Gosford race-by-race betting preview | The Coast | May 8, 2021

Gosford Race Club

What The Coast Race Day
Where The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250
When Saturday, May 8, 2021
First Race 11:45am AEST
Feature Race The Coast (Race 8)

We had Hawkesbury last Saturday, and this weekend is Gosford’s turn to host its standalone Saturday metropolitan meeting. The Coast will be run and won for the first time, along with the Gosford Gold Cup and the Takeover Target Stakes on what is a bumper nine-race-card. The track is currently rated a Soft 5 and the rail is in the true position. Gosford often has an advantage for those runners on speed, so that is where we will be looking throughout the afternoon. Our New South Wales form expert has found three best bets and a suggested quaddie for the meeting, as well as having provided you with his thoughts on all nine races right here at Horsebetting.com.au. The first race is set to jump at 11:45am.


Race 1 – 2YO Handicap (1200m)

This race could potentially fall away a bit, and we are hoping it does as both Ranch Hand and Cork Harbour are set to line up in the Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Gold Coast. Ideally, Cork Harbour stays here where he can be winning. With the uncertainty of where those two runners are headed, we are going to provide our tips on the basis that they won’t be starting in the race, but if they do, we will be with Ranch Hand ahead of Cork Harbour. Anagain was an eye catcher when second to Paulele in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes on April 10th, and was a winner here on debut the start prior, so she will take some beating. Generation was a good winner on debut at Morphettville, and while this is tougher, he will make his own luck in front and can be right thereabouts too.
Selections: 7-5-6-11
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_01]


Race 2 – Benchmark 78 (1200m)

We still aren’t too sure how Rammstein didn’t hang on at Canterbury last time out, but he was just nutted in a head-bobber by Olympic Legend. The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained gelding will be fitter for that run, and from the inside alley can lead them a merry dance, or box seat behind Nictock who has a good record here. There is a decent amount of speed in the race which will potentially set it up for something like Flat Heaven, who was again super when four lengths second to Lost And Running at his latest run at any old price. They’re the two we want to back in this,
Selections: 5-1-7-4
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_02]


Race 3 – Class 3 Highway Handicap (1200m)

Best Value Bet

These Highway races constantly throw up a bit of a rough result, and one that we are keen on here is Katgully Red. The six-year-old gelding won a Class 3 Highway back in February but hasn’t been quite as good since. We’re of the opinion that he is a better horse when he can be ridden closer to the speed, which we are hoping from barrier nine, Kathy O’Hara will have the option to do on Saturday. He drops 0.5kg off his last run in the same grade, and should be ready to peak again third-up off a seven-week freshen up. Bellastar will be very hard to beat if we go off her last run, but barrier 16 is of concern, while King’s Trust is the other danger.
Selections: 12-5-6-1

Best ValueRace 3 – Katgully Red (#12) $19.00 with Sportsbet

[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_03]


Race 4 – 3&4YO Benchmark 72 (1600m)

This is a pretty average sort of race now that I Say Hello has been scratched in preference for The Coast later on in the program. Tectonicus was never given his queue two starts back at Wyong when eased down to win by 5.5 lengths in a four horse field. That win came on a Heavy 10, he dictated terms and cruised away for Tyler Schiller. The booking of Tim Clark in this suggests that similar tactics will be encouraged which should be advantageous at his course. Drawn barrier three, we expect this three-year-old gelding to get a lovely run behind Tampering and he should be too good for them. Blesk the clear danger, but he was beaten home by Tectonicus last time out.
Selections: 4-6-8-10
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_04]


Race 5 – Benchmark 78 (2100m)

If there is ever a time on a Saturday to go and see what the better half is up to, this is it. The stayers get their chance over 2100m and we will be honest, the race is ordinary. So Wicked is the horse in the race that is going to get the best crack at them from barrier eight under Tommy Berry, and with little to no speed in the race, she may be able to control terms and repeat the dose of her last start victory at Canterbury. My Swashbuckler was a dominant winner at this course on April 25th, but that race was significantly weaker.
Selections: 5-4-6-7
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_05]


Race 6 – Listed Takeover Target Stakes (1200m)

The first of the black type races sees just a field of seven go around, and we have to agree with the market – it is a race in three. Enchanted Heart is the only horse to defeat the very talented Lost And Running, so we think that should be good enough to see her fight out the finish in this. Drawn barrier four, she can play a stalking role over the 1200m and if she gets to have one final crack at them, she can finish over the top. Signore Fox is in-form after winning at Group 3 level first-up, while Easy Eddie is going to be the bunny they have to catch.
Selections: 4-1-2-3
See our full Takeover Target Stakes betting preview here
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_06]


Race 7 – Listed Gosford Gold Cup (2100m)

Next Best Bet

The Listed Gosford Gold Cup attracted a field of 16 and one emergency, but we expect that number to shorten given quite a few of these horses have also accepted in Friday’s Wagga Gold Cup. Chris Waller’s Polly Grey is one runner who hasn’t been a dual acceptor and is a definite starter here, so that’s the way we are going to go. Tommy Berry will do the steering from barrier 11 which will see her in the second half of the field. She won the Group 3 Epona Stakes two starts ago, before finishing fourth to Paths of Glory and Zaaki in the JRA Plate at her latest outing. She’s the class here, and her winning credentials will be even further enhanced if a few of these come out.

Next BestRace 7 – Polly Grey (#9) $5.50 with Sportsbet

Selections: 9-7-11-15
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_07]


Race 8 – The Coast (1600m)

The Coast is the feature race of the afternoon at Gosford and it has attracted a field of 13 runners. Arapaho was very good in his Australian debut behind Rocha Clock and Nudge two weeks ago, and Craig Williams was full of praise when he dismounted, so that’s who we are with in this. Tim Clark will ride from barrier seven, which we assume will see him settle a bit closer than he did in his last start sixth. The four-year-old entire gets in well with just 54kg, some 5kg less than top weight and main danger in the race, Nimalee. She hasn’t done anything wrong this campaign and will appreciate the drop in class.
Selections: 4-1-9-10
See our full The Coast betting preview here
[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_08]


Race 9 – Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 (1200m)

Best Bet Of The Day

We are saving the best until last here at Gosford, as April Rain makes her racetrack return. Again, Chris Waller and Tommy Berry combine, but with a few of the big gun jockeys riding in Queensland and South Australia this weekend, Berry can make Gosford his own. This four-year-old Pierro mare won all three of her starts last campaign and now returns off two soft trials. The Gosford track is a bit of a concern for this classy mare, but her ability to quicken and extend will get her a long way. She will be back in the run from barrier eight but can be finishing over the top of them.
Selections: 1-2-5-3

Best Bet Of The DayRace 9 – April Rain (#1) $2.80 with Sportsbet

[rmOC_events_list event_ids=1368738_09]


Saturday quaddie tips for Gosford

Gosford quadrella selections
Leg 1: 1-2-4
Leg 2: 6-7-9-11-15
Leg 3: 1-4-9
Leg 4: 1-2
Investment $90 for 100%

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