Coffs Harbour best bets, inside mail for Friday, June 20, 2025
Racenet and The Daily Telegraph form analyst Shayne O'Cass provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis For Coffs Harbour on Friday.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer.
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COFFS HARBOUR TIPS
BEST BET
Race 3 No. 3: PIEDI VELOCI
At home, third-up, every added inch from the last run makes him more likeable.
NEXT BEST
Sent out some positive indicators that a debut win was doable.
VALUE BET
Race 5 No. 7: DESERT COUGAR
Back to 1000m here, handles the wet, had excuses last time.
QUADDIE
Race 5: 1, 7
Race 6: 1, 2, 7, 10
Race 7: 1, 2
Race 8: 1, 3, 9
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Country Championship winning jockey BEN LOOKER will take beating on the TAB Jockeys Challenge.
SASKATOON BERRY (9) is a valuable mare for later on by virtue of the fact that her third dam is Regimental Gal. This daughter of Impending remains winless after 27 starts but has placed eight times and 'goes' on any ground. Will get there one day and this could be it. DARK STRATUM (2) is a city placed mare from her Richard Litt era. First run up this way had merit. CLEVER ILLUSION (1) is highly consistent.
Bet: Saskatoon Berry to win, quinella 2, 9
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RACE 2: Jesse Riley Hcp 1205m
COOL MOON (1), like Cool Archie, is by Cool Aza Beel and was born at Newhaven Park. This Gold Coast-housed filly has finished runner-up at two of her three starts (one to Sunrays) and resumed with a solid fourth at Doomben. ISSY'S STAR (8) is a Kris Lees filly who was runner-up in the Red Crown on debut to a classy Sydney two-year-old, Raging Force. TOI TOI (12) and ARCHIE MAXIMUS (3) have claims in a quality line-up.
Bet: Cool Moon to win, quinella 1, 8
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PIEDI VELOCI (3) is a really likeable mid to long term prospect for local trainer Donna Grisedale. The son of Supido is yet to place in his three starts but all were good to varying degrees. Once he wins one, he could really get on a roll. OL' MATE COOP (5) has drawn wide here but it might not matter as much, depending on any early pattern. Whatever the case, he's the one with the best form in the race. HEZANUFF (2) wouldn't have to improve a lot on his 'norm' to win.
Bet: Piedi Veloci to win
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DIVA ROUGE (3) will be the third of her father, Red Henno's, offspring to race. One has won (and like a good horse), the other was placed. Jake Hull trains those two and he's got this one too. Trialled really well and gets Ben Looker from a good alley. DIZZY DEE (4) has run more good races than bad. She resumes here off two trials, winning the June 9 one with Jett Newman. I'M GUESSING (6) won a trial that same day herself. In good hands.
Bet: Diva Rouge to win
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DESERT COUGAR (7) is a stablemate and half-sister to Lisztomania. This daughter of Capitalist was building up to that first win at Tamworth on May 20 and was most emphatic. Had plenty of reasonable excuses for the ninth of 12 at Grafton after that. Long story short, back to 1006m, is a big plus. Expect better this time. DIAMONDSAREMIO (1) has run maybe one 'bad' race in her eight starts this far. She deserves a lot of praise for her third at Moree behind Starry Jack.
Bet: Desert Cougar to win
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OSTRACISED (7) has been around. He started off with Team Hawkes in Victoria then went to Kody Nestor, Cody Morgan, Bjorn Baker and now Donna Grisedale. There was a time when he was being looked upon as a Country Championships and even Kosciuszko contender. Fast forward to the present and he's had his hoof on the till for a little while now. Ostracised was runner-up to his stablemate Mallee Boy Express last start and you'd have to say he won on his merits.
Bet: Ostracised to win, Daily Double 1st leg 7, 2nd leg 9
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GOLDEN HONOUR (2) was a $220,000 Easter Yearling in 2021. Skip ahead to September 2023 and Glen Milligan bought the horse online for $13,000. He's been a great investment for Milligan who has won four races (and five placings) since then. Won 15 days ago with 60.5kg on a Heavy 9. RONNY ROCK ART (1) failed in town last start but go back two before that and he was only a length and three-quarters off Piggyback at Warwick Farm.
Bet: Golden Honour to win, box trifecta 1, 2, 4, 16
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EXOREALM (9) has raced seven times on Good and Soft tracks for no wins, no placings. However, the son of Exosphere has raced on Heavy twice for easy Taree Maiden win and a Taree Maiden third. This will be his second run for Sally Taylor who must have been thrilled with the first one; that fourth back on Jan 31. Trialled well on June 9. TELEGRAPH (1) won a very strong Benchmark 66 on June 5 at Taree. On top of that, the Tony Ball-trained gelding won his maiden at this same track and trip.
