Sapphire Coast preview, best bets, inside mail for Sunday, June 8, 2025
Trainer Anthony Mountney is banking on King Charles' love of the Sapphire Coast track to overcome a jump in grade and a tricky inside draw.
King Charles has built a strong record on the southern New South Wales track with two wins, two seconds and fourth from five starts.
His charged home to win two runs ago before a second to The Unique Star who has since won at Warwick Farm during the week.
While those two runs were in Benchmark 58 races over 1007m and 1010m respectively, he steps up to 1212m in the Benchmark 66 Handicap where he drawn barrier 1.
'He really does race well at the track,' said Mountney.
'The wetter the better it would be for him. I would look for a really wet track somewhere else for him but he just enjoys the track there so much.
'There is a bit of speed in this race so that should allow him to get off the fence.
'The draw down low in the gates isn't ideal for him. He's a horse who likes to come out wider down the centre of the track.
'He's a funny horse. He's got form over 1000 metres and two wins over a mile but hasn't got anything in between.
'He is strong late and has won on the soft there before including two starts back although he is a heavy track specialist.
'His confidence is up and I expect him to run well. He just needs to get away from the rail.'
While Mountney would love the track to be in the heavy range for King Charles, it's the opposite for stablemate Vis I Do who would appreciate a dry track.
The five-year-old failed on the wet at his only run at the Sapphire Coast two starts ago before a solid length second behind Grinzinger Moon on a Good 4 at Albury last time out.
'He failed at his last start here because it was a heavy track and he just doesn't handle wet tracks,' he said.
'I took him to Albury and I thought he ran a fabulous race back on top of the ground.
'He didn't get to follow the right horse into the race while the leader was doing it's own thing.
'With the right run into it, I think he could have stretched the winner.'
That was over 1175m but the gelding drops back a little in trip when he lines up in the Class 3 Handicap (1010m) although Mountney isn't too concerned.
ðŸŒ' Grinzinger Moon brains them and makes it four straight at Albury! pic.twitter.com/hcuymW2oby
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 16, 2025
'He is coming back in trip but I don't think that will worry him,' he said.
'I have kept him very fresh and his work has been super.'
Mountney also has two three-year-olds making their race debut together in the Super Maiden Handicap (1212m) and expects both to acquit themselves very well.
Luminesce rolled forward to take the lead and held on to win her first barrier trial at Kembla on May 12 before sitting back and wide when last without being pushed in her second heat on Wednesday.
'She is a filly with a fair bit of quality and one we have had a fair bit of time for,' Mountney said.
'Naturally she is still learning and can do things wrong.
'If she has her mind on the job, she will be very strong in this race.'
Pancake Pete also had his only trial at Kembla on May 12 when held into the straight when fifth.
'He's has been working particularly well at home with Jacob's Time. He breezed up lovely on Friday morning,' he said.
'He will probably be the longest odds of all my horses but he is worth a little each-way bet.'
ADAM SHERRY'S TOP SELECTIONS
BEST BET
Race 5 No. 8: VEGAS DREAM
Winner and a close second in his two runs at the track and distance.
NEXT BEST
Race 3 No. 4: LOAFER
Nice second at her NSW debut and can go one better.
VALUE BET
Race 7 No. 1: OWN THEM
Brazilian Derby and Hong Kong 2000m winner. Will appreciate the step up in trip and drop in grade.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 2, 3, 5
Race 5: 2, 8
Race 6: 3, 4, 11
Race 7: 1, 4, 5
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
RICHARD BENSLEY looks a good chance to land a winning double.
INSIDE MAIL – SAPPHIRE COAST
RACE 1: BEGA CUP 2 DAY CARNIVAL JAN 31 - FEB 1 2026 COUNTRY BOOSTED MAIDEN PLATE 1413m
VIVEK (6) ran a handy third over 1300m at Moruya first-up then was checked a couple of times in the straight losing his momentum when seventh over 1410m here on May 4. Dropped back to 1010m and was wide throughout when seventh here three weeks later. Back to 1413m suits. CONJOIN (1) is backing up from a well beaten 10th at Goulburn last week. Has placed five times including a half-length third on a Soft 7 here. IDEELIC (2) will improve off his first-up fourth over 1280m on the Canberra Acton track on May 23.
