Raceday focus: Coffs Harbour, Hawkesbury

The Pluck five-year-old is coming off a 1½-length win in the South Grafton Cup (1610m) and Quinn said he was looking just as good for Thursday’s $ 80,000 Coffs Harbour Cup (1600m).

INJURY ENDS MENARI’S TILT AT THE EVEREST

“He hasn’t gone backwards,” Quinn said. “I think it was one of his best wins because he got all the breaks, which he’s never really got when he’s won before.

“He won his Highway when three-deep without cover the whole way, which was pretty tough, then he won the Country Championships heat when he got into trouble at the 800m and had to circle the whole field.”

MATT JONES’S BEST BETS

COFFS HARBOUR

BEST BET: CURRAGH (Race 7, No. 7)

Wants the sting out of the track, which is the only concern. Has a lot going for him. A genuine Saturday city-class horse.

NEXT BEST: EPIC DAN (Race 6, No. 2)

Comes off a good run in town and going up to 1200m helps him a lot. Should start a nice odds.

QUADDIE

R5: 4, 7, 9, 10

R6: 2, 8, 13

R7: 5, 7, 12, 16

R8: 1, 3, 5, 9.

JOCKEY TO WATCH

HUGH BOWMAN makes a rare trip to the bush and has five rides which he

will no doubt give every chance.

HAWKESBURY

BEST BET: WHITE BOOTS (Race 8, No. 4)

Still untapped and looks to be headed towards city racing, sooner rather than later. The 1800m should not be an issue.

TRAINER TO WATCH

TEAM SNOWDEN has a few nice chances, including Surging To Win, Sytus and Classic Thoughts.

SCROLL DOWN FOR MATT’S EXTENDED PREVIEW & TIPS

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Thursday’s race is stronger than his last one and Cogliere goes up 1kg in weight but still gets into the event well and will jump from barrier three with Matthew McGuren on board.

Quinn said there was no reason why he couldn’t win again.

“I thought he was very sharp last time and I said before that race that whatever beats him will win the race,” he said. “He was near unstoppable that day and he’s in the zone.

“I think it will be the same in this race. He’s drawn perfect and whatever beats him in this race will win it as well. He’s flying at the moment.

“I think he’s well placed in this race and that’s my job.”

However, the field is a formidable one. A few city runners have made the trip up to take on the bush horses, including Curragh, who is set to start favourite. He was unlucky in town on a Saturday two starts back and won its last start at Warwick Farm in a midweek event.

But Quinn isn’t fazed by them or Brazen, who he beat last start to get revenge for a loss to the Brett Cavanough runner a start earlier. He has an awkward draw, though.

“There are horses like Pelethronius and Curragh who are city winners but they probably want the track wetter and they’re not going to get that,” Quinn said.

“Brazen meets us a kilogram better but he’ll have to do a bit of work from that gate to go forward, while we’ll be fifth of sixth with cover.

“I just think my horse gets the ideal run and he’s in it up to his ears.

“I imagine Belinda Hodder will go forward on the Sawtell Cup winner (Eight Below).”

Cogliere has triumphed twice in three runs at the Cup distance and has won at his only attempt on the Coffs Harbour track. He tends to race at his best when on top of the ground, too, but a spot of rain wouldn’t hinder his chances.

After this run he will tackle the Taree Cup (August 19) before trying to win his hometown race over 2000m on October 5.

“It’s been a deliberate plan to pick these races off until he gets to the Port Macquarie Cup,” Quinn said. “At the moment the mile is probably his best trip but I think he can be a force over 2000m.”

HAWKESBURY

White Boots looks to tie up another triumph

WHITE Boots faces a tougher test at Hawkesbury but trainer Kim Waugh says he is up to it and will continue to improve off a last-start win.

That was at Cessnock, which was easier than the Benchmark 67 Handicap (1800m) he faces on Thursday, but Waugh says the jump up 230m in distance plays right into his hands.

“He’s just going like he’s going to get over a trip and he pulled up very well from that last run, and I think he’ll be even better over 1800m,” Waugh said. “I’m not sure how far he’ll get out to but I think he’ll get the 1800m pretty well based on the way he works and races.

“He’s going great and I’m very happy with how he’s been going this preparation. He’s come back a bit stronger and more mature.”

Star jockey James McDonald takes over from Aaron Bullock and Waugh won’t need to give him any instructions on the Animal Kingdom four-year-old.

He’s looking for hsi fourth win from six starts and looks like a city horse, but Waugh has taken her time with him and is enjoying the way he’s going through his grades.

“He’s very fit and well and James is riding him so I think we’ve done well. James is hard to get,” she said. “He’ll sit in behind the leaders somewhere but if he starts really well I’ll just leave it up to James. He can sort it out.

“He is untapped. He’s one of those horses that just keep improving. It’s a bit hard to say where he’ll get to but I think he’ll be even better next preparation.”

