Gosford Betting Tips for December 28, 2025 - Ciaron Maher galloper to claim the Gosford Guineas

Earlier races features some lightly raced runners engaged in Maiden’s and with form still emerging in several races, the meeting shapes as a betting card where assessment is key.

True Amor can go on with the job in Race 4. The four-year-old destroyed his rivals when resuming at Beaudesert in a BenchMark 64 on December 6, leading all the way to score by five lengths ahead of Grey Effects. He ran respectable time in the process to go 2.6 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is the best last start figure of any runner. Second up at his last preparation, the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained galloper was a could only manage 5th at Canterbury but was ridden further back that day and did improve on figures. I expect him to cross over from barrier 8 with Zac Lloyd to take up the running in a race that does lack a bit of pressure. 

Going with Ripley in the Gosford Guineas. The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper is second favourite behind Caffe Florian but comes out of harder races and is capable of performing on the fresh side. He was an impressive Maiden winner at Rosehill when resuming in a race that has produced six winners. He then bombed the start when 4th behind the likes of Tentyris and Sheza Alibi in the Gothic Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield then was wide no cover in the Amanda Elliott Stakes (1400m) at Flemington, placing 3rd. She comes in with the freshen up and her best form so far does seem to be over the 1200m. Look for her to box seat from barrier 2 and give this a big shake. 

Best Value comes up in the last of the seven races and it is Apollo Ridge that can go close. He draws a tad tricky out in barrier 9 and there is a bit of pace inside of him but the son of Lonhro does possess plenty of gate speed and Rachel King will look to edge into a prominent spot early on. He went at a hectic tempo at Hawkesbury over the 1100m at his most recent start to lead as a short priced favourite and had plenty in reserve at the business end to hold out his rivals in what was a confidence booster. He produced a career best by going 0.3 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is the best last start figure of any runner. The Anabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained galloper looks to be on top of his game and should have more to come at his fourth run this time in.