SESTO (2) raced greenly on debut when fifth to the progressive Sparklenglitter who remain unbeaten in three starts. Raced outside the leader and boxed on for third to Consorting One over this track and distance three weeks ago. MCTOMINAY (1) is on debut. Was second in two Victorian jumpouts before moving to the Luke Pepper stable. Led all-the-way to win his trial here on May 18. MOVER AND SHAKER (6) appreciated a drop back in trip and to country grade when a closing fifth at Canberra last start before a spell. Wasn't pushed when fourth in his recent Kembla trial.
LOAFER (4) changed stables mid-preparation and made her NSW debut for the Scott Collings yard with a half-length second behind Choice Witness at Corowa on May 19. Drawn well here and can go one better. CYCLONE RUPERT (2) has been on the heels of the placegetters at his last four starts, the latest a fourth behind A Pound Of Salt in a 1200m TAB Highway at Randwick two weeks ago. Drops back to 1010m here but will figure prominently. MISS SCOOP (7) has a win and two placings from three runs here. Will be thereabouts again from the inside draw.
SHE'S IN OVERDRIVE (3) began fairly from the inside gate and settled down a little worse than midfield before working home for second behind Consorting One over 1010m on debut here on may 18. Will be better for the experience and looks like she will appreciate the step up to 1212m. INCHYRA (2) ran in the Super Maiden here over this distance that same day and closed nicely through the pack from last to finish second behind Platinum Ridge. Drawn to settle closer. LUMINESCE (5) was good winning her May 12 trial at Kembla and wasn't pushed in her heat there on Wednesday.
VEGAS DREAM (8) led all-the-way to beat Star Bling over this track and distance on a Heavy 9 before returning a month later with a nose second behind Capital Heart. Stepped up in grade when sixth behind Equilibrist. Drawn ideally. CAPITAL HEART (2) resumed from a spell without an official trial with that all-the-way win from Vegas Dream. Raced in TAB Highways last campaign including a two length sixth to Everido and Sunchyme at Kembla on The Gong Day. KING CHARLES (14) loves racing at this track where he has two wins over 1000m, two seconds and a fourth. Yet to place in seven runs at the 1200m but has won over 1600m.
MAJOR DESIRE (11) hadn't placed in three first-up runs until kicking off this preparation with a length second behind the in-form Hell Of A Fox over 1212m here three weeks ago. Will appreciate stepping up in distance. Runner-up at his only other run here over this trip. PLATINUM RIDGE (4), the half-brother to stakes winner Opal Ridge, was given a long spell after a debut seventh at Muswellbrook last July. Worked forward to lead and held out Inchyra to score by a length when resuming here three weeks ago. KOTAICHI (3) raced wide when down the track in the Highway at Hawkesbury two run ago before a fourth to Hell Of A Fox at Goulburn last start.
OWN THEM (1) found the 1200m too short when resuming in a Bm 74 at Wagga on May 2. The Brazilian Derby winner came to Australia via Hong Kong where he was a winner over 2000m and won at his first start here in a Bm 66 over 1300m at Goulburn. Will appreciate the step up to the mile and drop back in grade. REMADOSI (4) was beaten less than three lengths by Dupli Kate in the MTC Guineas at Wagga before a short half head second to Naval Officer at Parkes. EVOKES (5) closed strongly from near last to win comfortably here two runs back. Made up a lot of ground at Goulburn last start.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
5 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
‘What else is he meant to do?': GWS gun taken out in brutal bump
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. GWS Giants star Lachie Whitfield got cleaned up by a brutal bump against the Gold Coast Suns, but Suns spearhead Ben King is expected to escape punishment for the hit. The incident occurred late in the first quarter of the clash between two AFL expansion sides on Sunday afternoon in Sydney, as GWS claimed a thrilling seven-point win. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. A bouncing ball made its way towards Whitfield, but before he could collect it, King knocked Whitfield over with a heavy hip and shoulder. Whitfield was taken down to the Giants changerooms and was ruled out of the game with concussion, replaced by substitute Jake Stringer in the second quarter. Fox Footy's Alastair Lynch said: 'Ben King comes in and certainly his left shoulder hits Lachie Whitfield in the jaw and he goes down. Watch the bump on Lachie Whitfield in the video above Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. 'He stayed out on the ground but he was assessed by video and they got him off the ground. 