Sapphire Coast best bets, inside mail for Friday, March 4, 2025

Choisir daughter Cholate has trialled exceedingly well ahead of her return to racing at the Sapphire Coast which marks her first run for new trainer Scott Collings. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Cholante can return to winning form for new trainer Scott Collings. Picture: Bradley Photos

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis for Sapphire Coast on Friday.

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!

SAPPHIRE COAST

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 2: Cholante

Talented on her day. Trials suggest of a bold first-up bid for the new barn.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 3: Rippana

Unbeaten in both runs for Luke Pepper and can keep on going.

VALUE

Race 7 No. 5: Tidal Rush

Luke Pepper again; this one ran a huge race at Kembla last start and won before that.

BEST EXOTIC

Daily Double: 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 3

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 2, 3

Race 6: 3, 4, 8

Race 7: 5, 12

Race 8: 1, 2, 3

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Brodie Loy will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.

INSIDE MAIL - SAPPHIRE COAST

RACE 1: WES FLEET PAINTING (BM66) 1007m

Cholante is a daughter of Choisir who started out with another Hall Of Famer, Clarry Conners, for whom she won twice and ran very well in a Group 3 at Caulfield. She had a few starts for Richard and Will Freedman after that and debuts here for her current trainer Scott Collings. Has the talent and trialled well Dual acceptor Miss Scoop has a win and a second from two runs at the venue. Drawn well and pitched in after the claim.

Bet: Cholante to win, exacta 2 to beat 5

RACE 2: MCKILL TREE SERVICE COUNTRY BOOSTED MDN PLATE 1007m

Wauchope is an exceptionally well-bred filly by Exceedance. Her grandam is a half-sister to Naturalism. Wauchope debuts here off a recent trial in a deep heat where she wasn’t asked to do much at all. Market the guide. Alottosay has placed at her only two starts so far in uncommonly strong Country Maidens. Getting close. Wonderful Mistake has claims.

Bet: Wauchope to win, quinella 5, 9, box trifecta 5, 7, 9, 10

RACE 3: BRISTOL PAINTS PAMBULA HCP (C2) 1007m

Rippana was purchased by Luke Pepper at the HTBA Yearling Sale for $30,000. The daughter of Denise’s Joy runner-up, Roeinda, won at Wagga by panels first-up then was back at the same venue on March 13 and won again, this time in a deep Class 1. She was ever going to get beaten actually. She’s flying. Ischyros has raced eight times for two wins, three seconds and two thirds which for want of a better word ‘guarantees’ him a place on the podium.

Bet: Rippana to win, exacta 3 to beat 2

RACE 4: BUILDCERT (BM58) 1209m

Snowy led throughout when posting a two-and-a-half length win here on debut on October 31. He went to Gundagai on November 16 and won his Class 1 assignment and we know from experience how few horses manage that. Resumes here, no trial but he will be ready. Beau Rock has the advantage of race-fitness and is a last start track and distance winner. Voria is awfully consistent, Star Bling should run well off that March 26 trial.

Bet: Snowy to win, quinella 2, 4

RACE 5: HUME DOORS & TIMBER PLATE (C1) 1610m

Flashy Icon was a dual acceptor on the card. Rob Potter chose this race for the son of Prized Icon who has done far more good than bad in his nine starts. Granted, he has only won the one race so far but he won like a pretty good horse that day. If he brings his best, he’ll take some beating. This will be Burrowa’s first run for the aforementioned Potter. He’s run some decent races at Kembla which should stand him in good stead.

Bet: Flashy Icon to win

RACE 6: CLARK EQUIPMENT COUNTRY BOOSTED (BM58) 1610m

Fire And Gemstone has raced seven times at the Sapphire Coast for three seconds and a third. He goes on all surfaces. Barrier 1 means he will likely be in the first few in the run and that’s never a bad place to be at this place. Ditto that last bit for Dream Inherit who has box 1, the same alley as when he led throughout to win at Tumut three starts ago. Worth mentioning that Lysander beat Dream Inherit home at Moruya on March 2.

Bet: Fire And Gemstone each-way

RACE 7: SAPPHIRE HARDWARE MITRE 10 (BM66) 1410m

Tidal Rush is another one Luke Pepper’s heading from Canberra to Bega with the right form in the right race. Like a few of those others, this one has only been with Pepper for his last two runs, one win, one huge run at Kembla after that. Win The Day is ‘321’ in three runs in 2025 which is an obvious indication of her trajectory. Her on-pace pattern is purpose built for success here. Bonus Tempus and Mega Fight can easily figure on their best form.

Bet: Tidal Rush each-way, box trifecta 5, 7, 8, 12

RACE 8: HYNE TIMBER MDN HCP 1209m

Glitterscript remains winless after 11 starts but a few things to consider; first off, she has two seconds and two thirds plus a handful of fourths to the likes of Pisces, Photographics and - wait for it – Lazzura. This is by far the easiest race she has run in. Not saying that makes it easy per se, but she had better be running well. Conjoin has a winning draw again, not for the first time of course but he is so reliable but is a little costly. Weird Goodbyes could very well cap off a huge day for Luke Pepper here.

Bet: Glitterscript to win

SAPPHIRE COAST

BEST BET

Race 1 No. 2: Cholante

Talented on her day. Trials suggest of a bold first-up bid for the new barn.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 3: Rippana

Unbeaten in both runs for Luke Pepper and can keep on going.

VALUE

Race 7 No. 5: Tidal Rush

Luke Pepper again; this one ran a huge race at Kembla last start and won before that.

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 3

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1,2,3

Race 6: 3,4,8

Race 7: 5,12

Race 8: 1,2,3

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Brodie Loy will be hard to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.