Shayne O'Cass's best bets, inside mail for Bathurst and Casino on Monday, August 18, 2025
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BATHURST TIPS
BEST BET
Race 1 No.3 SENJUTSU: Bjorn Baker debutant; $250,000 yearling blueblood, trialled well.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No.4 BUFF IN DISGUISE: Boasts some exceptional numbers at the track and the distance.
VALUE
Race 2 No.4 BRANDYWINE: Winless at 39 starts but this looks like it might be the day.
QUADDIE
Race 4: 2,6,7
Race 5: 8,11,12
Race 6: 4
Race 7: 1,4,11,12
JOCKEY TO FOLLOW
Winona Costin will be awfully hard to beat in the TAB Jockeys Challenge.
BATHURST INSIDE MAIL
SLUSH FUND (2) is by the Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and a grandson of the 1997 Slipper placegetter Regal Chamber. Slush Fund has four placings and two wins in just eight starts under the Clint Lundholm management and best of all, he's on a hat-trick. HINUNE (6) really hasn't run a bad race in all half dozen starts thus far. She spelled off a Super Maiden win and has come back and trialled up nicely again. GEOSTORM (10) is the sentimental tip, the omen tip, lining up here in the race named after him.
BET: SLUSH FUND (2) to win, quinella 2,6.
SHEZASIREN (8) has raced six times and all of them in stronger races than this one. Her best run so far was a length third at Moruya to subsequent TAB Highway winner Urafiki. Deanne Panya rode that day and heads west to partner with her again. Go well. THAIBEEFSALADE (12) was scratched from Moruya on Sunday. Drawn the outside gate here but her 'best' probably gets her a medal of some description. FRENCH HARP (11) is invariably thereabouts.
BET: SHEZASIREN (8) each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 8, 2nd Leg 12 (or if scratched, 1).
BUFF IN DISGUISE (4) 's career record is 47 starts for 6 wins and 10 placings, all quite commendable for a stayer, but what does make the Ron 'Manawanui' Leemon trained son of USA St Leger Stakes winner and Caulfield Cup runner-up Dandino so likeable today is that his record at the track/trip is three starts for a win and a third. DRUNKER SAILOR (3), James Ponsonby's $1,2500 purchase and now winner of $65,520 won his Maiden here in great style. Been good ever since and really does go well for Winona Costin.
BET: BUFF IN DISGUISE (4) to win, quinella 3,4, box trifecta 1,2,3,4.
MARVEL MAN (12) is a dual acceptor, this one and race three on the card. Drew 10 of 10 in that one, has barrier 1 in this one. Long story short with him, he was building up to that last start win and it was a monster win too! WANDERING JACK (1) is trained by last Saturday's TAB Highway winner, Mick Mulholland. The Chad Lever mount is first-up on Monday, keeping in mind that his fresh record is one win, one second and one third from four 'goes'. Placed twice here at the venue. KEADOOL (4) is a last start winner.
BET: MARVEL MAN (12) to win.
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CASINO TIPS
BEST BET
Race 3 No.12 KIRKALL: Kris Lees' Ole Kirk son ran second in a deep maiden on debut.
NEXT BEST
Race 6 No.2 HIDDEN HAIL: Goes on all surfaces but has a 50 per cent win rate on Heavy.
VALUE
Race 7 No.1 SNOW FALCON: Last start Heavy 8 winner at Port Mac with a big weight.
LAY OF THE DAY
Race 4 No.2 TRUE FAIRY: Has some genuine competition in the race (provided they all start, major scratchings anticipated).
CASINO INSIDE MAIL
ARCHIE MAXIMUS (3) was sold as a weanling for $10,000 and has already won back $8,450 of that in three starts. The Matthew Dunn trained colt placed at Casino on debut and seems comfortable enough in the Soft 7 range. Stablemate GLAM (10) was $20 into $13 on debut at Doomben on April 4 when a close-up fifth. Spelled, trialled well at Deagon on August 5. Locally-trained INTELLIGENCER (11) has to be forgiven for the first-up run at Grafton.
BET: ARCHIE MAXIMUS (3) to win, INTELLIGENCER (11) to place.
HIDDEN HAIL (2) arrives here in good form having posted consecutive thirds at Grafton and Port mac at his last two. He carried big weights each time and there were pretty strong benchmark 58s, certainly stronger than how this one is looking with all the likely scratchings. EAGLE'S FIRE (5) has only one win in 19 starts but he has placed eight times. Soft track form is rock solid. Stablemates GOT THE SMARTS (7) and MAWSONS EXPEDITION (6) are major players (if they come).
BET: HIDDEN HAIL (2) to win.
SNOW FALCON (1) has raced in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and plenty of times here in New South Wales. Monday will be the Grafton based daughter of Lonhro's first visit to Casino. The Shane Everson-trained mare is coming off a rather dominant win at Port Macquarie carrying 61kg; the same weight as today. BRAVE INSTINCTION (9) seems to fancy some cut in the ground which he is assured of on Monday. HARD TO DISMISS (7) is a reliable each-way style of horse.
TORQUE TI AMO (7) is a valuable broodmare prospect later on, boasting Eight Carat as her sixth dam via Cotehele House (mother of Commands and Danewin). Trained by Matthew Dunn so it wouldn't surprise to see this mare in a Highway before too long. Speaking of well bred, the locally-housed IN THE BLINK (11) is by Pierro and a granddaughter of Bob Scarborough's Blue Diamond winner, Sleek Chassis. She'll be first run for Ethan Ensby here and those trials are better than they read.
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