'I think Ben King should be right with that one. He was looking to protect the ball with his body and he hits Lachie Whitfield at the same time.' Fox Footy Tribunal expert David Zita said: 'Ben King was contesting the ball reasonably here, I think. He was running through the line. I don't know what else he was supposed to do in that situation. 'I don't think the action was a reportable offence. I don't see him having anything to worry about. What else is he meant to do?' Lachie Whitfield got crunched by Ben King. Photo: Fox Footy. The bump is certainly not dead — Geelong's Tom Stewart was cleared of any wrongdoing for his crunching bump on Gold Coast's Noah Anderson earlier this month. GWS recovered from a poor first quarter to claim a thrilling comeback win over the Suns to consolidate their position in the top eight. Gold Coast kicked four goals in the first four minutes of the game to take a big early lead, posting seven goals to four in a dominant opening quarter. But the Giants fought back and took the lead midway through the final quarter, kicking eight goals to three in the final term. 'It's a classic game, everybody is lifting,' Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy. Stringer and GWS captain Toby Greene kicked two goals each as the Giants surged in front in a highscoring final quarter, holding on to win 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99). 'This is exactly why we got him here and he'll just get better,' Greene said about Stringer post-game. The Suns have never won at ENGIE Stadium in Sydney and will slip out of the top eight, while the Giants head to the bye after recording wins over Brisbane and Gold Coast. Originally published as 'What else is he meant to do?': GWS gun taken out in brutal bump
Daily Telegraph
5 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Broncos v Sharks live scores, updates: Reece Walsh injury
Welcome to our live coverage of a Sunday NRL triple header, which kicks off with the Broncos and Sharks locking horns at Suncorp Stadium. Keep up to date with all the action from Broncos-Sharks, followed by Roosters-Cowboys and Eels-Titans with our live blog below. Originally published as NRL Round 16: Broncos v Sharks, Roosters v Cowboys, Eels v Titans live scores, updates
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
NRL world tears into Nicho Hynes for flop as rugby league world commend common sense officiating
NRL fans have torn into Nicho Hynes after an embarrassing dive in the Sharks' 34-28 defeat to the Broncos on Sunday afternoon. Cronulla looked in complete control in the first half before Brisbane roared to life in the second term, piling on the points to produce an incredible comeback victory that Michael Maguire will hope kickstarts their season. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. However, it was Hynes' effort to stall Brisbane's comeback that raised a lot of eyebrows. With the Sharks up 28-18, the Broncos manufactured an overlap on the left edge. And in a desperate attempt to turn the momentum, Hynes appeared to make the conscious decision to seek out Jack Gosiewski, throwing himself to the ground after minor contact appealing for an obstruction penalty. Broncos winger Josiah Karapani then finished off the sweeping play by putting the ball in the corner, with referee Wyatt Raymond awarding the try. You can watch the controversial try in the player above. But with a hint of obstruction, many felt it was a certainty that the young winger's try would be taken away. 'We can't let him get away with this,' Andrew Voss exclaimed in Fox Sports commentary. 'I know we have seen things similar before but please. If this is given a no-try he gets an acting job with Neighbours. 'Everyone stops and throws their arms up, what have we created here?' In recent years almost every time an attacker makes contact with the defender, a penalty goes to the defensive team. It has seen many players deliberately seek out contact to avoid a try being conceded or to turn momentum. But this time the Bunker didn't overturn the decision, in what many felt was a line in the sand moment. 'I think that's a hallelujah moment for the game on obstruction and I hope that everyone learns a lesson there,' Voss continued. While NRL great Cooper Cronk was relieved common sense was applied by officials. 'Nicho Hynes has gone to act as if he's been obstructed,' Cooper Cronk continued. 'Well done referee, well done bunker. Cronulla Sharks are looking for a shortcut. As for the NRL world, they tore into Hynes and hoped the call signalled a new era of players seeking contact not fooling officials. 'That is a terrible dive by Nicho,' one fan wrote on X. 'Common sense prevailed with a faux obstruction claim,' another added. 'I hope that's a sign of what is to come. Justice served there,' a third said. While a fourth added: 'Haha that's just sad from Hynes'.
