Shayne O’Cass previews the NSW meeting at Port Kembla on Tuesday

Buckley could easily have come to Randwick to ride in front of an expected 25,000 but will instead head to Kembla for what shapes as a huge day for his many followers.

“I have good some good gates (today) and am riding horses that have been knocking on the door. A lot of the horses have got their chance in their respective races so hopefully I can get a couple of winners,’’ Buckley said.

Buckley teams up with trainer Matthew Smith for the first three consecutive races kicking it all off aboard Twice As Sweet in the opener.

A daughter of Black Caviar’s sire Bel Esprit, Twice As Sweet faded to finish in the middle of the 14-horse field on debut at Scone on October 14.

“She trialled quite nicely at Warwick Farm and she ran ‘okay’ race at her first start when Greg Ryan rode her - I think she could be the sort of filly that improves a bit on that,’’ Buckley said.

All eyes will be on the Buckley/Smith combo Cristallo Rosso when she resumes in the Carlton Draught (1000m) after a brilliant trial win at Warwick Farm last month.

“I spoke to Mitchell Bell who ride her in the trial and he said the horse got home quite nicely and gave him a good feel,’’ Buckley said.

“Her form from her first preparation was very good for a race like this, she’s raced at Warwick Farm and Canterbury so in this grade today, fresh, she should go well.’’

Buckley’s final ride for Smith on today’s card is Sharpsburg who blotted his copybook with an uncustomary last placing at Warwick Farm on October 19.

Two starts prior, it was Buckley who steered the sprinter to an all the way win over this same course and distance.

“He had been racing really well, I just don’t know about last start but being Warwick Farm the track can play a little bit funny some days and he didn’t get beaten too far.’’

Buckley’s best ride not for Smith is surely Budderoo Knight who was a credible 3.2-lens sixth to repeat winner Eckstein in a TAB Highway on Oct 15 and is a second up winner to boot.

“He gets his chance here today - he comes down in class a fair bit,’’ he said.

SHAYNE O’CASS’S BEST BETS

BEST BET

Race 2 No.5 Swampland

Victorian who measured right up to some smart fillies at her second run back at Caulfield and as her trainer Henry Dwyer mentioned she did it tough into the wind. The winner of that race goes around in a Listed event at Flemington while Swampland should take beating in a BM66.

NEXT BEST

Race 8 No.3 Big Arty

Promising four-year-old who resumed with an eye-catching sixth at Warwick Farm a couple of weeks back when well supported. Form last time in was honest and he looks ready to run the Randwick mile right out. Take plenty of beating.

VALUE

Race 9 No.1 Unbiased

Lightly raced Godolphin galloper who resumes as a gelding and at a suitable trip after a dominant Canterbury win back in April. In-form apprentice Nick Heywood’s 3kg claim means the 71 rated horse gets into the BM67 with only a few kilos over the limit.

SUGGESTED BETS

Quinella R2 Nos 1 & 5/Box Trifecta R9 Nos 1,2,4,5.

KEMBLA GRANGE

BEST BET

Race 2 No.5 Cristallo Rossa

Turned in a huge run on debut at Canterbury at her prep and was okay at her only two after that. First-up here off a smashing trial win and has Grant Buckley to steer.

NEXT BEST

Race 1 No.4 Polaset

Superbly bred filly from the Jason Coyle cmap that was never tested in her recent trial. Looks to have some quality to her.

VALUE

Race 7 No.10 Elouera

A Nowra mare by Winx’s sire that is screaming out for the mile and Robert Price has left no stone unturned booking Buckley for the task.

Originally published as NSW preview: Best bets for Port Kembla