Horse racing tips: Best bets for Gosford with Shayne O’Cass

Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O’Cass gives his best bets and runs the rule over every race for Gosford.

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!

GOSFORD

BEST BET

Race 1, No.2: CAPPELLETTI

The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained speed machine is back in action on Tuesday as a gelding. Time to start delivering now.

NEXT BEST

Race 2, No.8: SMOOTH SAILING

The three-year-old filly from the Mark Newnham stable ran 1.02.80s for the 1100m with her last 600m in 33 and change when she won at Nowra on debut.

VALUE BET

Race 4, No.10: ELEGANT EMPRESS

A well-bred grey filly trained by David Pfieffer who is on debut. She was runner-up to Seacaution in her most recent trial. Goes well.

DAILY DOUBLE

1st Leg: 8 Geewhiz Johnny

2nd Leg: 7 Jacquine Reward

QUADDIE

Race 4: 1,7,10

Race 5: 2,8

Race 6: 6,15

Race 7: 3,7

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW

Tim Clark should be able to add a few Gosford winners to his tally of 133 at the track come Tuesday.

THE INSIDE MAIL FOR GOSFORD

RACE 1

Cappelletti has a pretty big profile for a horse who has finished ninth and seventh (at $1.75) in his two starts. He is a very well-bred son of Capitalist out of a Grade 1-placed US mare, which is why he cost $725,000 as a yearling. This will be his first run as a gelding. That’s big. If ever this horse can gallop in the afternoons like he does in the mornings, he’ll make it to good races. Social Butterfly is straight off the Lonhro assembly line and has trialled well. First Class Molley, Deep Fury and Chautauqua’s half-brother I Say Boom are in the mix.

Bet: Cappelletti to win.

RACE 2

Smooth Sailing was $4.80 into $3.90 when she made a winning debut at Nowra on February 12. The Mark Newnham-trained daughter of Your Song settled off speed and let down over the top late to win pretty easily in the end in slick time. Drawn well again and the extra 100m won’t do her any harm. Sir Ming is another well-bred (former) colt racing here who has been gelded. A grandson of Alinghi, Sir Ming’s best would result in him going close. Cable Tie was the $12 outsider in a field of four at Hawkesbury. Did a good job, too.

Bet: Smooth Sailing to win; exacta 8 to beat 4.

RACE 3

Mountain Guest is by the VRC Derby winner Tarzino but has plenty of speed on the dam side; her fourth dam is Wrap Around. As for Mountain Guest, she finished second in her two runs in the first preparation, spelled and resumed on the Kensington on February 15 when she finished off better than most despite clocking in eighth of 10. Mile here is bang on. Ditto pretty much all of that for Whisker To Whisker. This daughter of Zanbagh and granddaughter of AJC Oaks winner Wild Iris was a nose in front of Mountain Guest at the end of the Kensington race. Silvincible is a half-brother to Silvera, an out-and-out miler, just like this fellow is.

Bet: Mountain Guest to win; exacta 3 to beat 12.

RACE 4

Elegant Empress is a well-bred filly by Holy Roman Emperor out of a mare by Unbridled’s Song, hence her grey colour. The David Pfieffer-trained three-year-old has trialled twice this year and finished runner-up each time. She was also a close second to recent city winner Secaution in a February 16 heat. Hollow Dollar has run some good races. In fact, she really hasn’t run a bad one in her eight starts. She finished fifth first-up at Newcastle but clocked some decent sectionals and will no doubt be better for the hit-out. Free Enterprise has a whole lot of Capitalist in him.

Bet: Elegant Empress to win; quinella 7, 10.

RACE 5

Geewiz Johnny drew wide in race two here and was scratched in favour of this race, where he has gate 3. This one is 1100m, too, which you would perhaps think suits the son of Zariz slightly better than 1200m. Whatever the case, Geewiz Johnny has some compelling stats, none more so than the fact he has raced here at the home track four times for three seconds and a third. Oxford Vision likes this venue. The Kim Waugh-trained gelding has raced at Gosford five times for a win and three seconds. Been consistent without winning but barrier 2 is a big help. Goofy Mick is a bit all or nothing with four wins and six nothings from 10 starts.

Bet: Geewiz Johnny to win; exacta 8 to beat 2.

RACE 6

Field Marshal won his first two starts (for John Thompson) at Canberra and Wyong in the manner of a good horse. That was in October/November. The son of the outstanding European stallion Kingman resurfaced on Valentine’s Day at Hawkesbury, this time trained by Chris Waller. He was $2.25 to $2.60 and ran sixth of 10 but by the time he raced the track was in poor shape so he is a total forgive. Mandalorian is a wee-bit one-paced but does try hard and won’t get any fitter than he needs to be to win this. Stonecoat has won or placed in four of five starts. Only unplaced run was a fifth to Manzoice.

Bet: Field Marshal to win; Mandalorian each-way; quinella 6 to beat 15.

RACE 7

Jacquine Reward is a Nathan Doyle-trained gelding who has quite a good strike-rate of 24 starts, three wins and seven placings. The son of Reward For Effort has raced at this track and distance four times for a second and a third. Don’t think it is taking it too far to suggest that he was one of the runs of the day first-up on the Beaumont track on February 13. Ceasefire has major claims if he comes. Zelago is a six-year-old with 43 starts under the belt but he is racing like an in-form three-year-old. Has a winning draw here, too. Not so Moralist, which is a shame because this is/was the perfect race for him.

Bet: Jacquine Reward to win; Zelago to place.