LES Bridge has already seen Highjacker and Gaytime Girl perform at the races but he thinks a horse on debut is his best winning chance at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Helga debuts for Bridge in the Australian Turf Club Plate (1200m) for two-year-old fillies and she was rated a $5.50 chance with the TAB on Tuesday.

“I thought she’d be a bit shorter than that,” Bridge said when told of the price. Helga is by Duporth out of Brunnhilde, who Bridge trained to three victories, including one in town, in a 15-start career. “She looks like her and her mother was a handy filly,” he said.

MATT JONES’S BEST BETS
BEST BET: SEAHAMPTON (Race 7, No. 7)

She just looks to be a class above them and is a horse who has a top trainer/jockey combination to guide her.

NEXT BEST: SPARKLY STAR (Race 1, No. 4)

This horse should be ready to win first-up at preparation No. 2 when you look at his trials. He has a great trainer and jockey to help him get the job done.

VALUE BET: RAKHISH (Race 5, No. 7)

He shouldn’t start favourite but has good enough form and potential to be. His trail behind a Saturday winner was a gem.

QUADDIE
Race 4: 1, 2, 3, 6; Race 5: 2, 7, 8; Race 6: 2, 5, 6; Race 7: 4, 7, 8

TRAINER TO WATCH
CHRIS WALLER might sound like an obvious pick but he could train six or more winners here and training the card isn’t the most outrageous thing that could happen.

JOCKEY TO WATCH
JAMES MCDONALD has five rides. Chalmers and Seahampton are leading his charge but the others can win, too.

Helga comes off an encouraging trial when third to Ljungberg, who came out to run second in town, and Make ‘Em Cry who ran at Randwick last Saturday.

She settled towards the back of the field in that trial but looked really strong over the final 200m and Tim Clark takes the ride from barrier eight.

She will likely be worse than midfield again in the running.

“I think she’ll run a good race and I like her the best out of my three because she’s more forward than the others,” Bridge said.

“She’d be a chance in the race if she gets a bit of luck in the run because she’ll get back a bit.”

Highjacker could start the day off well for Bridge if he wins the first race on the card over 1100m. He’s by High Chaparral and like Helga he was looking great over the concluding stages of his 1050m lead-up trial.

Bridge bought him for $200,000 thinking he’d be a great staying prospect and he still might be but for now he could turn some heads at the sprinting distances.

He’s got great Group 1 bloodlines and comes out of gate two as a $4.40 chance while Sparkly Star is set to start a short priced favourite for Gerald Ryan and Brenton Avdulla.

But Highjacker will be running on late and will have the last crack at them.

“He’s been going well and is well bred,” Bridge said. “His second dam is a half-sister to Saintly so he’ll be a stayer but I think he’ll run all right on debut based on his trails where he surprised me a bit.”

Bridge said it would be interesting to see what he does over Wednesday’s trip in a small field.

“Had had more dash than I thought and I think he’ll run well,” he said. “We bought him as a stayer and he’s first-up over 1100m, but on those trials he won’t disgrace himself.

“It’s just a matter of whether he’s quick enough over 1100m but we’ll find out.”

Gaytime Girl races in the final race of the day for Bridge, a Benchmark 74 Handicap (1300m) and she drops in grade after running sixth to Princess Posh at Rosehill on June 2.

“She’ll run all right but she doesn’t win out of turn,” Bridge said. “She’s got a hope though.”

INSIDE MAIL WITH MATT JONES

RACE 1 (12.50pm)
4. Sparkly Star is the one punters wanted as soon as markets came out. He comes off a trial win and should be a different horse this preparation. 1. Highjacker isn’t bred for a short trip but Les Bridge believes he will race well from what he’s seen at home and at his two lead-up trials. And stayers can sprint first-up, anyway. 7. Sweet Scandal is a first-starter for Chris Waller and he rarely brings them to town on debut unless he has confidence in them. She’s had a trail win to boost her confidence. 6. Music was hitting the line well last start so expect him to improve further.

BETTING STRATEGY: SPARKLY STAR to win.

RACE 2 (1.25pm)
7. Helga was finishing off a lead-up trial well behind Ljungberg, who went out and ran second in town. Les Bridge is expecting a nice debut run. 1. Bubbles‘N’Troubles won her lead-up trail but 12. Reelem In Ruby was cruising behind her and looks to be ready for a big run now. 13. Singing Sand just had too much to do from the rear of the field on debut but she was doing her best work late and will improve a lot. 3. Echo Gem looked the goods in her trial and the stable is excellent at educating juveniles.

BETTING STRATEGY: Quinella 12, 13.

RACE 3 (2pm)
1. Tswalu looked sensational in her lead-up trial. She races well fresh, has won at the track and all her wins have come over this distance (1200m). The only query is she hasn’t run on a rain-affected surface before. 8. Mad Fox improves second-up but has a habit of finishing second. If he can start better he will give himself a chance. 3. Magicus was finishing off well last start, while 4. Florid has won on heavy ground so he has that advantage. Expect Jason Collett to try and give 7. El Dorado Mine a quieter run with cover this time so he can finish off.

BETTING STRATEGY: TSWALU to win.

RACE 4 (2.35pm)
1. Feelin The Love flies fresh and loves 1200m. So, despite having just one lead-up trail, she’s ready to race well and the wet track won’t matter. 3. Americana Magic is still improving but can win this along the way. The small break between runs is ideal for him and he comes off a top win at Wyong when starting for the first time as a gelding. 2. Connoisseur has done well at the provincials but now needs to do it in town. It’s worth noting that he ran less than two lengths behind star stablemate Viridine at his only crack in city grade. 6. Impasse is up to this field, too.

BETTING STRATEGY: Quinella 2, 3.

RACE 5 (3.10pm)
2. Chalmers was only beaten by a horse in top form last start in higher grade so expect him to be there when it counts and James McDonald sticks. McDonald rode 4. Cormac to a win two starts back, but it was tough one. He’s a horse who gives his all. 7. Rakhish has done more than enough at provincial level to come to town and his lead-up trial was very good behind Flow. 8. Toryjoy is well placed here and drops in grade after running well on a Saturday last time. The tune-up trail just kept him ticking over.

BETTING STRATEGY: RAKHISH to win.

RACE 6 (3.45pm)
2. Mornington probably should have a better winning record but this is the race for him. He’s not against the toughest opposition so is worth another chance. Stablemate 1. Follow Suit has a good record at the track and distance but is inconsistent. 5. Only Tiger isn’t and he did what he should have done at the provincials last start. The class rise isn’t beyond him. 6. Balansa may be on debut in town but that shouldn’t deter punters given his form and the fact James McDonald has taken the ride.

BETTING STRATEGY: MORNINGTON to win.

RACE 7 (4.20pm)
7. Seahampton is first-up over 1300m on a wet track with just one trial, which is a concern. But she looks to be the real deal after a classy win at Newcastle at her only run last preparation. 4. Oria has terrific form around her and can win here if she puts her best foot forward in a race that’s not overly strong. 8. Deft comes off a nice two-length win at Kembla Grange. Despite it being tough to come out and win in town soon after, she has the ability.

BETTING STRATEGY: SEAHAMPTON to win.