Form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over Tuesday’s meetings at Taree and Armidale.
TAREE
BEST BET
Race 4 No. 4: Rapbidash
Turned in one of the best debuts/wins even of the entire season at Muswellbrook. Harder here but clearly handy.
NEXT BEST
Race 7 No. 2: Kapsali
Bint Marscay descendant who has won 5 from 16 and trialled brilliantly post his Doomben failure.
VALUE
Race 2 No. 13: Rocind Lad
Unplaced in his six starts but some of his runs have been quite acceptable really. Market the guide.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1,4
Race 5: 2,6,8
Race 6: 5,6,9
Race 7: 2,10
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Andrew Gibbons has ridden 163 winners at Taree, second only to his 233 at Newcastle.
Andrew Gibbons is the jockey to follow on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Evans – Getty Images
ARMIDALE
BEST BET
Race 6 No. 6: Villa Treville
American Pharoah filly who ran the others off the legs to win at Tamworth on May 10. Has obvious talent.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 6: The Affirmative
Been in ripping form this last little bit with two wins, a fourth and a last start second to a rising star.
VALUE
Race 4 No. 3: Vis I Do
Ran right over the top of them to win at Gunnedah last start. Drawn well this time.
INSIDE MAIL
TAREE
RACE 4
Rapbidash was super impressive winning a trial at Gunnedah 19-days before her truly dazzling debut win at Muswellbrook. Long story short, she drew 12 of 14 and slotted in pretty much half way down the order before letting rip at the 300m to win by four. Amazing. Harder here of course but is loaded with talent. I’m A Shaker has run some good races in his eight starts so far. Resumes here off a good trial. Raised By Wolves is a last start winner at his first run for Brett Bellamy.
Bet: Rapbidash to win, quinella 1,4
RACE 5
Auzstar is a handy horse on his best day. The Marc Quinn-trained son of Zoustar has raced at Taree twice for a win and a third. Quinn’s gelding gave an honourable account of himself when finishing eighth of 16 in a May 27 TAB Highway at Randwick. Gold Card is another horse who races well at Taree. Three of his four career wins are here and that’s from six visits altogether. Running well in better races lately. Four Egos was outstanding in his trial here and has a great draw and jockey.
Bet: Auzstar to win, box trifecta 2,6,8,9
RACE 6
October Revolution has a tidy C.V of three wins, five seconds and a third from 14 starts. The Neil Godbolt-trained three-year-old has raced at Taree three times for a win and a third. October Revolution has won three of his last five starts including his most recent one. Barrier 4 and Bullock seal the deal. Telegraph won at Port Macquarie on May 16, nine-days ahead of his length and a half third behind October Revolution which makes him an obvious ‘player’ again on Tuesday. Salad Dodger’s record at the track makes him the ‘value runner’.
Bet: October Revolution to win, Salad Dodger to place
RACE 7
Kapsali, the great-grandson of Mannington, herself a daughter of Bint Marscay, is a good horse on his best day. He had an off-day at Doomben after his big win at home at Coffs Harbour in an Open Handicap. Brett Dodson trialled Kapsali at Port Macquarie on May 29; he won and won like his good old self. That’s Molly hasn’t had much luck of late. She’s back from a couple of eye-catching runs, to varying degrees, in Highways to race at home again where all three career wins have come. Mikado has a great record at the track and trip.
Bet: Kapsali to win, exacta 2 to beat 10, quinella 2,10
ARMIDALE
RACE 4
Vis I Do has had four runs this preparation; have a look at the draws; 11 of 12, 10 of 12, 10 of 14 and 14 of 14. Tough stuff. Keep in mind that he has run ‘7331’ so kudos all around. His barriers woes have come to an end, for Tuesday at least, given he has drawn 3 and that’s a big assist at Armidale. That’s all on the proviso he can take advantage of course. Eastowin Has fared even better; he will jump from barrier 2 and off the back off a very good run at Port Macquarie last start. Vain Rich has draw 1 which guarantees him the run he needs to win.
Bet: Vis I Do to win
RACE 5
The Affirmative has a fair few positives going for her on Tuesday. First and foremost, she has raced at the Armidale 1100m twice and won once. That was three starts ago when she beat Bivouac’s little brother Sparks who is a massive chance of turning the tables. Back to The Affirmative though, she was runner-up to a potential star in Who Goes There at Tamworth at her most recent appearance. Dune And Dusted is lightly-raced but the key to him is the draw; barrier 1 raises his winning prospects – hugely!
Bet: The Affirmative to win, box trifecta 3,6,7,8
RACE 6
Villa Treville adds a lot of interest not just to this race but the entire meeting. She is a Gerry Harvey bred/owned filly by American Pharoah and with Denise’s Joy as her 5th dam. She is so valuable to Baramul, long term as a broodmare but she looks to have plenty to offer on the track bearing in mind she has only raced twice and won the last one – easily. Ever Bella, a Canterbury winner in a past life, is getting close to another win. Enterprise Phoenix has the form but not the draw. Still, it’s doable.
Bet: Villa Treville to win
RACE 7
Albanjo has raced 24 times and finished in the placings on 9 occasions; two wins among them. So all in all, he is quite a consistent racehorse and looking at his form, there has been a fair few times that he has taken on unusually strong 58’s and Class 2’s around the place. Has drawn very wide but he was probably going back anyway and hope for a bit of tempo and a lot of luck. Bean Rocking is trained by Stirling Osland. It would be a rare day if he didn’t train a winner or two when racing comes to town. Luff is one for one at this venue.
Bet: Albanjo each-way, Luff to place