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RACE 1: JJ'S WASTE & RECYCLING COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1200m HARDLY FORTUNATE (7), an All Too Hard direct descendant of broodmare gem Extradite, was $9 out to $12 when she debuted at Wagga. Smashing run it was too, she drew 9 of 11, was ninth at the turn and got to within inches of the winner. That was 1000m, this is 1200m now. AL FLORES (5), the first foal of Coolmore Classic winning Dixie Blossoms, has had many chances. Many of us are still licking the wounds from her $1.55 loss at Goulburn the other day. Can atone but needs to win back a few fans. Bet: Hardly Fortunate each-way, quinella 5, 7, box trifecta 2, 5, 7, 12 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 2: WDF ACCOUNTING & ADVISORY SUPER MAIDEN HANDICAP 1400m BADHATHARRY (2) is a rarity, maybe a one of a kind in present day times given he is out a mare by Harry Lawton's beloved Bureaucracy who won the George Ryder way back in 1991. He's also the damsire of Silent Witness. As for Badhatharry, he has had a textbook build-up to 1400m which he is crying out for. Michael Travers has three accepted here and all three could easily medal. MISS PEPEHA (10) is getting closer than ever to a win. His other one Stormy Malice wants 1400m. Bet: Badhatharry to win ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 3: RIDLEY WOOL CO CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE 1600m DOC MARCH (11) has been very costly indeed at his last three starts, one at Canberra and two here at home at Wagga. To be fair to the horse, because he is a nice horse, he hasn't been at all helped by wide barriers hence he's been getting way back but running on dutifully. DESERT OPAL (5) has a win, four seconds and a third from his 11 starts, His personal best came last start on May 27 when he won a 1400m Maiden at home at Albury on a Heavy 8. Reliable type, well up to this. Bet: Doc March to win, exacta 11 to beat 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 4: RIVERINA SIGNMAKERS COUNTRY BOOSTED BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP 1200m CHRISTMAS STAR (2) races in the familiar colours of Shelley Hancox. This grey filly by Star Turn has finished on the podium at eight of her 12 starts. Only two are wins but looking back now, her losses, while costly at the time, were in races where the form has stood up since. Drawn one, should help. ELASTANE MISS (3) has done nothing wrong in her four starts; she won at Albury on a Heavy 10 and all the rest are seconds including one here at home. Third-up here; Blaike McDougall sticking for a third time too. Bet: Christmas Star to win, quinella 2, 3 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 5: ICG CONSTRUCTION BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP- HEAT OF THE WAGGA STAYERS SERIES 2000m STAY TUNED (4) is a Paul and Martha Cave-trained gelding who makes his second visit to Wagga bearing in mind that he broke his maiden here almost 12 months to the day. Fast forward to now and the son of Prized Icon is off a closing second to Hooligan Tommy at Kembla. Ready for 2000m. AVONVIEW (6) is as fit as any horse racing on the card. Well placed apart from the draw. Any upgrade from Heavy could also assist. DANDRUFF (2) will stay all day and is one for one on Heavy. Bet: Stay Tuned to win, Daily Double 1st Leg 4, 2nd Leg 1 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 6: RIVERINA CRANE SERVICES WAGGA WINTER SPRINT BENCHMARK 82 HANDICAP 1000m CONDOR (3) had his first 13 starts in Singapore, where he won twice and posted two placings. His last four starts are for Tim Fitzsimmons and are '1211'. That second by the way was at Bendigo by less than a neck. Big winner on the Heavy 9 at Mornington last time. Obviously Condor is flying, pardon the pun. MAJOR TIME (5) is a grand old campaigner from the Gratz Vella camp. He's got a good set of numbers across the board and as for each-way punters are concerned; he has won and placed at 34 of his 65 starts. Bet: Condor to win, exacta 3 to beat 5 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ RACE 7: EASDOWNS ACCOUNTANTS & ADVISORS CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1300m JUST LIKE TILDA (1) was just so impressive winning on debut at Kembla when $6.50 into $4.40. Won with a lot of authority on the day demonstrating a high degree of race-smarts and quality. Deanne Panya knows her well, so does the trainer of course and he's set her a task that while not a total slam dunk, looks pretty close to it. Bet: Just like Tilda to win, exacta 1 to beat 5. WAGGA BEST BET Race 7 No. 1: Just Like Tilda Created a big impression when winning at Kembla on debut. NEXT BEST Race 6 No. 3: Condor Won 3 of 4 and runner-up at the other this preparation. Easy to like. VALUE Race 5 No. 4: Stay Tuned Boast some compelling provincial form. Fit and stays all day. QUADDIE Race 4: 1,2,3 Race 5: 4,6 Race 6: 3 Race 7: 1 JOCKEY TO FOLLOW Blaike McDougall will have plenty of admirers to win today's TAB Jockeys Challenge