| What | Rockhampton Newmarket Day 2022 |
| Where | Callaghan Park Racecourse – Reaney St, North Rockhampton QLD 4701 |
| When | Friday, July 8, 2022 |
| First Race | 12:22pm AEST |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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The 2022 Rockhampton Cup Carnival opens this Friday with the running of the $100,000 Rockhampton Newmarket (1300m). As of Wednesday morning, the track is a Heavy 10, but fine weather in the region over the coming days should lead to an improved rating by the time the first race comes around at 12:22pm AEST. The rail is out 2m for the entire course.
Read on for HorseBetting’s best bets and quaddie picks on Rockhampton Newmarket Day.
Rockhampton Newmarket Best Bet – Sir Warwick
Jake Capewell and Jim Byrne combine in Friday’s feature race with talented sprinter, Sir Warwick. The four-year-old son of Written Tycoon won The Fitzroy at this track and distance back in May, when leading most of the way to win by three quarters of a length. That race has proved to be a hot form race, with four subsequent winners coming out of it, while Sir Warwick has gone on to place in the Listed Eye Liner Stakes (1350m) at Ipswich. On that occasion, Sir Warwick had to overcome a wide barrier and maintain a strong gallop, so there was plenty of merit in his run. While Desert Lord got past him very late, Sir Warwick meets the David Vandyke-trained galloper 2.5kg better at the weights, and he comes back to 1300m – if the Eye Liner was 1300m and not 1350m, Sir Warwick would have beaten Desert Lord home. He will cross from barrier 10, control the race and slip away at the furlong pole.
Rockhampton Newmarket Best Bet
Race 7 – 
#5 Sir Warwick (10)
4yo Gelding | T: Jake Capewell | J: Jim Byrne (55.5kg)
$6.50 with Ladbrokes
Best Bet at Rockhampton – Ambitious Spirit
No, it’s not a mistake – Group 1-winning jockey William Pike is riding at Rocky on Friday and Saturday. In the opener, he hops aboard the Tony Gollan-trained Ambitious Spirit in what is a very winnable maiden. The four-year-old gelding has only missed the place once in his five-start career, and that was when first-up this preparation without a trial leading into it on a Heavy 8 track at Doomben. The son of Spirit Of Boom was much better last start back onto a Good 4, finishing a close third behind Argyle Pink and Primal Lockdown in good time. While barrier 14 is sticky, there is one big thing in this horse’s favour – a 600m home straight. Even if Pike does decide to save his petrol early and go back from the wide alley, the horse will have plenty of time to wind up and get the job done. He was placed third in the Magic Millions Maiden back in January, so if he brings a run like that to this Rockhampton Maiden Handicap, he will be winning.
Best Bet
Race 1 – 
#1 Ambitious Spirit (14)
4yo Gelding | T: Tony Gollan | J: William Pike (59kg)
$1.90 with Neds
Next Best at Rockhampton – Mill Rossa
This is quite a competitive Class 6 Handicap, with both Mill Rossa and The Lioness bringing some terrific form. We are siding with the former, who comes out of a nice race behind the classy Uncommon James at Eagle Farm on Tattersall’s Tiara Day. Prior to that, the four-year-old won back-to-back races in good time at Toowoomba, including a win over Jakama who won on Ipswich Cup Day. Staying at 1200m will suit, while the booking of local apprentice Tahlia Fenlon is a good one as she rides the Rockhampton track very well. With the 2kg claim getting this Testa Rossa’s weight down to 58.5kg, he should take plenty of beating in a race like this.
Next Best
Race 5 – 
#1 Mill Rossa (4)
4yo Gelding | T: Mark Currie | J: Tahlia Fenlon (a2)(60.5kg)
$3.20 with Palmerbet
Best Value at Rockhampton – Menschkeit
Benny Crear and Nathan Day combine in race four with a nice horse in Menschkeit. The son of Instinction was trapped a bit deep for a part of the race last start here at Rockhampton over 1500m, so he was entitled to knock up a bit late when third behind Better Ask Roy and Bayerische. Now out to the mile and in arguably a weaker race, the four-year-old gelding should be pretty hard to beat. From barrier seven, Nathan Day – who rides very well in Rockhampton – will be able to look for a forward position on the grey-brown gelding, which will give him every chance to get in the winner’s stall. Outside of Dollar Dollar, there isn’t a great deal of speed in the race, so Day and Menschkeit can lob in the first couple and take plenty of beating.
Best Value
Race 4 – 
#1 Menschkeit (7)
4yo Gelding | T: Benny Crear | J: Nathan Day (59kg)
$11 with Palmerbet
Friday quaddie tips for Rockhampton Newmarket Day 2022
Rockhampton quadrella selections
Friday, July 8, 2022
- 1-2
- 1-6-7
- 2-5-7
- 5-7-8-11
Investment: $72 for 100%
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