White Boots may be in good form but he won’t have the race handed to him on a platter.

Belle Du Sud, Classic Thoughts and Gravitate all have their claims and Scratches comes off a last start win.

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

COFFS HARBOUR

RACE 5 (2.50pm)

4. Anzio will go forward and give a good sight after a nice last-start win on the Gold Coast. Running out the 2000m is the question mark. He’s had three goes at it for three unplaced runs, but off his last win you would have to have confidence in him. 7. Chantilly Chateau drops 4.5kg for this and will run out the trip from a good gate. 9. I’ll Miss You is going great guns and loves the distance. She also drops greatly in weight and will be there at the end. 10. Light Motion and 12. Saint Element are also big players.

BET STRATEGY: I’LL MISS YOU win.

RACE 6 (3.25pm)

1. Lucky Meteor loves the track and distance but from the wide gate will have to do some work to get to the front so the first few hundred metres is crucial. 8. Alot Like Home also has an awkward gate but returned well from a spell and has a good second-up record, so it’s easy to stick with him. 13. Still Undaunted is a real winner, having won seven from 16, but a few of them have come in weaker races but he’s still racing well enough to win this. 2. Epic Dan comes off a good run in city midweek grade and going up to 1200m helps him now and if he holds his form he’s the one to beat.

BET STRATEGY: EPIC DAN win.

RACE 7 (4.05pm)

7. Curragh is just about the best horse in the race but he really wants a wet track. He did win in town last start on a Good 4 track, though. 12. Zamex has a tricky gate but that’s the only knock on him and he’ll thrive over the trip and look the winner at some stage. As will 5. Cogliere who will just get a cushy run behind the speed with cover. As long as he doesn’t run into slow horses, he’s going to be hitting the line hard. 2. Pelethronius hasn’t won in a while but that’s been in city grade and he gets Hugh Bowman to guide him.

BET STRATEGY: Boxed trifecta 5, 7, 12, 16.

RACE 8 (4.45pm)

He’s got 60kg and a wide gate but it’s hard not to like 1. Evopex after his last-start win in a stronger field. He just needs a bit of luck and her can salute again. 3. Gordon’s Leap is looking for 1600m now and is very fit after three runs back, which have included two wins so his confidence is sky high and he gets the dream run. 9. Real Time Warrior comes into this in good form, too, but is dropping back 600m in trip. It shouldn’t matter because he’s been nicely freshened for this and should be strong late. 10. Fine Verse should be leading and will give a good sight, while 5. Exorbitance is in career-best form.

BET STRATEGY: EVOPEX win.

HAWKESBURY

RACE 5 (2.30pm)

1. Stone Cold only finished three lengths off Our Malambo last start at Randwick and Oria was just in front of him at the finish and it came out and won at Rosehill last Saturday, so if he holds his form he should just about win this. 2. Black Chilli is another coming off a Saturday race in town. He may have finished last to Bandiour but was less than four lengths off the winner and this is a much more suitable race. All of 3. Lucky Symbol’s six wins have come over 1000m. 5. Invincible Gangster and 7. Rastafarian are threats.

BET STRATEGY: STONE COLD win.

RACE 6 (3.05pm)

4. Squaw Peak comes back to 1100m and that looks more ideal than the 1250m last start. This is an easier race and he’s won at the track and distance before so he rates highly. 6. Surging To Win won well to end his short campaign last time in and has trialled with a win at Hawkesbury on July 23. This is a good race to kick-off in. 1. Our Royal Egyptian hasn’t been able to match it with them in town so far but has won at the provincials before and has his first run for Brad Widdop, who is coming off a very successful season. 5. Tiny Taj is lightly raced but looks to have the talent to win after trialling well for James Cummings.

BET STRATEGY: Quinella 4, 5.

RACE 7 (3.45pm)

4. Given Time is well placed here after falling short in town to end his last campaign. He trialled nicely behind the smart stablemate Star Of The Seas. 5. Homework was great on debut in town when looking good to the line and he looks like a determined horse, which will take him a long way in this race, and Joe Pride’s horses are always better second-up. 3. Cool Dude Ausbred might be looking for further but can sprint well first-up and there’s a bit of form around him. 10. Begin takes on older horses on debut and Godolphin must rate him to start him here.

BET STRATEGY: HOMEWORK win.

RACE 8 (4.20pm)

4. White Boots won easily last start and this isn’t too much harder for him. Trainer Kim Waugh thinks he’ll be even better over this trip. James McDonald rides him, too. 6. Classic Thoughts drops in grade and is peaking first-up after a few good runs and looks to be working up to this trip nicely. 9. Belle Du Sud was unlucky not to win last time and should improve off that run and be in the finish again, but it looks like White Boots is going to be very hard to beat. 3. Gravitate put in a forgive run last start and can bounce back at a track he likes racing at.

BET STRATEGY: WHITE BOOTS win.