Gosford Racing Tips: Saturday, May 8th

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 11:47am (AEDT)

Leave me out of the two-year-old race to kick off the program. (3) Overpass is favourite coming off back-to-back wins, but I think he’s well and truly short enough at $3.20.

(6) Kalino won on debut on heavy ground, before sitting very wide without cover in the Kindergarten Stakes. He’s been given the standard Waller prep of a trial between runs and gets Tommy Berry aboard, who is one of the better riders at Gosford today. He also rode him in the recent trial.

(2) Conexy resumes from a break for Waller and McEvoy. He’s been gelded in his time off and also resumes with the blinkers off. He won his second start at Doomben ahead of Baby Wong, which isn’t the worst form. He won a recent trial and can settle on speed, so $11 is a reasonable price.

(7) Anagain won here on debut and then ran 2^nd to Paulele in the Kindergarten Stakes. Have to respect.

Tip: (6) Kalino $7.00 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: No bet

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 12:22pm (AEDT)

Backing two runners here.

(4) Henschel had no luck on the heavy track first up at Wyong, sitting three-wide the trip, but he bounced back from that with a dominant victory at Newcastle last start. Prior to going for a spell he was a 6.6L winner at Coffs, which is much easier than this, but he’s clearly up to city grade. He’s undefeated third up from a spell so this is the right time to contest a race like this and I think he gets things to suit.

(8) Blondeau resumes from a spell for Waller and Berry. He was heavily backed first up last preparation and was beaten less than a length. His only start on heavy ground was a win and if he’s tuned up for this, he’ll be hard to beat.

(1) Flat Heaven drops in grade for this and will be more than competitive. He’s run well in three of his four starts since returning to Australia. Those have been in BM94, Open and BM88 company, and he now drops to a BM78, so he finds himself in a very winnable race. My concern is the map from barrier 9 with the 3kg apprentice on.

(5) Rammstein next best.

Tip: (8) Blondeau $5.50 Bet365

Also Backing: (4) Henschel $4.20 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Blondeau, 0.5 units WIN Henschel

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 12:57pm (AEDT)

Always risky these Highways but I do think (8) Entreat is a reasonable price first up from a spell. She had three wins and five placings from 10 starts last prep. She has decent soft track form, gets a good draw and a strong jockey booking with K McEvoy up.

(3) King’s Champ didn’t get much luck in a Highway last start, beaten 3L after being held up for most of the straight. Has won on wet ground twice before. My query is the map and the apprentice jockey.

(5) Bellastar ran 2^nd in that same Highway last start and the form is more than good enough to win this race. If the track remains as wet as it currently is, that would be a concern given she’s had six starts for just two minor placings on rain-affected ground.

(11) Jahbath bolted in on heavy ground last start and has to be a leading chance here.

Tip: (3) King's Champ $12 BlueBet

Betting Strategy: No bet

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 1:32pm (AEDT)

(4) Tectonicus finds a nice race here. He bolted in on a heavy 10 at Wyong two starts ago, before running 3^rd in town at Canterbury last start. The horse that finished alongside him then came out and won its next start. Tectonicus is undefeated on heavy ground so gets conditions to suit here and the stable have a terrific record at Gosford.

(5) Nyami was caught wide without cover over the unsuitable short trip first up. Up to the mile second up with a much better draw. Can see sharp improvement.

(6) Blesk disappointed last start but he did jump slowly at Canterbury which isn’t easy to recover from on that track. He gets the winkers on for the first time and can improve.

(1) Montserrat normally takes a run to come good but he goes OK second up.

Tip: (4) Tectonicus $3.60 Ladbrokes

Also Backing: (5) Nyami $6.50 Ladbrokes

Betting Strategy: 1.5 units WIN Tectonicus, 0.5 units WIN Nyami

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 2:07pm (AEDT)

(1) Parry Sound finds a good race today. I’m not thrilled with the jockey booking but they had little choice with the weight. He improved nicely from his first up run to his second up run and he comes into this ready to peak third up. He’s won two of his three starts when third up previously, he’s won on soft ground before and his only start at the track and distance was a win.

