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.
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