Raceday focus: Best bets, inside mail for Tamworth, Grafton

Form analyst Shayne O’Cass is keen on a Paul Messara-trained son of Animal Kingdom to strike with a first-up victory.

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!

TAMWORTH

BEST BET

Race 6, No. 5: TOTAL RECALL

Handsome chestnut son of the Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Hasn’t won under 1600m but he is first-up off two smashing trials. Quality racehorse.

NEXT BEST

Race 1, No. 5: ZAKOR

Showed talent winning his trial and has excuses for what was still a very fine debut in a strong provincial maiden on February 27. Stick with him.

VALUE BET

Race 3, No. 1: HALF HINCH

Granddaughter of Midnight Fever and has been runner-up in two of her three starts. Lovely trial win at Scone the other day.

Trainer Paul Messara has Total Recall primed for a first-up win in the Tamworth Cup Prelude. Photo: Simon Bullard/AAP ImagesSource:AAP

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,3,5,9

Race 5: 1,2,4,5

Race 6: 5

Race 7: 1,10

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Dylan Gibbons has some excellent chances to keep his tally ticking over at Tamworth on Tuesday.

GRAFTON

BEST BET

Race 5, No. 2: MOONHAWK

Very consistent gelding from Coffs Harbour who has finished second or third at each of his past six starts. Has won second-up and goes okay in the wet.

NEXT BEST

Race 3, No. 4: MCKEEGAN

Winless after 24 starts but to his credit he has placed just slightly above 33 per cent of the time. Gets his big chance to win one.

VALUE BET

Race 2, No. 2: SCHOONA THE BETTER

Sent out the right signs with that first-up fourth at Port Macquarie. In good hands and has deep form.

Jockey Raymond Spokes will partner Moonhawk at Grafton on Tuesday. Photo: Brad Greenshields/Coffs Coast AdvocateSource:News Regional Media

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR TAMWORTH

RACE 1

Zakor was really impressive when he won his trial at Muswellbrook 17-days before he debuted at Newcastle where he drew 13 of 14, raced handy and looked a real chance before he more or less shied away from the whip and become unbalanced. He was only beaten two and a half as it was so it was hardly a poor run. Damien Lane has an amazing team of two-year-olds this season. Has three in but assuming only Sterny Bear and/or Mr Cosmic run on the day. Both are red-hot chances off heir trials. Hammoon Star was good in her trial win.

Bet: Zakor to win, box First 4: Nos. 2,4,5,8,10

RACE 2

Hurn Court has raced six times for three seconds and a third. The Sue Grills-trained son of Outreach is trained here at Tamworth where five of the six starts have been. Goes without saying that he is a consistent horse and he has drawn to win if good enough. Discreet Star has turned in two sterling efforts since she relocated to Will Freedman’s Scone base. She can’t draw an alley – well, she can of course, but they are all wide! Gerry Harvey/Stephen Jones gelding Subtly Spring and Jason Deamer’s Owned Up are right in this.

Bet: Hurn Court to win, box trifecta 6,7,8.10,11

Trainer by Sue Grills. Photographs:Simon BullardSource:News Corp Australia

RACE 3

Half Hinch is a granddaughter of Robert Sangster’s 1987 Blue Diamond winner and has finished second at two of her three starts thus far. From what we can see thus far, she is essentially an on-pacer so she will doubtlessly need luck from the wide gate. Good enough if the breaks go her way. Stablemate C’Mon And Love Me was $4.20 into $2.90 when she ran fourth on debut here on February 12. It was hardly a ‘bad run’ but she was $2 yesterday whereas Half Hinch was $11 and $3 the place. Lionsteps is rarely of ever far away.

Bet: Half Hinch to win

RACE 4

Wallace Street has some rather compelling numbers for this. The son of Written Tycoon has won five from 29 which is quite a good strike-rate to begin with but he is ‘one for one’ at this track and distance and three of his five career wins have been at this trip. Drawn 3, Dylan Gibbons takes 2kg off and he is trained here. Lord Tony has raced 23 times, 8 of them have been at this track/distance – three wins, four thirds! Chances soared when he drew barrier 2. Timion has barrier one and a claim. He usually takes a few runs but he doesn't run too many bad races.

Bet: Wallace Street to win

RACE 5

Shamusu Sho ran a creditable race in the big Country Champion Heat here on March 7 finishing four lengths from the winner Spiranac who will be at Randwick on Saturday in the $500,000 Final. As for Shamusu Sho, his post-Heat run was very good indeed coming in fifth in what was quite a strong Class 3 at Muswellbrook. Up from 1450m to 2100m but you have to trust the trainer. Chocolatier has an 83 rating and this the big weight to go with it. He also has a great draw and a Group 1 winning jockey on his back. Nothing’s Sacred has only raced four times and has won twice and by big margins too.

Bet: Shamusu Sho to win

Jeff Penza will partner Total Recall for Paul Messara.Source:News Regional Media

RACE 6

Total Recall has already won over $100,000 in his 11 starts, four of which are wins, three are seconds and one a third. Two things we need to admire about him; one is that he won a race by eight lengths one day at Scone with 63.5kg and two, his run straight after that in the $125,000 Country Classic was as good anything and better than most. Hasn’t won under 1600m but this is 1400m, not 1000m, and the trials have been great. The Bald Eagle is the one to strike if Total Recall can’t. The former Team Hawkes-trained gelding ran a terrific race at his one and only start for Kody Nestor. Time Raid and War Cat have claims.

Bet: Total Recall to win, quinella 5,7, exacta 5 to beat 7

RACE 7

Cecilia has been well placed throughout by her trainer Aleacia Bennett and kudos to the horse herself because she has risen the challenge without exception. Even her first-up eighth had merit on that she was first-up on a Soft 7 in a good quality Class 2. Note for today that the daughter of Darci Brahma’s two career wins were both second up. Stunning Mosa came from a mile back to finish four and a half lengths off her above average stablemate Leo in that 1000m Highway at Randwick. Rodney Northam duo Magic Charlee and Kinship are in the mix.

Bet: Cecilia to win, quinella 1,10

Originally published asTamworth, Grafton tips: Messara in Total control of Cup Prelude

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