Raceday focus: Best bets at Gosford, Sapphire Coast
KATIE Did It has taken everything in her stride so far and ahead of career start number two she’s got the confidence of a seasoned campaigner.
The Congrats filly races in a Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at Gosford on Thursday for trainer John Sargent who has been impressed with everything she’s done to date.
She looked the goods in her only trial at Randwick on September 28 and backed that up at her first start at Wyong, winning over 1000m in nice fashion by 1¼ lengths with Jason Collet on board.
“She trialled up well and after being balloted out of another trial I treated her debut race like a trial and she came out and won it so she’ll come on even further from that,” Sargent said.
MATT JONES’S BEST BETS
GOSFORD
BEST BET
KATIE DID IT (Race 6, No.7)
She’s done nothing but impress from her trial to her first race and she looked as if she had something left in the tank to progress at Class 1 level.
NEXT BEST
BRING IT BACK (Race 2, No.4)
He did well enough in a stronger race at Canterbury last Friday night to suggest he’s going to be a real force at the provincials.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 2, 3
Race 6: 1, 6, 7
Race 7: 3, 4, 6, 7
Race 8: 2, 3, 6.
TRAINER TO WATCH
GAI WATERHOUSE and ADRIAN BOTT have placed Bring It Back and Maid Marilyn to win in easier grade here.
Gai Waterhouse has some good chances at Gosford on Thursday. Picture: Jay TownSource:News Corp Australia
SAPPHIRE COAST
BEST BET
SONNETS (Race 7, No.6)
This horse is flying at the moment and it’s hard to stop a mate in form. She just needs to carry a little extra weight this time and she can get the job done again.
JOCKEY TO WATCH
Apprentice PATRICK SCORSE has a few good rides, including Lady Tycoon and Living Doll, who can deliver him a double.
SCROLL DOWN FOR MATT’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS
*****
“She won that race like a good horse and would have learnt a lot. I had her in at Randwick on Wednesday but she drew wide and it would’ve been hard to win from that gate on the Kensington track.
“This is a softer option and I want to take her through the grades but I think it’s obvious that this is a filly that will eventually get some black-type.”
Katie Did It will be ridden by Collet again from barrier seven and he’ll look to put her in a nice spot on the speed.
It’s always hard for horses to win a Class 1 race straight after winning on debut but Katie Did It looked to do it in style at start one and should have enough left in the tank to take the step up in grade.
“She’s a natural and is a strong type. She should be hard to beat if she gets up and over. She’s got early speed and should suit the track,” Sargent said. “She’s a promising horse and we should see it in this race.”
Sargent has one more runner competing on the Central Coast. Home Win races in a Class 2 Handicap (1900m) and he’s better than his record (8:1-1-0) suggests.
John Sargent has a lot of time for Kate Did It. Picture: Mark EvansSource:News Corp Australia
He’s by Snitzel out of Flidais so he’s got the right ingredients to make it as a nice racehorse.
Sargent said he would eventually get there and the fact he started him in the Group 3 Spring Stakes three starts back shows what he thinks of him.
He was a tough disappointing at Canberra last start when fifth but has bounced back well from that run.
“He’s worked very good since a below par run last start. I’ve upped his work and he’s handled it very well,” Sargent said.
“He’ll be suited by the track and distance and be very hard to beat in this race.
“He’s always just been a bit weak but at this level he should be suited and he’ll obviously be a better horse in the autumn once he gets a bit more time to mature.”
Jay Ford gets back on him and he’ll get a cushy run from barrier three.
“He’s very well bred and he’s got to live up to that which will probably come more in the autumn,” Sargent said.
“He was over racing with the blinkers on and Jay Ford knows him well so I think he’ll race well based on his work this week.”
SAPPHIRE COAST
MORUYA trainer Natalie Jarvis thinks Living Doll is primed to make it back-to-back wins at the Sapphire Coast on Thursday after a tough win in the nation’s capital last start.
She’s placed her well after her Canberra win, only rising slightly in class and Patrick Scorse rides her again in today’s Benchmark 58 Handicap (1008m).
She’ll be driven out of barrier three and will be making her own luck in the run.
She’s only won twice from 20 starts but she’s only an early four-year-old mare, by Helmet, and is starting to realise her true potential.
“She’s always right about there when she races and always puts in a good effort so we think she’ll race well again,” Jarvis said. “She’s drawn a good gate so we’ll push forward on her and the track is dry enough for her so that’s good too.
“She’s in very good shape. She went into her first race of preparation (third place) a little bit underdone but she’s great now.”
Think Big’ has eyes on Cup0:00
Horse Racing: Gai Waterhouse says horse Think’ Big will be looking to gain entry into the Melbourne Cup.
