Horse racing tips: Newcastle, Ballina best bets and inside mail

Gold Bracelet is the result of a bargain buy who can deliver trainer Ross Dawson and connections a purchase they will never regret.

The three-year-old filly is trying to stay undefeated on Monday in a Class 1 Handicap (1150m) at Newcastle after a slashing debut win at Taree late last month but her backstory is another of racing’s good ones.

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However, there is a touch of sadness to it.

“I spoke to the head of the syndicate, Gordon Field, and told him there was a mare for sale in foal to a Strategic Maneuver for about $1500 and I thought that was a cheap horse and this was the filly we got out of her,” Dawson said.

“She had another one, by Dane Shadow, but unfortunately the mare (Snippets Dream) died after giving birth to that colt. The Snippets breed click with the Dane Shadows.

“The colt is good as gold. He’s been hand fed since his mother died and he’s a bit of a ratbag. I’d say I’ll train him too one day.”

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SHAYNE O’CASS’S BEST BETS

NEWCASTLE
BEST BET: STICK ‘EM UP (Race 5, No.10)
Won a Canberra Benchmark 60 on October 25 then 13 days later was eighth of 14 in the VRC Oaks for John Sargent. Getting ready for ATC Oaks but can sprint well here over 1350m.

NEXT BEST: ICEBATH (Race 2, No.5)
Brad Widdup-trained filly by Sacred Falls who ran fifth in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace. Resumes here off two very soft trials.

VALUE BET: TEARS ARE FALLING (Race 4, No.12)
Tom Sherry takes 1.5kg off this Mark Newnham-trained filly, who is liable to peak third-up at the 1350m, which looks perfect for her.

QUADDIE

Race 4: 10, 12.

Race 5: 1, 10.

Race 6: 1, 3, 12.

Race 7: 4, 6, 9, 10.

JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Tom Sherry rode a treble the last time he visited Newcastle and is a chance to do it again.

BALLINA
BEST BET: AMIRYKAL (Race 1, No.3)
Lismore-trained filly who has finished in the placings at two of her three starts and was fifth in the other. Seems to be able to handle wet tracks.

NEXT BEST: REAL GENT (Race 3, No.5)
Reaped the rewards of a daring frontrunning ride from Kyle Wilson-Taylor when he won a mile race on a Heavy 10 at Grafton.

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Firstly, Dawson is looking to set Gold Bracelet for a number of wins after she surprised punters on debut when saluting on a Heavy 9 track at Taree as a $26 chance.

She built into that race very well before surging clear to win by 2¼ lengths.

“She’s improved off that win, which was a good one,” Dawson said.

“She’s as green as grass but she’s starting to get her head together.

“If it was a dry track I thought she was a special but I didn’t know if she would handle the wet.

“I didn’t trial her because she was working well. She ran nice time on a heavy track, too.”

After Taree’s meeting on Friday was washed out, Dawson had no hesitation in going to Plan B.

“She’s got to go there and I think she’ll handle the step up all right,” he said.

“She hasn’t drawn too well (barrier 12) but she goes well.

“It is a Cessnock meeting and I think she’ll go even better on a drier track.”

Gold Bracelet won’t again get the good fortune of coming out of gate one but she will put herself in to the race.

“I think she’ll be adaptable,’’ Dawson said.

“When she was asked to go last start she went. She sprinted well.”

One of Gold Bracelet’s main rivals will be the David Atkins-trained Revel The Magic.

Atkins also thinks Armina (race 3) and Longchamp Lass (race 5) are good each-way hopes but Revel The Magic is the one he feels can break through for another win after three straight placings this preparation.

The last was a 4¾-length third behind the highly promising and undefeated Cafe Royal, who is a city-class runner.

“He should run a good race,” Atkins said.

“He raced a bit flat the other day after a hard run before. He’s had a freshen-up since then so he can bounce back.

“He’s my best horse of the three.”

