Gosford racing preview, best bets & odds | The Coast Race Day 2023
| What | The Coast Race Day |
| Where | The Entertainment Grounds – 4 Racecourse Rd, West Gosford NSW 2250 |
| When | Saturday, May 6, 2023 |
| First Race | 11:15am AEST |
Metropolitan racing heads to Gosford on Saturday afternoon with a blockbuster 10-race program for punters to sink their teeth into. The card is headlined by three feature races including the annual running of The Coast worth $500,000. The Gosford Gold Cup and Takeover Target Stakes give some quality depth to the meeting as well. The rail is in the true position the entire circuit, and with clear skies forecast heading into Saturday, we should be racing on a Good 4 track. The first race is set to get underway at 11:15am AEST.
The Coast Selection: Kayobi
Light-weight chance Kayobi represents terrific value in this year’s edition of The Coast. This son of Maurice was a little disappointing last start at Randwick on April 8 in the Provincial-Midway Championship, finishing 6.1 lengths off the eventual winner, Spangler. We don’t think this four-year-old gelding handled the Heavy conditions at all, and the likely Good 4 surface at Gosford should be much more suitable for this progressive type. He’s been to Gosford before, taking out the Provincial-Midway qualifier on March 16, and trainer Sam Kavanagh seems keen to get him back to winning ways at a course where he’s seen success already this preparation. The 1600m comes at the perfect time third-up in the campaign, and he should gain an ideal position on the speed map from barrier four. Kayobi has plenty of ticks in our book, and at a good price with online bookmakers to boot.
The Coast
Race 8 – 
#13 Kayobi (8)
4yo Gelding | T: Sam Kavanagh | J: Jay Ford (52kg)
Gosford Gold Cup Best Bet: Desert Icon
The Gosford Gold Cup is over the 2100m, and we think Desert Icon can run well again after resuming in the Hawkesbury Cup on April 22. He was beaten by his stablemate New Mandate in the 1600m feature and needed the run under his belt after returning from a 147-day spell. He peaked on the run but was still holding ground for second place, finishing two lengths off the winner. This gelding by Sea The Stars has a great second-up record of four starts for two wins and another minor placing to his name, and he should appreciate getting to the 2100m on Saturday afternoon. Kerrin McEvoy gets the nod and, with plenty of speed engaged for this event, should be finding a spot somewhere mid-field. If it turns into a staying test, Desert Icon could prove too good for them.
Gosford Gold Cup
Race 9 – 
#3 Desert Icon (5)
7yo Gelding | T: Chris Waller | J: Kerrin McEvoy (59kg)
Takeover Target Stakes Top Tip: Think About It
Based on what he produced last preparation, it’s too hard to be against Think About It in the Takeover Target Stakes. He stepped out on four occasions, all ending in victories for Joseph Pride and Sam Clipperton combination. He showed tremendous versatility throughout the preparation, leading when asked in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup to round out his campaign on February 25. He comes back on a 10-week freshen and his barrier trial on April 21 suggests he’s lost nothing during the short break. This son of So You Think has bigger fish to fry later in the preparation, likely heading to Queensland for the winter carnival, but we see no reason why he can’t be taking this out on his way there. You’d imagine Clipperton has no choice but to get back in this field, but regardless of where he settles in the run, Think About It should be too good for this lot.
Takeover Target Stakes
Race 7 – 
#1 Think About It (12)
4yo Gelding | T: Joseph Pride | J: Sam Clipperton (58kg)
Gosford Best Bet Of The Day: Kin
The James Cummings-trained Kin makes her return to the track after a 186-day spell and looks primed to make a statement on resumption. She raced against quality opposition south of the border last preparation and almost found herself a Stakes winner when placing behind her stablemate Renosu at Flemington on November 1. The three-year-old filly ran into plenty of wet tracks in her latest campaign and she’ll appreciate getting back on top of the ground resuming this weekend. Her barrier trials suggest she’s coming back in terrific order and the Godolphin team has found an ideal race for her to return to winning ways. Kin gets in with 52.5kg, and with Rachel King taking the reins from a gun barrier, we’d be shocked if this daughter of Impending wasn’t in the finish.
Best Bet
Race 6 – 
#13 Kin (3)
3yo Filly | T: James Cummings | J: Rachel King (52.5kg)
Gosford Next Best: Fall For Cindy
Fall For Cindy will be looking for back-to-back wins on Saturday, and we think this daughter of Sacred Falls can do just that. She’s been impressive this campaign since returning on March 3 and has produced two wins in four starts in that time. Her latest was on the Randwick-Kensington on April 25 when sitting outside the leader before putting her rivals to bed in stylish fashion. It was a dominant win and she cleared out nicely on her rivals, suggesting the 1600m this weekend shouldn’t pose any threat. This is a tougher task against the boys in BM72 company; however, she’s proven to be competitive in Group races earlier in the preparation, so she’s not out of place on progression alone. She should find a spot mid-field from the barrier and Tyler Schiller should have her exploding down the middle of the track to score.
Next Best
Race 4 – 
#8 Fall For Cindy (6)
3yo Filly | T: John O’Shea | J: Tyler Schiller (56kg)
Saturday quaddie tips for The Coast race day
Gosford quadrella selections
Saturday, May 6, 2023
- 1-8-9-11
- 1-2-3-7-13
- 1-3-6-7-9-13
- 3-6-7-12
Investment: $480 for 100%