3 minute read
Track likely Soft 5 and rail True.
Race 1 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Big and testing maiden field to get us underway on an improving track. Honest four-year-old 7. Money Not My God is still chasing a breakthrough win at his 19th start, but can peak here third-up, with a far superior rider taking over. Has held his ground well in the last two runs against better opposition, and rolls forward from a handy gate again.
Dangers: Improving filly 8. Rupicasso has hit the line well in her last couple, although will likely be forced a long way back from a wide gate. Keep safe 13. Sidoni fourth-up with gear changes; and improving mare 15. Dollar Pursuit third-up from the inside draw. Watch the betting too on the first starter, Epaulette filly 1. Sassy Diamond who hasn't trialled for 12 weeks, but starts with key gear additions.
How to play it: Money Not My God to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Full field again here over the mile. Progressive three-year-old 6. Wasserman can go back-to-back after sweeping down the middle for a dominant maiden win at Dubbo, and this isn't much tougher. Senior rider sticks, and he's suited over more ground under the set weight conditions.
Dangers: Consistent provincial filly 10. Lady Audrey came through some handy formlines before destroying her opposition in soft ground at Taree a fortnight back. Hard fit and well in at the weights, she can also salute again. Gap to the rest headed by last start third-up maiden winner 2. Sea Of Flames who progresses into this, although needs to slot in from a wide gate. Watch for improving mare 8. Deel Street getting home late third-up over further, and down sharply in weight after the rider's claim. Included in exotics 3. Tintern Power and 12. Condreau fourth-up for the new stable since switching from Victoria.
How to play it: Wasserman to win
Odds and Evens: Evens a special
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Tough and consistent three-year-old 4. The Big Seal is ready to win fourth-up. Has beaten all bar the winner in three runs this prep against better opposition, and again draws to go forward and sit right on the speed.
Dangers: Keep very safe talented filly 10. Rubi Air resuming off a nice trial win. Honest 6. Yorker has also been in the placings at his last two runs on soft tracks, and will roll forward; while big watch on resuming mare 8. Magna Amour who has won both lead-up trials for the new Newcastle stable since transferring from Victoria, and stable has rung the gear changes. Another three-year-old filly, ex-Victorian 9. Royal Affair has her first run for the new Dubbo yard.
How to play it: The Big Seal to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 4 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m):
Plenty of chances in this headed by tough filly 1. Brief Statement who has chased home a couple of smart ones in her last two, including Gallant Star who then ran a fighting place at Randwick on Saturday. Never finished further back than second in four runs on soft tracks, although has to overcome a wide draw.
Dangers: The blinkers go back on three-year-old 3. Minimal who has more ability than his record suggests, and can figure fourth-up. Well bred 5. Hiraishin comes through that same race behind Gallant Star when very easy in betting, and also has a wide draw; while 8. Riders Inthe Stand resumes off a smart trial win.
How to play it: Brief Statement to win
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m):
Evenly graded sprint for this class. Lightly raced three-year-old 4. Master Of Rewards swept home for an impressive maiden win at this track before doing his best work late in a deeper field at Scone. Comes back in distance, but drawn to sit a little closer, and he's headed for better races.
Dangers: Capable three-year-old 1. Astrolith hadn't finished further back than second in four runs, including recent consecutive wins; until folding up in much tougher provincial company a month back. Has been freshened coming back to a thinner grade, and returning to a preferred soft surface. Big threat! Stablemate mare 5. Arimathea likes to roll forward, and will also find this easier than her last two; while four-year-old 12. Saw That Coming is best of the rest.
How to play it: Master Of Rewards to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m):
Provincial four-year-old 4. Prince Akeem is a good soft tracker, and the one to beat in a weak affair coming off a strong closing effort in much better company at Scone. Up sharply in weight, but the 10-day back-up and far superior rider taking over, are both big pointers to winning.
Dangers: A nine week freshen-up can pay dividends for six-year-old 6. Bandahara who normally produces on the fresher side, but draws out and comes off an easy win in a very weak class. Watch for any market move with 2. Bondadosa who won two straight before flopping in a better race last start, and big weight has been off-set by a 4kg allowance. Include in wider exotics 1. Witness Collector ; 8. Hammoon Sweetheart and 16. Petain.
How to play it: Prince Akeem to win
Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 7 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m):
The best race on the card is saved for last, and there are plenty of chances. Keen on tough mare 9. Moetta fifth-up and down in weight for a tougher test. Just missed as a well backed fancy at this track two runs back before running home okay behind one of the more promising sprinters in country NSW.
Dangers: Useful mare 8. Miss Kojiki has more than enough ability in this class after hitting the line hard, resuming at BM 58 level. Never missed a place in seven runs on soft tracks, but has a task getting in from the wide barrier. Capable four-year-old 1. Beauchamp has to carry a big weight from a wide draw, but was a brave winner in deeper grade two runs back before outclassed in the tougher BM 85 Cannonball. Watch the betting on 4. Shadow Chaser who steps up from a weaker CL2 win, and relishes rain-affected ground. Honest mare 7. Denace also represents each-way value first-up behind a solid trial, with blinkers back on; while 3. Messy Miss can run into a place third-up.
How to play it: Moetta to win and first four: 1,8,9/1,3,4,7,8,9/1,3,4,7,8,9/1,3,4,7,8,9
Odds and Evens: Split
BEST BETS:
R3 4. THE BIG SEAL
R5 4. MASTER OF REWARDS
BEST VALUE:
R7 9. MOETTA