3 minute read

Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Wyong meeting. Selections are based on a heavy track with rain forecast. Monitor for bias/pattern.

8. Shohei was heavily backed on debut at Newcastle 21 days ago when $2.90-$2.60 late in betting and ran bravely in a fast time race. The three-year-old filly was ridden up from a wide draw to lead at a strong pace and tried hard to the line when running second with a gap to third. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors. She will have first use of the track and have time to roll forward with a long run to the first turn coming out of the Wyong 1350m chute. Additionally, the Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes trained galloper looks like an improver, has a starting price advantage on some of her rivals, and this assignment is no harder.

Dangers: 7. Mirra View comes out of the same race as Shohei, and although well beaten, she ran on well first-up and the extra trip suits. She gets a significant barrier change and can settle closer from a kinder draw. 3. Roccaforte's form is better than it reads coming out of time/sectional merit races, and his peak rating figure was on a heavy 8. 4. Definitely Maybe was every chance at Goulburn 37 days ago but has trialled well in-between runs.

How to play it: Shohei WIN ($1.85 TAB Fixed Odds) & Trifecta 8 / 3,4,7 / 3,4,7. Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

1. Oxford Vision has been solid in his first preparation and is coming out of time/sectional merit races. The three-year-old is immature and tends to get on the wrong leg but looks ready to peak third-up over further distance. He was outpaced when the tempo quickened on debut, but once he balanced up, he hit the line hard, and Punter's Intelligence recorded her running the fastest final 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 11.50. Second-up, the gelding was wide and just got too far back at Newcastle 16 days ago but still ran the fifth quickest final 200m split of the entire meeting in 11.62. He is suited back to a wet track and can settle closer with a significant barrier change.

Dangers: 3. Isla and 7. Fromdustwemust both come out of a Hawkesbury maiden 14 days ago when the race was run in torrential rain. Fromdustwemust wanted to lay in over the concluding stages to just miss and has the starting price edge. Isla was nearly every chance but was in the inferior ground battling on well. 10. Supreme Play has a gear change and rain-affected ground suits.

How to play it: Oxford Vision WIN ($1.50 TAB Fixed Odds) & Exacta 1 / 3,7. Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Hard to be against another favourite in 6. Tempestas, who is rock-hard fit, has a ratings edge on her rivals and is improving throughout the prep. The three-year-old filly sat outside the leader in a strong tempo and tried hard in testing conditions to run second at Hawkesbury 14 days ago in a solid time race. Expect another aggressive ride to use her fitness advantage relative to her rivals, and the tight turning track suits her racing style.

Dangers: 3. Prefer To Be Ready tried hard in both runs last preparation when running second after racing wide without cover in both starts. The Jay Hopkins trained filly had an apprentice riding in her recent Scone trial, and she was tardy but ran on well in preparation for this assignment. Further, Sam Clipperton jumps on for race day, and the filly maps to get all favours. 10. Wave sat outside the leader in a fast time race and weakened but back to 1000m suits. 4. Dona Antonia was the best of the first starters at the trials.

How to play it: Tempestas WIN ($1.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

3. Sky Ace has been racing consistently since getting out to his preferred distance range and is rock-hard fit for this middle-distance assignment on a testing track. Ten days ago, the three-year-old gelding led at a fast pace at Queanbeyan in a Benchmark 58 and never shirked the task running a solid second. The backup suits on a rain-affected track, he will roll forward, and a repeat of his last start figure can put him in the finish.

Dangers: 4. Sonic The Hedgehog was every chance last start at Goulburn and battled away ok. For this preparation's first time, he has a positive map and receives a senior jockey change in Josh Parr. 9. Hidden Smile was completely outclassed when well beaten and started $201 in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m). His run prior at Newcastle was sound after racing wide and chased hard to the line. 8. Essential Sky is fit and suited on wet ground.

How to play it: Sky Ace WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

6. Thousand Years got too far back first-up and was not suited in a slow pace at Goulburn 37 days ago but ran on strongly running one of the fastest last 200m splits of the entire meeting in 11.87. She drifted in betting there and is likely to improve, and the form out of that race has since been confirmed with three subsequent winners. The three-year-old filly will get back, but as showed second-up last preparation, she can overcome this and use her key asset in acceleration to sprint over the top of these. In addition, she will be fitter, rain-affected ground suits, and the step up to 1600m is ideal.

Dangers: 1. Colour Sergeant ran ok in his Australian debut at an unsuitable distance over 1350m. The Irish import rises in trip second-up, receives a senior jockey and is proven on rain-affected ground. 7. Vanilla Sky is rock-hard fit and will roll forward with the tight turning track to suit. Market watch 2. Publicist and 4. Champions League who are down in grade and have ratings to win, but both failed on heavy tracks last start.

How to play it: Thousand Years WIN ($2.30 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.

5. Decadent Tale has returned improved this preparation after producing a career peak figure first-up when breaking through for her maiden win in impressive style. The four-year-old mare ran fast time, and the decisive margins throughout confirmed the form. She did it on both ends leading at a fast pace, and still sprinted the sixth quickest final 200m spit of the entire meeting in 11.65. The Jason Deamer trained galloper gives every indication of the rise in distance suiting, and she maps to get complete control of the pace. In addition, she brings the best last start figure and is proven on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: 1. Brillar had all favours winning at Hawkesbury first-up 14 days ago but ran the second-fastest final 200m sectional of the entire meeting in 11.32. He is fitter, maps to get all favours and can progress through the grades. Forgive 3. Stay Wealthy who had a slow recovery rate last start at Hawkesbury. He can bounce back with a positive ride, and one of his peak figures was on a heavy 10 track. 2. Tour Of Duty had a soft trial for new trainer James Ponsonby, and he can sprint fresh.

How to play it: Decadent Tale WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.

Open race. 6. Sing A Love Song was run to suit in the Canberra Guineas but didn't have much luck when checked/blocked at a critical stage and lost all his momentum to be well beaten. He has strong form-lines and is coming out of time/sectional merit races all preparation. The three-year-old colt can bounce back down in grade whose peak figure is at this track/distance and gets a significant barrier change. Each-Way.

Dangers: 8. Never Cry was every chance but strong winning at Hawkesbury 14 days ago. The three-year-old gelding is rock-hard fit and maps to get a similar run as last start. 1. Different Strokes and 3. Noble Soldier come out of one of the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Qualifiers, and although well beaten, they drop in grade considerably. Different Strokes was wide and too far back running on ok and Noble Soldier has a solid record on heavy ground. 9. Ticket To Anywhere comes out of the same race as Never Cry and had the bias against it. The Annabel Neasham trained galloper is consistent and maps to get all favours.

How to play it: Sing A Love Song E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.

Tricky race to finish. 10. Chief Conductor was 32 days between runs last start at Hawkesbury when a drifting favourite and ran below expectations. Expect an aggressive ride on the three-year-old colt for this assignment, where he is more suited when being able to lead and produce his peak figures. He can bounce back after racing well in time/sectional merit races prior, and the winkers go on for this.

Dangers: Key market watch 2. Coal Crusher who went out a dominant winner running fast time last preparation in this grade. He has a strong first-up record and trialled well enough at Warwick Farm on a heavy 8 with the blinkers off. Some query first-up on a testing track, but he maps well and has proven to handle the ground. 8. Akasaki is rock-hard fit and will be running on strongly. 3. Way To The Stars can win and maps to get all favours. 5. Glowing Red is the knockout.

How to play it: Chief Conductor WIN ($10.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Coal Crusher WIN ($4.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.