Form analyst Shayne O’Cass runs the rule over Monday’s meetings at Taree and Albury.
TAREE
BEST BET
Race 4 No. 2: Yourjokingme Right
Former Queenslander having his first run for Kris Lees off the back of two excellent trials. Go well.
NEXT BEST
Race 2 no. 2: Gold Merchant
Showed plenty of desire and will to win at Coffs Harbour first-up. Lightly-raced and progressive.
VALUE
Race 3 No. 11: Bear’s A Star
Glen Milligan-trained local who belied a decent betting drift to go close on debut in a 1000m maiden here three weeks ago.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 2
Race 5: 2,4,6
Race 6: 1, 12
Race 7: 2,10
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Ben Looker is one of only three jockeys in New South Wales with 100 wins or more for the current season.
Ben Looker is the jockey to follow on Sunday. Picture: Jeremy Ng – Getty Images
ALBURY
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 8: Nats Enough
Mostly consistent gelding who is third-up in the right style of race and off the back of two top runs.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 2: Sacred Oath
Former Queensland-housed gelding who could not have been any more impressive when he won here at his first run for Mitchell Beer.
VALUE
Race 3 No. 9: Snipperty Vixen
Can build on her debut fifth here from last month. Good draw, good jockey.
INSIDE MAIL
TAREE
RACE 4
Yourjokingme Right has raced 15 times, all of them in Queensland for other trainers, not Kris Lees, who has the son of Foxwedge from here on in. His form up there is in fact very good; easily his most notable run was a second to Weona Smartone. Trialled up really well ahead of Monday’s race where the only negative is the draw. Tony Ball trained local Adamdeeant has raced over the trip at this track 17 times for two wins and three placings. Dragoneight has hit his best stride now and generally races well at Taree.
Bet: Yourjokingme Right to win
RACE 5
See You Again has ‘only’ one win and ‘only’ one third from his 12 starts but to be fair to the horse, he bolted in when he won on the Beaumont track and he’s been knocking around in decent company his whole short life. Jackyy Dee showed speed and desire in equal measures when he won that maiden at Narromine on April 20. Harder here of course but he seems to be heading the right way. Cateechee, the grand-daughter of Shindig, gave them a start and beating at Gunnedah last start. Could be ready to go on with the job.
Bet: See You Again to win, box trifecta 1,2,4,6
RACE 6
Pair Of Hearts remains winless after 14 starts; in fact, she only has three thirds on her C.V. Half of her career starts have been at Taree and most significantly, all of those placings were here. Beaten favourite here on May 8 but she ran well enough and the runner-up (Mischievous Molly) has won since. Pins son Triple Money raced seven times in New Zealand for three seconds and a third. With Paul Shailer (tick), well drawn (tick) but has 61kg somehow (cross). Rockinfeller has a wide draw; maybe he is saved for Gosford/home on Thursday?
Bet: Pair Of Hearts to win
RACE 7
Are We Good has lost 29 times in 30 starts. That might turn a lot of people off but here’s a stat that is much more compelling; 10 starts at the track and distance for a win, two seconds and a third. He went within a few inches of winning here first-up and ‘Ball and Bucko’ are on fire together of late. Just One Look fell in to win at Port Mac but it was a good field and she’s not usually in front that early, she’s more your swooper so all credit to her. Poet’s Performer won first-up and is a second-up winner. Sukhbir is a market watch.
Bet: Are We Good to win
ALBURY
RACE 4
Felix Pereon was outstanding in every way at his first run for Mitchell Beer in an 1175m maiden here at Albury on May 12. He hadn’t raced since August 2022, no public trial, drew 9 of 14 with 59.5kg on his back, 10th at turn and ended up finishing a neck second. What a run. Dud draw and a big weight again but it’s not a great line-up. You don’t see many sons or daughters of Strategic racing anymore so much so that Express Cash is from the former Woodlands’ stallion’s 17th and final crop (2015). Hasn’t won in 25 starts but is getting close.
Bet: Felix Pereon to win
RACE 5
Sacred Oath is a son of the dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls. The NZ-bred gelding had his first six starts under the care of David Vandyke; for the record they were one (very easy) win and three placings. Sacred Oath won a trial at Wagga on April 12 for Mitchell Beer. Sixteen days later he won a Class 1 at Albury in a very, very impressive manner. I’m Not Leaving has two wins and two seconds from nine starts and a couple of fourths and a fifth which underscores his consistency.
Bet: Sacred Oath to win, exacta 2 to beat 3
RACE 6
Crimosa has 63.5kg but trainer Andrew Dale was happy enough not to claim and stick with Kayla Nisbet. Fair enough too, she has ridden over 500 winners and partnered the Dale trained galloper at his most recent when a very close and closing third here on May 12. Miss Elsie May is the most famous or infamous ‘bridesmaid’ in the Riverina with 12 seconds (and nine thirds) from her 37 starts. Important to note that one of her three wins was here at Albury. Gate 2 and Danny Beasley are two giant pluses. Galaban has won here at the home track.
Bet: Crimosa win, quinella 1,5
RACE 7
Nats Enough – a maternal grandson of the great Naturalism – can cap off what looks like being a pretty profitable day for Danny Beasley and his army of supporters. This Wayne Carroll trained gelding should be at his absolute peak on Monday, third-up off two excellent runs at Gundagai and Wagga respectively. Teetotal is trained at Wodonga but likes it on our side of the Murray River it would seem given that his record at Albury is three starts for a win and a second. Defence Force, another Wodonga-ite, ran a great race here in November last year.
Bet: Nats Enough to win