Overview
Christmas Star has run five times at Sapphire Coast and finished in the first three every time, winning twice. She lines up in the Bermagui Cup with Pierre Boudvillain back on board, and that rider and the B Joseph & P & M Jones stable have won six of their nine races together at this track.
That partnership is the thread through these Sapphire Coast racing tips. The track is rated Good for a seven-race Thursday card that starts with a maiden over 1000m at 2:15PM and finishes with a benchmark 58 sprint at 5:55PM. The Bermagui Cup at 4:00PM is the feature, and the last four races make up the quaddie. Only the first two races had markets up when this was written, so the prices quoted below come from those races. Below you’ll find the riders and stables with real records here, a view on every race, and where we’d put the money.
Sapphire Coast: the setup
There is more horse form at the track than a country card usually gives you. Ten of today’s runners have been here at least three times, and two of them have never missed a place.
| Horse | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Star | 5 | 2 | 5 | 40.0 | 100.0 |
| Casino Shaw | 3 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 100.0 |
| I Doubt It | 3 | 1 | 3 | 33.3 | 100.0 |
| Miss Scoop | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0.0 | 75.0 |
| London Star | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33.3 | 66.7 |
| Setta Icon | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0.0 | 66.7 |
| Navajo Code | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Nagadec | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 | 33.3 |
| Walk Up Start | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ladylike | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Amy McLucas has the deepest record among today’s riders, with 34 rides here for seven wins, and she finishes in the first three more often than not. Pierre Boudvillain wins more often, eight from 29.
| Jockey | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brodie Loy | 10 | 2 | 6 | 20.0 | 60.0 |
| Amy McLucas | 34 | 7 | 18 | 20.6 | 52.9 |
| Jordan Quince | 8 | 2 | 4 | 25.0 | 50.0 |
| Pierre Boudvillain | 29 | 8 | 14 | 27.6 | 48.3 |
| Claire Ramsbotham | 27 | 4 | 13 | 14.8 | 48.1 |
| Nick Heywood | 13 | 1 | 6 | 7.7 | 46.2 |
| C Keatings | 31 | 4 | 12 | 12.9 | 38.7 |
| J Taylor | 32 | 5 | 11 | 15.6 | 34.4 |
| Trainer | Runs | Wins | Places | Win% | Place% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G Backhouse | 7 | 3 | 5 | 42.9 | 71.4 |
| N J Olive | 22 | 5 | 15 | 22.7 | 68.2 |
| Anthony Mountney | 11 | 1 | 6 | 9.1 | 54.5 |
| B Joseph & P & M Jones | 56 | 13 | 30 | 23.2 | 53.6 |
| Mitchell Beer & George Carpenter | 15 | 3 | 8 | 20.0 | 53.3 |
| Luke Pepper | 22 | 2 | 11 | 9.1 | 50.0 |
| T Bateup | 41 | 9 | 17 | 22.0 | 41.5 |
The Joseph and Jones stable has sent 56 runners here for 13 winners, more than anyone else on the card, and it has four runners today. N J Olive brings two, and his horses fill a place at better than two in three of their Sapphire Coast starts.
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Sapphire Coast race by race
Race 1: Bermagui Cellars Mdn Plate, 2:15PM, 1000m
Camden Cove has the only proper form line in this maiden. Three starts have produced a fourth, a third and a fourth, so he has been close without getting there, and the market has him clear favourite at $2.10 with Unibet. Glenn Cahill rides at 57.5kg.
Dartanu is the danger. He hasn’t raced, but he comes from T Bateup, who has trained nine winners here, and J Taylor rides. Bet Right has him at $3.40, which tells you the stable expects a run. Cat’s Eye, another debutant, is $5 with Bet Right. Camden Cove is short enough that the win is the only bet worth having, and only a small one.
Race 2: Bermagui Country Club Country Boosted (Bm58), 2:50PM, 1600m
Why is I Doubt It the third pick in a five-horse field? It has been to Sapphire Coast three times and finished in the first three on all three, with a win. G Backhouse has won three of his seven starts at the track and placed with five, and Pierre Boudvillain rides. The recent form is the reason for the price: one placing from four runs in the last 90 days, and fifth last time. That is why $4.60 with Bet Right looks generous for a horse that keeps turning up here.
Dundeel Flyer is the favourite at $2.50 with Unibet after running second two starts back, and Brodie Loy has placed on six of his ten rides here. Delago Serg won on his only visit and is $4 with Bet Right, but he hasn’t placed in two runs since. Each-way on I Doubt It.
Race 3: Bega District News Mdn Hcp, 3:25PM, 1200m
Setta Icon ran second at his only start in the last 90 days and has placed in two of three runs at this track. That is the most solid form in a weak maiden, and Q Krogh takes the ride for Anthony Mountney at 57kg.
Farsain is the one to fear. He ran second on his only start here, though he hasn’t placed in his last three runs, and J Taylor rides for T Bateup. Cumulate has placed at four of his five starts but had no rider listed when this was written. No market yet. Each-way Setta Icon.