(5) So Wicked jumped straight to the front and kept going at Canterbury last start. She appreciated the step up in distance and she gets another rise in trip today. Hard to beat again.

(9) Avion Fury won on soft ground four starts ago and then just got too far back last start after jumping slowly. Jockey change today could bring about a change of luck.

Tip: (1) Parry Sound $4.60 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: 1 unit WIN Parry Sound

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 2:42pm (AEDT)

Keen to take on the favourite (2) Easy Eddie here. He does look to get a completely uncontested lead, which is probably the main reason he’s well fancied, but I think there’s a couple to beat him.

(4) Enchanted Heart won first up, defeating Lost And Running who then came out and bolted in at his next start. Enchanted Heart is 3/3 third up from a spell and he’s won three of his four starts on heavy ground. He can bounce back.

(1) Signore Fox won the Star Kingdom Stakes first up but raced a bit flat last start, as he tends to do. He’s had six starts second up from a spell for just one minor placing, but he’s got two wins and a 2^nd from five starts when third up, which shows he can bounce back. He’s got a great record at this distance, has two wins on soft ground and a placing from his only start on heavy ground, so he appears well placed.

Tip: (4) Enchanted Heart $3.90 Bet365

Also Backing: (1) Signore Fox $3.50 Sportsbet

Betting Strategy: 1.5 units WIN Enchanted Heart, 1 unit WIN Signore Fox

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 3:22pm (AEDT)

We could see (5) Wu Gok improve sharply here. He has a remarkable record on heavy ground, with eight wins from 14 starts. He ran last when he resumed in the JRA Plate but that was firs tup at 2000m on a good track. The conditions should see him improve today.

(9) Polly Grey is the other runner from the Waller stable and she also loves the wet. All seven of her career wins have been on rain-affected ground. She won the Epona Stakes two starts ago before a decent run in the JRA Plate on firmer ground last start. The return to wet ground today will see her be a major player.

(16) Stockman ran well first up and wasn’t beaten far last start. He’s another with a good record on wet ground and looks a live chance here.

Tip: (9) Polly Grey $3.30 Sportsbet

Value: (5) Wu Gok $8.50 TAB

Betting Strategy: 2 units WIN Polly Grey, 0.5 units WIN Wu Gok

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 4:02pm (AEDT)

Going to take very little part in this race apart from a horse who made my horses to follow list after his last start, and that’s (2) Brandenburg. He can be forgiven for both his starts this prep – first up he pulled up 2/5 lame and last start he never got a crack at them in the straight. It’s the best 12^th you’ll ever see a horse run. He’s returned as a gelding this preparation and he’ll get a clear run from barrier 12, so it wouldn’t shock to see him win at double figure odds.

(7) Wheelhouse has been up for a while now and has had a couple of grand final runs, but he’s Waller’s sole representative in this race, and he’s four weeks between runs so should be fresh.

(9) Nudge is nearing a win. She was enormous in defeat two starts ago and sound again last start. Whether she’s up to the class of some of these horses is the query.

Tip: (2) Brandenburg $10/$3.00 Bet365

Betting Strategy: 0.5 units E/W Brandenburg

Odds Last Updated: May 8, 2021, 4:42pm (AEDT)

(1) April Rain is my best bet of the day here. She will have to do it tough resuming with 60kg on a wet track and from a wide draw, but I think she’s got a distinct class edge on her rivals. She was undefeated in her three starts last preparation and I think she’ll be set for better races than this in the Queensland Winter carnival.

(3) Willowheart was sound first up and you can forget she went around last start, where she ended up last from the awkward draw. Barrier 1 today so she will settle much further forward and with the senior rider going on, she should go much better.

(5) Exotic Ruby has ability and a good draw. She’s trialled well so can be competitive.

(6) Instant Attraction can improve second up and has won on wet ground so looks a value chance at $9.00.

Tip: (1) April Rain $2.25 Sportsbetting

Betting Strategy: 3 units WIN April Rain