Sapphire Coast preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, July 27, 2025

Trainers Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones are on the brink of achieving their season goal with a strong line-up at home.

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A win on their home track would be the perfect end to a career best season for trainers Barbara Joseph and her sons Paul and Matt Jones.

The stable set themselves a target of 52 winners for the year and enter the meeting on 51 winners with a strong hand to held them reach their goal.

“I like to set a target of 52 winners, that’s a winner a week across the season,” said Paul Jones.

“This is clearly the best season we have had as a partnership but it would be great if we can get that last winner to reach our target.”

Jones was extremely happy with the run of Graceful Ellen when a neck second at Narrandera two weeks ago and gives her a great chance to go one better in the Class 2 Handicap (1200m) with stable apprentice Claire Ramsbotham aboard.

Nagadec gets there late on the outside to win the Sapphire Coast opener! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SLSihy9im6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 13, 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!

“She is a little filly who isn’t overly robust but she is really well and I’m very happy with her,” he said.

“Claire rode her very aggressive the other day to suit how Narrandera was playing.

“The two speed horses around her dropped out and she was still fighting out the finish. It was a really good effort.

“She goes into this meeting as one of our best chances.”

Although finishing down the track at both runs back from a spell, Jones feels Zouwase can figure prominently when he steps up to a suitable distance in the Class 1 and Maiden Plate (1600m).

“He has just been a bit immature in his action and changes stride two or three times in the straight,” he said.

“I just have to try and convince the jockeys to ride through it and he will hit the line.

“At home he is working very well. Billy (Owen) has ridden him once this week to get a feel for him.

“Walk The Pier is coming off a good win for a new stable and out of stronger races prior to that. He will be hard to beat but stepping up to the mile with the blinkers back on will help Zouwase.”

Jones was pleasantly surprised by the debut performance of Texas Star when third behind Sir Franklin and The Main Event at Moruya and expects him to run well again in the Super Maiden Handicap (1200m) despite a wide draw.

We're off and racing at the Sapphire Coast and it's She's High Society who goes home best in the opener! @JJRacing_ACTpic.twitter.com/1pOoEUn6i8

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 2, 2024

“He was giving away a lot of experience but I was very happy with his run behind two pretty nice horses,” Jones said.

“Unfortunately, he has draw out wide so we might have to be a little negative early and try and get across to the rail and sneak some runs.

“I feel when the track is wet there, it’s better to be closer to the rail as you turn into the straight.”

Jones was pleased to see Kneel Down draw a good gate in the opening event, the Maiden Plate (1000m) after wide draws impacted on his two runs at Moruya.

“He drew well at his first start and was beaten a head but he drew wide at his next two starts where he had to be ridden backwards,” he said.

We have freshened him up and blinkers on and his work on Tuesday was excellent.”

Jones said She’s High Society is ready to run a big race first-up in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m) despite not having a barrier trial or jumpout.

“With a lack of barrier trials jumpouts, we have given her eight or nine gallops to get her ready and she is working the house down,” he said.

“She drawn well and if she can hang on the back of Sir Franklin, I think she can run in the top three.”

ADAM SHERRY’S TOP SELECTIONS

BEST BET

Race 4 No.3: WALK THE PIER

Debuted for a new stable with a big win last start. The one to beat again.

NEXT BEST

Race 5 No.6: LONDON STAR

Came from a long way back when runner-up to Walk The Pier. Can go one better.

BEST VALUE

Race 3 No.4: GRACEFUL ELLEN

Game effort for second after a tough run last time out. Placed both runs here.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 3, 4

Race 5: 6, 11

Race 6: 2, 3, 6, 7

Race 7: 1, 2, 3

Billy Owen has three good chances at the Sapphire Coast. Picture: Getty Images

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

BILLY OWEN has three rides and all are capable of winning.

INSIDE MAIL – SAPPHIRE COAST

RACE 1: Eden Tyrepower Country Boosted Mdn Plate 1000m

YOUR MAGIC (3) was spelled after dropping out to last on debut here in December. Resumed with a handy second to I Show Speed on the Acton at Canberra on July 4. Visors on and can go one better. KNEEL DOWN (1) is better than his last two starts after drawing wide gates. Was a head second on debut over 1100m at Nowra. Blinkers go on and drawn to get an ideal run. SMOLENSKI (8) is a first starter by Farnan. Was good after sitting wide when third to Exiled Prince and sixth to Duke Of Bronte in his two Goulburn trials.

