Gosford, Ballina best bets, inside mail for Thursday, June 12, 2025
Form expert Adam Sherry analyses Thursday's card at Gosford, presenting his best bets, value selection, quaddie and jockey to follow as well as his best bets for Ballina.
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GOSFORD
BEST BET
Race 4 No. 2: GOLDEN SMILE
Big all-the-way win two runs back. Back to provincial grade and hard to beat.
NEXT BEST
Has improved with each run and scored a good win last start. Strong chance again.
VALUE BET
Race 2 No. 2: DONWON
Coming off a nice win here last start. Nice chance again.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 2
Race 5: 1, 2, 6
Race 6: 2, 6
Race 7: 1, 3, 6
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
KERRIN MCEVOY looks a good chance in the TAB Jockey Challenge.
BALLINA
BEST BET
Race 7 No. 4: RAINBOW LASS
Just beaten here before winning her next two all on heavy ground. Can bring up the hat-trick.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No. 2: YALLA
Solid winner two starts ago. Back slightly in trip from his fourth over the mile.
INSIDE MAIL – GOSFORD
ZING TO ME (3) debuted with a closing second behind Agenda Setter at Hawkesbury last August and has been off the scene until stepping out in a Randwick trial on May 5. She shared the lead and held Glorious Moments. Led for a big win in her second trial at Rosehill from Infusion. JIMMY RECARD (5) was given a shot at the listed Debutant Stakes at Caulfield in the spring where he was eighth to Miss Celine. Closed nicely late for third to Quietly Arrogant in his May 30 Randwick trial. JUST LEGENDARY (6) is a first starter by Justify from the Waterhouse and Bott stable. Sat very wide in winning his Randwick trial then led all-the-way in his Rosehill heat.
DONWON (2) resumed with a handy second behind Secure over 1100m at Canterbury. Battled away when fifth to the progressive Queen's Rhapsody at Hawkesbury before scoring a smart win from Hard Rattle over 1000m here last start. Drawn well and will give this a shake. HAWKER HALL (3) kicked off his campaign with a three-and-half length win from He's Cool over 900m at Newcastle on Apr 23. Didn't race again until a fifth to Prima Bella over the same track and distance on May 26. HONEY PERFUME (6) broke her maiden with a big win at Goulburn and followed with a nose second to Shropshire Lad at Scone and a second to Divine Bene here.
LOUISBURGH (4) battled away when second behind Ninette in a Wyong Super Maiden first-up on May 8 before going don by a nose to Whispering Rupert over this track and distance three weeks later. Winkers go on. SIGNOR TORTONI (6) was pressured in front before going down by just over a half-length to Octa De Lago when resuming as a $1.35 favourite on a Heavy 9 at Goulburn on May 22. Given three weeks to get over the run. Was a close runner-up in two races on soft ground at Canterbury last time in.
GOLDEN SMILE (2) ran nice placings at her first three runs back from a spell. Appreciated stepping up to 1890m with a big maiden win at Newcastle before a fifth on the Kensington. Back to provincial grade and up to 2100m looks ideal. BOLD SPLENDOR (1) returned from a let-up with a fourth over 1600m at Coonabarabran before a two-and-a-half length fourth to Okami Star over the same trip here on May 29. Ready to step up to the 2100m. MR CONSPIRACY (5) closed from near last when fourth to Ant over 200m at Kembla.
UNUSUAL PROSPECT (1) was a close second over 2000m at his only run in England last November. Kicked off his Australian career with a strong closing head second to Gwendie over 1600m at Kembla on Jan 29. Hit the line smartly when third to Oso Spirited in his 1030m Rosehill trial. STEEL RAIN (8) boxed on okay for second behind Pick Up The Tab when resuming over 1200m at Kembla. Stepped up to 1500m and led when a head second to Fairhead at Goulburn last start. THE BEAST (3) has placed third in both run this campaign but hasn't looked entirely comfortable on the heavy tracks. He will appreciate getting back on a better surface.
COVERT THINKING (6) settled last and made ground along the rails on debut at Hawkesbury before closing nicely for a half-length second to Elivina over 1500m at Newcastle. Backed it up with a handy win over this track and distance on May 29. Gets in well with the 3kg claim. SURREAL I AM (2) kicked off his campaign with a good win at Sunshine Coast before a fifth at the Gold Coast. Bounced back with another nice win at the Sunshine Coast. OAKFIELD MAMSELLE (1) resumes here. Is a first-up winner and unbeaten at the trip.
BURJ (6) raced well in her first campaign including a debut win over 1300m in a Newcastle Super Maiden and a half-length second to C'mon mate at Kembla. Wasn't pushed when second to Sovereign Hill in her May 30 Randwick trial. DIDDLE DUMPLING (3) won her maiden over 1400m at Hawkesbury before a seventh in a Randwick Bm72 and fifth to Wooloowin at the Gold Coast. Kept under a hold with plenty to offer in both recent trials. POWER BALLARD (1) will appreciate a drop back to provincial grade and a claim.
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