Newcastle best bets, inside mail for Saturday, June 14, 2025
Form analyst Adam Sherry provides his best bets and race-by-race analysis at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here!
NEWCASTLE
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 2: QUEEN'S RHAPSODY
Smart win first-up and hard to beat again.
NEXT BEST
Race 5 No. 3: CARNEGIE HILL
Resumed with a stylish win and can go back-to-back.
VALUE BET
Race 6 No. 1: AFRICAN DAISY
Raced in stronger company her last two preparations. Nice trial win.
BEST EXOTIC
Quinella Race 4: 1, 5
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 5
Race 5: 3, 7, 11
Race 6: 1, 5
Race 7: 2
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
AARON BULLOCK can land a winning double and take out the TAB Jockey Challenge.
Aaron Bullock looks set for a good day at Newcastle. Picture: Getty Images
INSIDE MAIL – NEWCASTLE
RACE 1: PHIL DUGGAN TRIBUTE MAIDEN HANDICAP 900m
GAMP (2) debuted with a short half-head second to O'Invincible after leading at Hawkesbury before a fifth to Goldane at Newcastle. Resumes here off a fifth to big trial winner Miss Judas at Rosehill last week. ANDHE'S BRAVE (3) was pressured in front and bumped a number of times in the straight when a length fourth to Nothing But Net on debut at Goulburn on May 30. Will take improvement from the experience. YVETTE (1) has been off the scene for 18 months but showed ability in her only two starts when third at Canterbury both times.
Bet: Gamp to win
RACE 2: CAMBRIDGE CLASSIC BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP 900m
ELEGANT EMPRESS (6) battled away for third to Photograph on the heavy track at Canterbury first-up over 1100m. Was kept out wide by the leader when fifth to Apex over 1100m at Warwick Farm on a Heavy 10. First time over 900m here but her three wins have been over 1000m. CASSIEL (2) placed in three of his four last campaign including a couple of narrow results. Kicked off this campaign with a solid all-the-way win from Apex over 1100m at Canterbury on April 21. FLAME OF HESTIA (7) started this preparation with a big win from Runranirun over this track and distance before a sixth at Canterbury. Has since won a Beaumont trial.
Bet: Elegant Empress each-way
RACE 3: IVERS SHEET METAL SUPER MAIDEN PLATE 1300m
LOUISBURGH (3) battled away when second to Ninette in a Wyong Super Maiden first-up on May 8 before going down by a nose to Whispering Rupert over 1200m at Gosford three weeks later. Up to 1300m, winkers go on for the first time and A Bullock rides. MARAIS (4) has placed in nine of his 12 starts including second placings in both runs at this track. Drops back to provincial grade after his fifth to Regimental Colours at Warwick Farm. SOUND BANKER (9) debuted with a length second to Ragga Ragga at Warwick Farm last July before a fourth to Enriched three weeks later. Under a hold in both recent trials.
Bet: Louisburgh to win
RACE 4: AIR CONTROL AUSTRALIA MIDWAY 3YO MAIDEN HANDICAP 1400m
RIGHTEOUS LEGEND (1) resumed with a handy second to Mignonette over 1250m here followed by a second to Carnegie Hill over 1300m at Hawkesbury. Battled away when fifth to Homeric on a Heavy 8 at Kembla last start. By Justify from a Group 2 winner over 2000m, he will appreciate stepping up in trip. TAWFIQ TOM (5) is knocking on the door after placings in three of his four runs this campaign. Backing up from a second behind Procean over this track and distance last week. JEWEL COUNTY (4) was okay when fourth on a heavy track here over 1250m on debut on Ap23. Has since trialled and can run well.
Bet: Righteous Legend to win
RACE 5: CHILL-RITE CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1400m
CARNEGIE HILL (3) improved from his first campaign into his second where he placed in two of his three starts including a nose second to Sarrismo at Hawkesbury first-up. Kicked off this campaign with a smart win from Righteous Legend over 1300m at Hawkesbury. TANGO QUEEN (11) is building towards another win. followed a third to Correon here with a head second to Miss Spacegirl over 1200m and a second to Pick Up The Tab over 1400m both at Kembla. Drawn well and gets a 2kg claim. HOMERIC (7) was forced to race wide without cover from the 800m when third at Kembla first-up before a neck win there second-up.
Bet: Carnegie Hill to win
RACE 6: BRIGHT AND DUGGAN PROVINCIAL BENCHMARK 68 HANDICAP 1250m
AFRICAN DAISY (1) was safely held in two starts last spring in city grade including a Midway at Rosehill. Kicked off her previous campaign with a neck second over 1200m at Warwick Farm. Nice win in her June 2 Beaumont trial. PRESIDES (5) has only missed a place twice in 11 starts and was fourth in the other two. Scored a narrow win from Koios over 1200m here in March before three minor placings at Kembla, the latest a head third to Hyperbolic. SATNESS (6) struggled over 1600m on the heavy at Kembla last start. Has been freshened and drops back to 1250m.
Bet: African Daisy each-way
RACE 7: DAIKIN AUSTRALIA CLASS 1 HANDICAP 1200m
QUEEN'S RHAPSODY (2) started off her preparation with a smart win from Missie Lee over 1100m at Hawkesbury. Scratched from last weekend's meeting here. Will appreciate stepping up to 1200m. CALIFORNIA SECRET (5) went back to last from the outside gate in the field of 13 and stormed home to score a smart win from Star Prediction over 1280m at Muswellbrook first-up. Placed over 1500m here last preparation. HIPPOLYTE ROCK (1) was green on debut when fifth at Rosehill. Nice win over this track and trip on Mar 20.
Bet: Queen's Rhapsody to win
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