Ideal draw has Miss ready to give rivals a lesson

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!

WYONG

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 1: BEIRUT MISS

Carried 60kg to win at her only starts at the track and distance prior to this. Drew 9 of 9 then but has gate 1 of 10 now.

NEXT BEST

Race 3 No. 8: ROYAL PROMISE

Building up to a win and getting back to the mile in this line-up might do the trick.

VALUE BET

Race 6 No. 1: HIGHWAY PATROL

Wouldn’t find a better ‘trialler’ racing on Thursday anyway. Surely barrier 1 is an added advantage on debut?

QUADDIE

Race 5: 1

Race 6: 1, 13

Race 7: 1, 2, 8

Race 8: 1, 2, 6, 10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Rachel King has some fabulous and interesting rides on the card including the aforementioned Highway Patrol.

NOWRA

BEST BET

Race 5 No. 2: ZOUATICA

Hands-down the most exciting horse on the card. He’s going to win better races than this.

NEXT BEST

Race 2 No. 1: ENCANTADO

Was too bad to be true on debut. Let’s see if the real one turns up this time.

VALUE BET

Race 7 No. 6: HADOUKEN

Has infinitely more talent than ‘1 from 15’ but he’s also had his share of valid excuses.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR WYONG

RACE 5

Beirut Miss has raced at this same course and distance once before and won. That was despite 60kg and barrier 9 of 9 first-up on a Heavy 10. That said, she is a real mudlark. So much so that you would like to see this track stay as a Soft 6 rather than get too much better. Barrier 1 this time should be a big plus. Golden Gate has the wide draw but Josh Parr rides this track better than pretty much any jockey you could care to mention. Star Impact is heading the right way now again.

Bet: Beirut Miss to win

RACE 6

Highway Patrol is a son of Pariah trained by Edward O’Rourke. Pedigree buffs take note; he is from the same family A Little Kiss. As for Highway Patrol, he has won both of his Hawkesbury trials and has been incredibly impressive in each. You would have to assume that barrier 1 is a plus, Wyong is a plus and a 1000m is a plus. Orlabent is a dual acceptor with rock solid claims in either race Kris Lees decides on. Misty Dreams gets another chance to win, with the emphasis on ‘another’. Luai could score here without surprising.

Bet: Highway Patrol to win

RACE 7

Haysiri is a not too distant relative of the Taree-bred Hong Kong idol Silent Witness. This Lou Mary-trained gelding started $20 when he debuted at home at Scone on May 12 but deadset won like an even-money favourite. He beat a very good field as you expect given it was Cup Day. Harder here of course but he might well measure up. Oakfield Waratah has raced at his home track over this distance three times for two wins and a third. Got the gun draw, he should be on the lead from there unless something else wants it more. Windshadow has claims.

Bet: Haysiri to win, quinella 2, 8

RACE 8

Forecaster won at Canterbury on debut on a Heavy 10 this time last year when he was a two-year-old. His other win was also first-up which augurs well for Thursday. Just by the way, he beat Sir Kerm and Spiritchaser in that second win so it was a decent field. Would love/need to see some market support for him on Thursday. Tocomah was $5 into $3.90 when he won first-up. Was kept safe around the $14 mark when 13th of 14 at Warwick Farm but was found to be 4 out of 5 lame so had huge excuses. Massive in fact. Fire And Ice races well at this venue.

Bet: Forecaster each-way, quinella 1, 2

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR NOWRA

RACE 4

Dark Vador has finished second twice in his six starts. The horse that beat him, albeit by four lengths, at Muswellbrook could be anything. It’s called Rapbidash by the way; go and have a look – wow. As for Dark Vador he isn’t going to get any fitter than he is now and 1400m is bang on the money. Burrowa would only have to slightly improve on his third to Iron Man at Kembla two runs ago to be in the medals here. Stablemates She Sends Kisses and Sir Smitty have claims.

Bet: Dark Vador to win

RACE 5

Zouatica is easily the most exciting horse racing at Nowra on Thursday. The Joseph and Jones-trained son of Zoustar has raced four times for two booming wins a second to Sister Moon and a third one day over 1300m when he was probably looking for 1400m. Barrier 3 is the dream alley. The Gift has only managed to win once in her 23 starts but she has placed eight times. She has raced at Nowra four times for a close second and a last start third to an in-form horse in Willaidow. Sugoi Legend is a great-grandson of Alinghi and goes well.

Bet: Zouatica to win, The Gift to place, Daily Double 1st leg (2), 2nd leg (6)

RACE 6

California Grass is an emergency for Saturday’s Queensland Oaks. She has also has accepted for a race at Wyong on Thursday. The John Thompson-trained filly was always going to get to ten furlongs and more and once she got to 2300m last start, we all saw what she could do. Hard to beat whether she goes north or south from Randwick. Four O’Clock Knock, the half-brother to Order Again, was runner-up to California Grass at Newcastle and is in fact entered for this and the same Wyong race as she is. Rapid Impact has a fair bit of ground to make up on California Grass and Four O’Clock Knock but it’s not impossible.

Bet: California Grass to win

RACE 7

Hadouken has so far only managed to win once in his 15 starts but he’s had plenty of valid excuses for not performing to expectation some of the time. For one, we almost have to throw out his Heavy run; he handles soft to a degree but you get the impression, the firmer the better. Has the talent to be winning better races. Ditto some of that for Remus. The ‘best’ Remus is provincial, maybe even midweek standard. Chilko Lake has been a bit disappointing after showing promise early but she can figure if she puts her best foot forward.

Bet: Hadouken to win, box trifecta 3, 4, 6, 8