Gosford Tips and Best Bets for December 2

Trainer Brad Widdup looks to have found quite a weak Maiden for this resuming son of Headwater on Wednesday who brings comfortably the best form lines for this contest off a first preparation that included two placing's.

Free State began his journey with a second (well held behind Sahra although she placed behind North Pacific at her next start) in a 1000m Maiden that rated well for that Kembla Grange program and followed that with a third at Warwick Farm behind a handy Smart Image (Saturday winner at his next outing) in a field that has produced three more subsequent winners.

Returning as a gelding now and off the back of two decent November trials where he wasn't knocked about in either, Free State can breakthrough fresh as the best bet at Gosford.

Admittedly Rejinksy looks tough to roll if he can back-up from his excellent Taree win, but he is very well found and with a pair of strong trials leading into this return, Dawn Too Good creates some each-way interest.

There was obviously an opinion of this galloper early with some bold early placements in his first campaign and came back through the grades following a 12-month spell where he recorded two wins and a second (first-up) behind East Asia, who has won a Benchmark 72 in town this Spring.

The four-year-old won his first hit-out ahead of this resumption in nice style via a strong heat (Lady Banff was heavily supported last Saturday out of that whilst Listed winner Cradle Mountain finished third) and went to the line under a firm hold following that on November 24.

This three-year-old notched up a much-deserved victory at Canterbury third-up and with much inferior form lines around his opposition here, he does look superbly placed to go on with it now.

By Written Tycoon and out of a Group Two winning mare in Nakaaya, Ruddock is a half-brother to the 2018 VRC Oaks winner Aristia and as that side of his page supports, the catalyst was the step up to the 1550m last start and a strong mile where he will push forward here does suit.

Mr Gee was beaten more than three lengths into second place via that last start at Canterbury and with him franking the form by winning at Kembla Grange last Saturday, it bodes well for Ruddock versus rivals that are either battling in this grade or at country level.