Bet: Your Magic to win

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RACE 2: South Coast Fish Processors Country Boosted (Bm58) 1200m

DENI GAL (2) has had a long campaign but continues to race well. Appreciated a drop in grade to storm home and win at Moruya last Monday. In the same grade is a winner at this track and distance. SIR FRANKLIN (1) finished runner-up in his first four starts including on debut here over 1000m behind Southern Deel. Rewarded for his form with an all-the-way win from The Main Event at Moruya on July 11. SHE’S HIGH SOCIETY (9) scored a nice win from Zoutemus over 1000m here back in December. Only two runs last prep after some bad luck. Will make her presence felt.

Bet: Deni Gal to win

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RACE 3: Arv Caravans Hcp (C2) 1200m

GRACEFUL ELLEN (4) kicked off her campaign with a narrow win at Bathurst after being taken wider on the turn. Raced up on speed and kept fight when a neck second to Sundrop who had the sit on her at Barrandera last start. ALOTTOSAY (2) ran three consecutive placings to start her career including a long neck second to Throw One In here before breaking through with a nice win at Nowra on Apr 20. Resumed with a barn storming win from Winnie Fortune at Moruya on July 11. TIMELESS GRACE (5) won well on debut at Wagga but disappointed at Moruya last start. Blinkers go on.

Bet: Graceful Ellen each-way

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RACE 4: Eden Sport & Rec Club Plate (C1) 1600m

WALK THE PIER (3) had some handy provincial form including a debut second to Correon at Kembla before changing stable and scoring a three length win from London Star at Moruya. Drawn well and can go back-to-back. ZOUWASE (4) was beaten as favourite first-up over 1435m at Moruya then raced-wide without cover over 1400m at Narrandera. Will appreciate the step up to 1600m. Stepped up to 1600m third-up here last campaign and scored a big win from Ideelic. Blinkers back on and can bounce back. PLAYFUL PUZZLE (8) won nicely at Queanbeyan two runs back before getting second on protest at Moruya.

Bet: Walk The Pier to win

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RACE 5: Great Southern Inn Mdn Plate 1400m

LONDON STAR (6) sat second chasing Badhatharry and kept fighting to a length second at Wagga. Was bumped at the start and settled near last before running on strongly along the rails to finish second behind Walk The Pier. SABLONNEUSE (11) was a handy third in his Kembla trial and debuted with a fourth to Gooloo Bucky at Moruya. Will take improvement from the run. CLOSETHEDOORDARCY (4) has finished runner-up in three of her last five starts including a nose second to Chebici at Queanbeyan. Her two recent failures have been on heavy tracks.

Bet: London Star to win

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RACE 6: South Coast Timber Eden Cup (Bm66) 1400m

MISS STALWART (7) ran home strongly to beat Tom Cruising here on June 8 then got a long way back and made up some ground when ninth to Donwon at Moruya. Came from a clear last when fifth to all-the-way winner Pretty Vegas and Tonkatsu Goddess at Goulburn last start. CAPITAL HEART (3) was a length-and-a-half third to Donwon at Moruya two starts back but was disappointing in beating just one home behind Your Not The Boss there last start. Drops back in grade. EPAULLO CREED (2) has placed two of his last three. Up in grade but drops 4kg on his last start nose second to East Harlem.

Bet: Miss Stalwart each-way

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RACE 7: Coachman’s Motel Eden Super Mdn Hcp 1200m

BROOKLYN LIGHTS (1) rolled along in front and just faded in the straight but wasn’t disgraced when fifth behind Fleeting Spirit on debut on the Kensington on March 26. Returns from a spell after two nice trials behind Bandi’s Boy and Cambar. THE MAIN EVENT (3) returned from a long spell with a string closing run from last of 12 on the corner to finish a three-quarter length second to Sir Franklin over 1010m at Moruya on July 11. Step up to 1200m suits and drawn to settle closer. TEXAN STAR (3) was on debut when coming from the send half of the field to finish third to Sir Franklin. Will be prominent again.

Bet: Brooklyn Lights to win