INSIDE MAIL WITH SHAYNE O’CASS: NEWCASTLE

RACE 1 

Shout The Bar is on debut in this Benchmark 58 over 1150m. The son of noted wet-track sire Not A Single Doubt has a nice draw (four) in a not especially high-calibre race. Trials have been good without being stunning. Waterhouse/Bott runner who is sure to be fit for purpose today. Kris Lees-trained filly Meyer has a win and a second from three starts. Resuming off two smart trials. Di’s Diamond has had 41 starts and is one for one at the track/distance.

Bet: Box trifecta 2, 3, 5, 7.

RACE 2 

Icebath is a Brad Widdup-trained daughter of dual Doncaster winner Sacred Falls who is resuming off two easy trials. Icebath ran in the Pierro, Sweet Embrace and Magic Night at her first three outings. She was only three lengths off Anaheed in one and four lengths behind Tenley in another. Go well. Dreaming Of Gold is from the in-form Nathan Doyle camp. She too is having her first run back having turned in two seconds at her only two runs in an encouraging first campaign.

Bet: Icebath win.

RACE 3 

Ciaron Maher/David Eustace mare Fighting Faith blew like a hurricane ($9.50 to $21) when she made her NSW debut at Kembla on January 29, which was odd given she had trialled so well beforehand. The market got it right, she was last of 10, beaten about eight lengths. Worth another look here. British-bred grey Succendam is a lightly raced and promising young miler/stayer from the Kim Waugh camp. Has looked really sharp in two trials and won his maiden well at Wyong last prep.

Bet: Fighting Faith each-way; quinella 1, 3; box trifecta 1, 3, 4, 6.

RACE 4 

Tears Are Falling has finished fourth at her two runs back this summer, the first was over 1100m followed by a 1200m at Kembla. She was a fair way off the winner in both but the step to 1350m and the claim have her poised to shed the maiden status. Shining Eagle is a daughter of Bart Cummings’ Group 1 mare Dashing Eagle who ran a great race when third in a deep 1400m maiden at Kembla. Progressive type. Toguchi has placed in all three runs. Would have won two of them in another stride or two.

Bet: Tears Are Falling win; exacta 12 to beat 10; quinella 10,12; box trifecta 10, 11, 12.

RACE 5 

Dundeel filly Stick ‘Em Up won a 2000m Benchmark 60 at Canberra on October 25 then 13 days later finished a creditable eighth of 14 in the VRC Oaks. John Sargent is aiming her at the ATC Oaks and associated classic but she could easily sprint well fresh over 1350m. Go Fish Go should race handily here, as was the case when Tom Sherry steered the gelding to a Class 1 win over 1400m at Kembla on January 11. American Salute is also a last-start Kembla winner. Gironde has won his past two and three of six.

Bet: Stick ‘Em Up each-way.

RACE 6 

Kris Lees has a nice horse here in Apollo Prince, whose siblings include Team Hawkes stakes winners Leebaz, Polish Knight and Euro Angel. Another sibling, Zebrowski, goes well. Apollo Prince was an impressive winner of his maiden on debut at Newcastle in April last year, then was third at Wyong on May 2. Not seen since but trials have been good. Big weight, wide draw but has talent. Stablemate Sugarland Express and Oakfield Jet have claims as seem to love the slop. Reveal The Magic is a fast on-pacer.

Bet: Apollo Prince win; Sugarland Express each-way.

RACE 7 

Burn’m makes genuine each-way appeal at the odds in what is an open race to finish the day. The Taree-trained gelding was a real eye-catcher when he resumed at home on January 31, coming from a wide draw and a long way back to get within 2.8 lengths of the winner in a 1007m dash. The 1150m suits and has won on soft. Titus has placed 16 times in 27 starts but has only won twice. Costly but well placed to reward his loyal backers. Entitlement is a Bjorn Baker-trained son of his Magic Millions winner Unencumbered who is one for one on a heavy track.