Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth on Thursday

The Daily Telegraph’s Mitch Cohen has run the rule over all the chances for Thursday’s eight race card at Tamworth.

Chelsea Hillier rides Mitch’s best bet at Tamworth. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

The Daily Telegraph’s Racing writer Mitch Cohen previews racing at Tamworth on Thursday where there are eight races to be decided.

FIELDS AND FORM FOR THURSDAY’S TAMWORTH CARD

TAMWORTH TIPS

BEST BET

Race 2 No. 13 – Saintly Sands

Did her best work late on debut and can break the maiden at the second time of asking.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 1 – Deep Rouge

Gets in well after Hannah Johnston’s 4kg claim with a class edge on many of her rivals.

VALUE BEST

Race 7 No. 5 – Night Patra

Just needs to settle closer in the run to be a major player here.

QUADDIE 

Race 5: 1, 4, 8, 9

Race 6: 1, 5

Race 7: 1, 4, 5, 6

Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 8, 9

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Aaron Bullock’s association with Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich should ensure he has another massive day with four rides for the Scone conditioners.

TRAINER TO FOLLOW

Rod Northam has five contenders across the card with Saintly Sands and Night Patra poised to lead his assault.

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INSIDE MAIL

Race 1

Keitany is lining up for the first time this year after going for a break at the end of September. She finds a winnable race at a track and trip where she has excelled in the past, winning twice. Her fresh stats are good and the 1.5kg claim of Cobi Vitler should help her cause. Zoubeauty is flying with three wins from five starts to start her career. The 61kg will make life harder this time. Aedonaugh found Highway grade a bridge too far last time and can improve back in grade.

Verdict: Keitany to win.

Race 2

Saintly Sands is a lightly-raced daughter of Santos lining up for start two. She didn’t have a runner behind her on debut but produced some eye-catching work late to finish third. The step from 1200m to 1400m looks ideal. Showrunner did enough when third on debut and also should appreciate the seven furlongs. Aaron Bullock sticks from barrier one. Halle Bee is making a habit of finding one better, finishing runner up at her past four starts. You can’t knock her consistency and she’s bound to win one eventually. Hideyo among the chances.

Verdict: Saintly Sands to win. Trifecta 13 (standout)/6, 9, 10.

Race 3

Deep Rouge is clearly the proven horse as a Benchmark 88 rater and will just need luck from an awkward outside draw. She wasn’t far away in the Gilgandra Town Plate first-up and should strip fitter here. The 4kg claim of Hannah Johnston gets her in with a manageable 58kg. Not In Doubt is the most untapped runner in the field. So far her best win was best win was in a Class 2 but her trials suggest she could be ready to go to a new level this time. Mystery Lad continues to race consistently and rarely runs a bad race at Tamworth.

Verdict: Deep Rouge to win.

Race 4

Dale can give Hollywood megastar Matt Damon his first winner in Australia as an owner. It’s been a patient wait to see this son of Castelvecchio hit his straps but this looks a suitable race. He only just missed behind Bella Corazon last time and will relish the mile third-up from a spell. So You Are is an intriguing first starter by two-time Cox Plate hero So You Think. He looked to have plenty to offer in his only public trial and the inside draw should afford him a great run in transit. Brain Wave is an improver with the right stable in Kris Lees.

Verdict: Dale to win. Exacta 1/2-9.

Race 5

Brilliant Knight is by Dundeel out of Jemison, making him a half-brother to former Hong Kong Group 1 gun Contentment. This is his first race start after winning a recent trial at Newcastle with a bit in hand. The Aaron Bullock and Messara/Gavranich combo have had plenty of success and they can add to it here. Anarita has been racing well in city grade and should finish this considerably easier. Expect her to be one of the strongest late. Include Starsarise and Enniroc in wider multiples.

Verdict: Brilliant Knight to win.

Race 6

Sonic Tycoon put together back-to-back victories before he was a beaten favourite in the Gilgandra Cup when he had legitimate excuses. He was trapped deep and had to make a sustained run but tired late. Willing to give him another chance over his pet trip, albeit from an awkward gate. Rematch is clearly the best horse in this race but the time to take him on is first-up at a mile with 61.5kg on his back. He’s had a couple of trials to have him ready for the challenge. Subuki will get back from the wide gate and be hard to hold out late.

Verdict: Sonic Tycoon to win.

Race 7

Night Patra has only won one of his 13 starts to date but finds a race where he can double his tally. The Rod Northam-trained gelding struggled to keep up when the sprint went on first-up over 1400m before surging home from the back to finish two lengths off the winner. Hoping he can settle closer here and show the same dash. Time Ruler has been building towards his third-up run after running a pair of solid races at Muswellbrook. He should relish the step up to 1400m. Acotango is a Tamworth regular and does some of his best racing at the venue. Barrier two is a big plus.

Verdict: Night Patra to win, quinella 5, 6.

Race 8

Autofocus lines up in what looks to be the most competitive race on the card with plenty of chances. The daughter of Star Turn is certainly among them on the strength of her first-up third over 1000m at the same track. An inside draw and the benefit of an extra furlong should be huge pluses. Sanzeno showed promise with a win and two placings in four starts in his first prep under Mack Griffith. He only just missed at the same track and trick first up last prep. Withstand is coming off an impressive maiden victory at Muswellbrook and only needs to back that up to be competitive again.

Verdict: Autofocus to win.