Meanwhile, another Jarvis runner, Pulla Swifty has been luckless, not only in her races but before them and she’s once again drawn out wide in her Maiden Handicap (1208m).
She’s placed twice from six starts and is improving all the time.
“She’s learning to race a lot better now. She’s not going out there and running as fast as she can. She’s starting to settle and finish off her races better,” Jarvis said.
“Jess Taylor has been building a good relationship with her and helping us teach her to race better and things are starting to work out now.”
Jarvis is hoping a win isn’t far around the corner.
“We thought she would’ve broke her maiden by now because she’s always nearly there each time. She handles this track though so we think she’ll race well,” she said.
“Every time Jess rides her she comes back and tells us this horse just needs a bit of luck and she’ll win.”
INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES
SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 4 (3.40pm)
5. Lady Tycoon was supported on debut and ran well to run third. The most encouraging part of the fact she put herself into the race and gave herself a chance on the home turn. She will be fitter for that run and drops back 200m. 2. Tunnel Rat is running better than his odds suggest and should be challenging for the lead. First starters 7. Ameares and 9. Velvet Aeroplane both out different but good trials and they can run big races on debut.
BET: LADY TYCOON to win.
RACE 5 (4.15pm)
A competitive race. 5. Living Doll comes off a win in similar grade and she’ll roll forward and can go on with it after a confidence-boosting win. 8. Smart Remark is flying this time in and could easily have won three straight coming into this race. The big problem is he’s won just once from 27 starts. 4. Denman Flyer’s race record says he will be more than competitive here as will 6. Trumbo and 1. Newtown Is Coming, who drops in class.
BET: Quinella 1, 5.
RACE 6 (4.50pm)
5. Withorn did enough last preparation to be confident about his chances in this race which isn’t overly strong. Stablemate 6. Dark Alibi was working home well in her lead-up trial. 11. Pulla Swifty has been luckless for much of her career. She’s drawn wide yet again but jockey Jess Taylor knows her very well and thinks a win isn’t far away. 2. Mickey Jay and 3. El Nieto will improve for this race with the latter looking the best hope from an inside gate and he can even lead them.
BET: WITHORN to win.
RACE 7 (5.30pm)
It’s hard to not like 6. Sonnets here. She’s a mare in form after two wins in a row and if she can handle carrying an extra 2.5kg she can win again as long as she doesn’t get too far back from barrier one. 7. Elegant Ellen was beaten as an odds-on favourite last start but still looks promising and she gets the perfect run in transit. 8. Monterey Magic bolted in last start and this doesn’t look harder.
BET: SONNETS to win
Jason Collett will ride Katie Did It at Gosford. Picture: AAPSource:AAP
GOSFORD
RACE 5 (3.55pm)
2. Coterie won well last start which wasn’t surprising considering the form behind him and this race isn’t much harder for him, so he’s got to be the leading pick. 3. Rare Episode just faded late on the line second-up, which wasn’t a huge surprise. Third-up now, he can improve. 5. The Patrician has the blinkers off for the first time, so that can make a difference.
BET: COTERIE to win.
RACE 6 (4.35pm)
7. Katie Did It was very impressive on debut and she would’ve gone to a city meeting on Wednesday if she didn’t draw poorly. She’s up in grade but can still win. She’s going to be winning in town soon. 1. Maid Marilyn is another who was set to race in town but this is better for her. 6. Spanish Dream ran third in a handy race last start and she’s a good winning chance in this grade. 2. Oxford Angel will do better on a firmer track.
BET: KATIE DID IT to win.
RACE 7 (5.10pm)
3. Rose Of Savannah ran on very well last time for second when wearing blinkers for the first time in what was a good run on a heavy track considering she had been off racing for a month. 7. Invinciano trialled very nicely ahead of her debut run. Most Joe Pride horses do better second-up but she should show something on debut. 4. Above And Beyond was off the pace in stronger company last preparation but he comes into this off a 4 ½ length trial win and the spell would have done him the world of good.
BET: ROSE OF SAVANNAH to win.
RACE 8 (5.50pm)
2. Zoffany’s Lad gets a big weight but he’s been carrying them at his past four races, which he’s won them all, and he gets all the favours again from the draw. 3. Missybeel has just been off the pace in tougher races and has been given an easier task here, and she should get the mile. 6. Nordic Lover showed fight to win over 1500m last start but that was on a bigger track. 4. Soir De Lune can bounce back after flopping last time at Wyong. The harder track will help.
BET: ZOFFANY’S LAD to win.
Originally published as Raceday focus: Best bets at Gosford, Sapphire Coast
Source: Read Full Article