Goulburn preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, March 23, 2025

Trainer Danielle Seib will roll the dice from the wide barrer and give Bide Your Time the chance to qualify for the Country Championship Final in her home track Wild Card.

Progressive gelding Bide Your Time will need some luck from a wide gate in the Country Championship Wild Card. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Danielle Seib hasn’t had the best of luck in this year’s Country Championship series which continued when Bide Your Time drew a wide gate in the Wild Card.

Seib had Cable Express run second in the SERA Qualifier at Nowra on February 23 but the gelding is injured and won’t take his place in next month’s $1 million Final at Randwick.

Progressive three-year-old Bide Your Time has drawn barrier 19 but will start from gate 15, second from the outside, in the must win Wild Card (1400m).

“We will roll the dice and give him his chance from that gate,” said Seib.

“Obviously, it is a concern but hopefully the speed is genuine and he can find a nice spot three-wide with cover and blend into the race when needed.

“He has sat handy to the speed in his career to date but that has just been circumstances more so than anything.

Favourite Bide Your Time bursts through the gap to win Race 5 at Wagga! @SeibRacingpic.twitter.com/NHpLWeNq0I

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 3, 2025

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!

“This gives us an opportunity to perhaps ride him a little quieter and I think there is a good turn of foot there as well. He’s not a one trick pony.”

The gelding started his career on Christmas Eve with an impressive win at Wagga and returned to make it back-to-back victories on January 3.

Following a short let-up, he was a game second to Exit Fee in the TAB Highway at Rosehill on February 22.

“This series might be 12 months too early but we thought we would give him the opportunity now and see where he measures up,” she said.

“It’s an exciting opportunity on his own track, it’s a big track with plenty of room.”

Seib rates Ghost Walker her best chance for the day when he contests the Class 1 Handicap (1300m).

The gelding has placed in two of his three starts this campaign and was endured a tough trip three-wide in a Randwick Highway in the other.

His latest run was a length second to Call Me Artie at Goulburn after giving away 4.5kg.

“He was good last start here at home. There was a tearaway leader and he just had to make a sustained run from the half mile,” Seib said.

“He is a talented horse on his day but he hasn’t brought to the races what he does at home yet. He’s still a little immature mentally.

“While he is very tractable, the winkers go on for the first time just to help him a bit more. He was still flicking his ears the other day.

Ghost Walker winds up and lifts late to win the first at Wagga for @SeibRacing! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Dxmp9It7Gp

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 5, 2024

“I think he is my best winning chance for the day.”

Due Calzini and Downtown’s Abbey both contest the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1300m) and expects both to run well but with improvement to come.

“Due Calzini has returned in really good order. He’s a lot more mature horse now, physically is a lot stronger,” she said.

“I’m expecting he will need the run this weekend and take good improvement from it but he does have class on his side and the two kilo claim of Jess Brookes will help him out. “Downtown’s Abbey has had a little freshen up and a trial here the other week.

“She usually improves one she gets out over another furlong but she could surprise fresh if she could get across from that gate.

“She likes to race handy to the speed and is consistent and genuine.”

Seib is looking forward to seeing Son Of Rubick step up in trip in the Maiden Plate (1500m) after a solid second on debut.

“I expected him to run well but he exceeded my expectations,” she said.

“This is a bit harder but I think the step out to 1500m suits.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 7 No. 8: Bravissima

Won three in-a-row before an unlucky third at Canterbury. Hard to beat.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No. 1: Written Gold

Impressive win on debut then jumped sharply in grade in town. Can bounce back.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 11: Villasaurus

Raced wide when third in the SDRA Qualifier. Drawn much better here.

BEST EXOTIC

Quinella Race 3: 4, 5

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1, 7, 8

Race 6: 7, 11, 15

Race 7: 8, 9

Race 8: 1, 3, 5, 10

Nick Heywood has a couple of leading chances at Goulburn. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Nick Heywood looks a great chance to ride a winning double.

INSIDE MAIL – GOULBURN

RACE 1

SON OF RUBICK ran a terrific race on debut when a three-quarter length second to Too Darn Sassy here on Mar 11 after coming four and five-wide on the bend. Up to 1500m should suit and has gate 1. LIVEWIRE LASS was a handy second to Flaming Moon at Nowra first-up before a two length fifth to Cigar Man at Wyong. Back to country grade helps. VALIANT BOMB will take improvement from his debut third to Buenos at Canberra.