Race 4: Forbes Stynes Property Group Bermagui Cup (Bm82), 4:00PM, 1000m
Christmas Star knows this track better than anything else in the race. Five starts at Sapphire Coast, two wins, and never worse than third. The last of them was a win in May, with Pierre Boudvillain riding for B Joseph & P & M Jones, and that pair has six wins and eight placings from nine rides together here. Boudvillain is back on today.
The worry is the recent run. She was fifth at her only start in the last 90 days, so she needs to step forward. But she has 55kg, the same as most of the field, and a track record no rival can match. London Star is the danger: a win and two placings from three runs here, second last start, and Amy McLucas riding for T Bateup. Selhurst Park, with a win and two placings from three recent runs, gets in light with 52kg. No prices were up when this was written. Back Christmas Star to win, with London Star the saver.
Race 5: Bega Landscape Supplies Hcp (C1), 4:35PM, 1400m
This is the shape question on the card. Will The Thinker has form figures of 2, 3, 6, 1 and 3, so he is always somewhere near the finish, and he ran third on his only visit here. He carries the top weight of 59kg, but he has Pierre Boudvillain again for the same Joseph and Jones stable, and that combination keeps coming back to the same answer at this track.
Vanrosa is the main threat. She won once and placed twice from four runs in the last 90 days, ran second last start and gets in with 55kg. Brundee Tom won on his only start here, but he hasn’t placed at either run since. Flying Maurice won two runs back and has the lightest weight of any runner who has won lately. Win bet on Will The Thinker, with a saver on Vanrosa.
Race 6: Bega Cup Carnival January 30 & 31 Country Boosted Mdn Hcp, 5:15PM, 1400m
De Razilly ran fourth and then second at his two starts in the last 90 days, and he is the maiden ready to win. C Keatings rides for N J Olive, whose runners fill a place at more than two in three starts here.
Edika ran second at her only start in that period and gets 3.5kg less than De Razilly. That weight is the real danger, with Glenn Cahill riding. Monnie ran third on her only start here. Prince Ella is unraced, but Pierre Boudvillain takes the ride for C E Ritchie. Win bet on De Razilly.
Race 7: Bermagui Motor Works (Bm58), 5:55PM, 1200m
Merchant Reign comes here as a last-start winner and has finished in the first three in all three of his runs in the last 90 days. He has 60.5kg, the second-highest weight in the race, but the form has earned it. Amy McLucas rides for Luke Clarke.
The contrast is Casino Shaw, who has had three starts here and placed in all three, including a win, and gets 3.5kg less. Jade McKenzie rides for S W Coady. Navajo Code has won two of three in the last 90 days but finished fourth last start with 60kg, and he hasn’t won here in three tries. Ciao Bella Mia has placed in four of six recent runs and won one of her two starts here, though she hasn’t won in the last 90 days. Win bet on Merchant Reign, with Casino Shaw in the exacta.
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18+ T&C’s Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Where the money goes
NAP: Christmas Star (Race 4, 4:00PM). Five visits, five placings, and the rider and stable that have won six of nine together here. The fifth last start is the only reason she won’t be shorter.
Value: I Doubt It (Race 2, 2:50PM), $4.60 with Bet Right. Third pick in a field of five despite placing on all three trips to Sapphire Coast.
Banker: Merchant Reign (Race 7, 5:55PM). Three runs in the last 90 days, three placings, and a win last time. That kind of consistency is what a multi needs.
Each-way: Setta Icon (Race 3, 3:25PM). Second last start and placed in two of three here, in a maiden without much depth.
Course angle: Pierre Boudvillain on a Joseph and Jones runner. Christmas Star and Will The Thinker give the pairing two chances today.
Quaddie (Races 4 to 7): Christmas Star, London Star / Will The Thinker, Vanrosa / De Razilly, Edika / Merchant Reign, Casino Shaw, Navajo Code.
If Boudvillain and the Jones stable win at their usual rate here, the Bega Cup carnival in January will start with them as the side to follow.
Sapphire Coast racing FAQ
What time does racing start at Sapphire Coast today?
The first race, the Bermagui Cellars Mdn Plate over 1000m, goes at 2:15PM. The last, the Bermagui Motor Works (Bm58) over 1200m, is at 5:55PM. The Bermagui Cup is Race 4 at 4:00PM.
Who are the top jockeys and trainers at Sapphire Coast?
Amy McLucas has the most rides here among today’s jockeys, with seven wins and 18 placings from 34. Pierre Boudvillain has eight wins from 29. B Joseph & P & M Jones has the most winners at the track, 13 from 56, and N J Olive has placed with 15 of his 22 runners.
What are the best bets at Sapphire Coast today?
Christmas Star in Race 4 is our NAP after five placings from five starts here. I Doubt It in Race 2 is the value at $4.60 with Bet Right, and Merchant Reign in Race 7 is the banker.
Where can I find the best odds for Sapphire Coast races?
Compare the bookmakers in our table above. When this was written, Unibet had the best price on Camden Cove ($2.10) and Dundeel Flyer ($2.50), and Bet Right had the best on Dartanu ($3.40) and I Doubt It ($4.60).