Sapphire Coast preview, tips and inside mail for Sunday, February 2, 2025

Joe Cleary will be aiming to deliver owner Gerry Harvey a Big Dance and Kosciuszko contender at Sapphire Coast on Sunday. BEST BETS, INSIDE MAIL

Trainer Joe Cleary has his sights on The Kosciuszko with Twin Telepathy, who heads to Sapphire Coast On Sunday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Trainer Joe Cleary aims to deliver the man he knows as Uncle Gerry a Big Dance and Kosciuszko horse all within the space of a couple of hours on Sunday.

The King of Queanbeyan heads to the Sapphire Coast with three of the stable string including the Gerry Harvey-owned and bred four-year-old duo, Twin Telepathy and Bega Cup contender Vermicella.

I Am Invincible gelding Twin Telepathy created a huge, and lasting, impression when winning his first two runs for Cleary by big margins in slick time.

Granted, the gelding was unable to bag his hat-trick when down the order at Moruya at the start of January but heads to the Sapphire Coast ready and able to make amends.

• SAPPHIRE COAST FIELDS AND FORM

“He had a bad day at the office,’’ Cleary said.

“I gave him a few weeks between runs and his work has been really, really sharp.

“He galloped up beautifully the other morning and is ready to rock.

“He’ll be ridden right on the bunny on Sunday and fingers crossed, you see the real Twin Telepathy because I like this horse, he’s a nice horse.

“He is probably the nicest horse Gerry’s sent me.

“I think moving ahead and I am not exaggerating, I think he could be a Kosciuszko horse, I really do.”

Sunday’s Bega Cheese Cup (1600m) has the added lure of being a Big Dance qualifier and as a result, has brought together a capacity field of notable country milers.

Cleary (and Harvey’s) participant is the very lightly-raced, but vasty talented mare Vermicella who will line-up for just the fifth time.

“A lot of people are trying to tell me I am throwing her in the deep end but I know I’m not,’’ Cleary argued.

“I know the race has plenty of numbers and has got a little bit of depth but I can just see her getting a grouse run from barrier and Jess Taylor with 54 (kg).

“She’s got dapples all over her and all her characteristics around the stable are telling me she wants to go to the races.

“I see no reason why she can’t be running top three, she’s buzzing.

“She just keeps taking the next step.

“I am looking so forward to Sunday with her I am really excited because think she is only going to improve as she gets older.’’

Cleary has two horses owned and bred by Gerry Harvey racing at Sapphire Coast. Picture: Luke Marsden

Both of the Baranul-bred duo are from the same family.

That being arguably the single most influential female-line of the 20th Century, namely that of the Aga Khan’s immortal, Mumtaz Mahal.

Meanwhile, Cleary’s other and first runner on Sunday’s card is owner John Fitani’s stoutly-bred filly Saint Elixir who debuts in the Super Maiden Plate (1400m).

“She is a big, strong filly and I am not hesitating at all by running in a 1400m first up,’’ Cleary said.

“She is definitely going to get over ground given time but it will be a good experience for her, she’ll have a good day at the races.

“We probably can’t beat (Divine Ella) but she’ll run well and a day at the races will do her more good than harm.”

SAPPHIRE COAST TIPS

BEST BET

Race 4 No.2: Twin Telepathy

Won his first two in blazing style. Can atone for the last start loss.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No.6: Two Aye

Very well weighted indeed given how she has performed in good races.

VALUE BET

Race 1 No.4: Wrong Footed

Really nice looking horse from a good barn who trialled well.

QUADDIE

Race 5: 4, 5

Race 6: 6, 13

Race 7: 3, 10, 12, 16

Race 8: 3, 12

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Kody Nestor has some fantastic winning chances on Bega Cup day.

SAPPHIRE COAST INSIDE MAIL

RACE 1

Wrong Footed, as the name suggests, is a son of Sidestep but one look at him and you tell that there is some Lonhro in him. He is an absolute Lonhro/Octagonal type from nose to tail. Just to be clear, his dam Ida is by Lonhro and she’s the mother of this gelding’s three-quarter-brother, Athelric. Trialled like he’ll win races. Southern Deel trials like a good horse but is yet to bring it to the races. Still, she ran pretty well at Queanbeyan first-up.

Bet: Wrong Footed to win

RACE 2

Divine Ella was a length off winning a Super Maiden at Warwick Farm on October 23. She went to Queensland on January 4 and finished 11th of 14 in the $250,000 Magic Millions Maiden Plate. This is easier of course and she gets gate four and JVO to ride. Saint Elixir is bred to get out to a trip but this is 1400m and she is on debut as well. Trialled up quite well the other day.

Bet: Divine Ella to win, exacta 8 to beat 11

RACE 3

Two Aye has done by far more good things than bad in her 19 starts. For the record, she has won twice and placed four times, one of those was when she was runner-up in a TAB Highway at the famous Randwick mile. She has to make up 5½ lengths on Heromania from their Moruya meeting on Jan 17 but she is very appealing from a weights perspective. Burgundy Girl wants 2000m big time now.

Bet: Two Aye to win

RACE 4

Twin Telepathy is a blue blood of huge proportions being by I Am Invincible from the Great Klaire family via a handy racemare in Telepathic. This Gerry Harvey-owned/bred gelding won his first two starts – by panels – when he arrived at Joe Cleary’s place. Prepared to overlook that last one at Moruya. Drawn five (tick). Sun ‘N’ Sand was tipped out after winning her Maiden at Queanbeyan and Class 1 at Gundagai in Oct/Nov last year which is an admirable feat.

Bet: Twin Telepathy to win, trifecta 2 (standout), 8,9,11 (boxed)

RACE 5

Ticklebelly is a Scott Collings-trained mare who has raced 12 times for four wins and five placings. She has run in five Highways, was placed in three of them prior to her 1000m Highway win at Randwick on The Ingham day. Hard to tip against her really. That said, Craving Magic is another one with a very good strike rate. He’s won fur from 10 with three placings but not in the same quality races as Ticklebelly.

Bet: Tickebelly to win, exacta 5 to beat 4

RACE 6

Winnie Fortune was purchased in April 2023, online, for $1750 by her trainer and sole owner Jamie Stewart. The daughter of Winning Rupert has won back $20,600 in just three starts. They are, for the record, two thirds (one to Beer Baron) and a Jan 12 win beating the handy Cougars that day. Hopefully barrier one is a blessing not a curse for her. There was a lot of X-factor, even wow factor in that debut win of Sir Lunchalots. You Wish is good enough.

Bet: Winnie Fortune to win, exacta 13 to beat 6, box trifecta 2,6,11,13

RACE 7

Associate hasn’t won since that barnstorming victory in the Southern Wild Card at Goulburn. That’s him at his absolute best! But to be fair to the horse, he has had a long streak of plain old bad luck, pretty much all of his losses between then and now can be attributed to outside factors. Just needs an even break today. Moritz Girl has the form, the jockey, the barrier and the on-pace pattern to win. Vermicella is in the deep end but not out of her depth.

Bet: Associate each-way, Vermicella to place

RACE 8

Laguna Seca, and this is no exaggeration, was probably the best thing beaten so far this year when he ran third at Queanbeyan on January 24. It deadset should have won by a length, pulling up. Not that it was the jockey’s fault but Nick Heywood goes on and depending on how the track is playing, the wide draw has maybe done the horse a favour. O’Hellyeah is lightly-raced and no doubt talented. She won a good looking maiden at Cowra on Cup day and was first-up.

Bet: Laguna Seca to win, exacta 3 to beat 12