Bet: Son Of Rubick to win

RACE 2

ZOUTEMPUS was backed into $1.70 on debut but was a little lost in front when a half-length second to She’s High Society at the Sapphire Coast on Dec 2. Resumes here and looks a good chance to go one better. SIR FRANKLIN was slow away before running on well for second at the Sapphire Coast on debut. Raced outside the leader when second to Pleasurize at Moruya a month later. WRITTEN BY LUCY started second favourite on debut at Canberra on Mar 9 when fourth behind Teylu. Will be better for the experience.

Bet: Zoutempus to win

Istolea Merc wins the final race at @nowraracing, giving @AshMorgan6 a double - and a another winner to the @BBakerRacing stable! pic.twitter.com/DPIDpsnj4G

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 9, 2025

RACE 3

CATHEDRAL COVE was specked from $15 into $8.50 first-up when second to Istolea Merc at Nowra on Feb 9 after copping a couple of bumps inside the final 200m. Lugging bit and winkers go on for the first time. Drawn well and can give this a shake. NORTHERN EAGLE led and had his chance when fourth to Sum Invictus when resuming in a Super Maiden at Wyong. Will be better for the run. FLYING CHEVROLET will be fitter for her first-up fifth here on Mar 11.

Bet: Cathedral Cove each-way

RACE 4

DENI GAL resumed with a nice win from Petawawa at Nowra on Feb 9. Followed with a length third to Super Sprocket at the same track on Feb 23 after coming from a long way back and being held up rounding the bend. DUE CALZINI is the class runner of the field resuming. Was a length third in a Class 3 TAB Highway on Sept 28 before contesting Group races. Will be better for the run and a step up in trip. PRINCE PAPA will take improvement from his first-up third.

Bet: Deni Gal to win

A huge run on the outside sees Brigidine Gal take out the third at Warwick Farm! 💥@Reganbayliss 🤝 @PrideRacingpic.twitter.com/qesd5NmuFK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 5, 2025

RACE 5

WRITTEN GOLD was $2 into $1.55 on debut and justified the support with an impressive win from Embalee at Wyong on Feb 13. Jumped up to a Bm64 at Warwick Farm when sixth beaten under two lengths by Brigidine Gal who has since stakes placed. EVERY HEART was a first-up winner at Nowra from Éclair Awesone who has since win. Then raced outside the leader when a half-length second to Yabby Pump at Hawkesbury. GHOST WALKER made a long run when second to Call Me Artie under 60kg here last start.

Bet: Written Gold to win

RACE 6

VILLASAURUS was also caught three-wide without cover when a length third to Canny Hell when resuming in the SDRA Qualifier at Wagga. Impressive Rosehill Highway winner over this trip. Gets barrier 5 here. TICKLEBELLY was on trial at 1400m and paid the price for gate 12 when trapped three-wide before finishing a three-quarter length fourth to Sunchyme in the SERA Qualifier at Nowra. Drawn ideally in gate 3 for the Wild Card and is a great chance on that run. OUTBACK ANGEL is coming off a handy fourth to Written In Code on the Kensington.

Bet: Villasaurus each-way

"Canny Hell books the ticket to Randwick."

Jockey Simon Miller combines with @AlburyRacing trainer Kym Davison to win the @Evergreen_Turf Southern Districts Country Championships at @mtcwagga. Runner-up Burrandana is also into the final with Villasaurus third. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/faBeMpeB9D

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 1, 2025

RACE 7

BRAVISSIMA has found her career best form inning three in-a-row at Nowa, Wagga and Canberra over 1200m, 140m and 1600m respectively. She was badly held up in the straight at Canterbury last start when third to Pink Shalaa and should have finished much closer. CAPE BYRON comes out of the same race when fifth after bumping on the home bend and steading off heels. DUNEDIN is first-up since his fifth in the Wagga Guineas last May. Watch betting.

Bet: Bravissima to win

RACE 8

PLEASURIZE justified his short quote with a big all-the-way win from Sir Franklin on debut at Moruya. Up in grade and weight but looks a promising horse. RONNY ROCK ART has been running in Benchmark 65, 72 and 70 races at his last three starts for two seconds split by a fourth to Inquiring Minds at Canterbury. Drops back to a Bm58. Very consistent and won’t be far away. TEYLU got an inside run when a narrow winner over Let’s Go Brandon who ran out at Canberra.

Bet: Pleasurize to win