” Jones said.
“She had an earlier preparation but had a little issue with a muscle so she went back out for another spell and everything is good with her now. She is a big strong girl.”
The team expect Sea Rise to run better than her last on debut but her chances haven’t been helped by the wide draw.
“She had trialled well then she drew wide on debut and we tried to get across but she was stuck three and four deep before tiring late,” he said.
“She has a bit of ability but she just isn’t quite there yet physically.”
In the opening race, Jones expects both Sherman and Winnie to run well.
Sherman has placed at two of his last three starts on the Acton track while Winnie was a nice third at the Sapphire Coast two starts back.
“I think Sherman has drawn well enough to bring that sort form while Winnie has drawn alongside him and shouldn’t be far away,” he said.
ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 1 No. 6: STANCZYK
The Tracey Bartley-trained gelding closed off nicely to finish a length second over 1175m at Grafton first-up. Looks suited stepping up to 1400m.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 7: DRESDEN
Another Bartley runner. Has won two of his last three runs including a solid win at Grafton last start. Hard to beat again.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No. 2: STARLIV
Produced a tough effort for second on the Acton track last start after racing wide. Drawn to get an ideal run.
QUADDIE:
Race 4: 2, 4, 5, 7
Race 5: 1, 7, 8
Race 6: 3, 6, 7, 8
Race 7: 2, 4, 6
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Nick Heywood has a handy book of rides and can get the day off on a winning note with Stanczyk.
INSIDE MAIL - SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 1
Stanczyk kicked off his campaign after a long spell with a solid length second behind Grand Horizon coming along the rails at Grafton on July 13. Will be hard to beat on that performance. Talento raced wide and boxed on well to finish 1-1/2-lengths back in seventh behind Imalovaboy at Moruya last start and was a length off Highland Falcon at the same track two weeks earlier. Sherman was a close second to Missile Leader on the Canberra Acton track on July 21. Has placed here and drawn well. Winnie is better than her last run at Goulburn. Has claims on third placings here on June 11.
Bet: Stanczyk to win
RACE 2
Spinosaurus raced a little keen behind the leader but fought on well to finish just over a length from Lohnraki when third at Goulburn on July 7. Battled away for third to King Charles here June 11 at first run for the stable. Holly Durnan has been on in both placings and sticks with him. Selhurst Park resumed from a spell with a long head win from Constantinou at Moruya on July 14 at hi s first run for the stable. Gets in well with the claim. Blue Grotto led before feeling the pinch late when third to Dreaming Of Vegas when resuming here on June 11. Showed the benefit of that run with a narrow win over Lord Remy at Goulburn 26-days later. Forbes has placed two from three here.
Bet: Spinosaurus to win
RACE 3
Half Moon showed handy ability in her two starts including a debut third at Muswellbrook. Has been off the scene for a long time but showed she is ready to resumes with a big effort following a nice second in her recent barrier trail. Sat four wide and only beaten a long head. Eyes On The Sky is a stablemate to Half Moon on debutant. Sat wide and wasn’t knocked about when a close fourth in that same trial. Kool Bird pulled up shin sore on debut back in January. Resumed with a good second behind Chasing A Quid at Moruya on July 14. Can go one better this time. Shecanmixit was a handy second at Goulburn last start and can place again.
Bet: Kool Bird to win
RACE 4
Frosbie got well back and was held up near the 100m when looking for a run between horses and went to the line untested. He wouldn’t have won but should have finished much closer. Score a first-up maiden win and followed with a sixth behind Epicus at Newcastle. Mil Ciento hasn’t won for a while but is rarely far away. Pulled hard when third to Zarni at Kembla on July 1 and just behind the placegetters in both runs since at Newcastle and Nowra. Poker Face was rewarded for his consistent form when he broke his maiden in a Class 1 over 2000m at Canberra back in April. Resuming and has placed here. Heromania won at this track and distance in May. Worth thought.
Bet: Frosbie to win
RACE 5
Dresden worked forward and raced keenly to lead by three lengths mid-race but gave a kick and held on to win by a length from State Capital at Grafton on July 12. Won by two lengths at Scone two starts earlier before fading late after leading at Kembla. Jessandi is better than her sixth behind Olympic Theatre at Hawkesbury last start. She was held up until straightening before running down Rent A Rock at Moruya on June 30. Mr Rock It was held up in the straight when third to Stars And Bars at Kembla on July 20. Had a tough run out wide when seventh at the same track the start prior. With better luck, can be right in the finish here. Dream Game hasn’t been far away in three runs this campaign and must be respected.
Bet: Dresden to win
RACE 6
Sturn Words is a debutant by Star Turn who was good when a half-length second to stablemate Flying Jewel in his Goulburn trial back in March. The Mooch is better than his last start seventh at Gosford. Boxed on gamely when a half-length fourth to Highland Falcon after racing outside the leader when second-up at Moruya on June 30. Must Be Magic wasn’t far away despite being unplaced in her three runs in her first campaign and there was merit to a degree in her performances. Held together in her Warwick Farm trial on July 24. Ginjari raced greenly and was checked when seventh on debut at Moruya. Hampered near the turn but run on well for a half-length third behind Ninja Star at the same track on July 14. Wide draw is the query.
Bet: Sturn Words to win
RACE 7
Starliv raced three-wide on the speed on the Canberra Acton track and fought to the line bravely when a length second to Frisson who led. Beany Panya sticks and the mare looks well placed with the 2kg claim. I Am Mighty was given a let-up after scoring a handy win from I’m Not Leaving at Nowra on June 1. Kept under a hold in her Kembla trial on July 12. Skaifee is racing consistently including being runner-up at his past two starts. Wide draw is the concern. Mentalism took and inside run rounding the bend before being caught on the line by The Chosen One and Karaoke King who came down the centre of the track when beaten a neck at Goulburn last start. Won’t be far away again.
Bet: Starliv to win
Originally published as Sapphire Coast races Sunday: Preview, best bets and inside mail
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