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Tips and race by race preview by Nick Berney for Thursday’s Wyong meeting. Selections based on a heavy track. Monitor for bias/pattern.
Race 1 - 1:00PM TAB.COM.AU BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (2000 METRES)
6. Bastida is lightly raced and has been a revelation since getting out to a staying trip and on rain-affected ground. The three-year-old gelding had every chance to win last start at Goulburn 27 days ago but won in style and was strong on the line. Further, two winners have come out of that race and confirmed the form. He maps to get all favours, has a dominant last start figure relative to most of his rivals and can continue to improve.
Dangers: 8. Mikasa contested the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick but was convincingly beaten by 9.2 lengths. She raced well in her prior start at Hawkesbury, albeit in maiden grade but can improve with blinkers on for the first time and another positive ride. 10. Into The Oblivion who was 51 days between runs last start at Newcastle on a heavy 10, has a knockout profile. The six-year-old gelding will be fitter and has multiple ratings to put him near the finish. 2. Arabolini gets in well at the weights after an astute claim for Ellen Hennessy and maps to lead. Add 1. Sacramento Joe to all exotics.
How to play it: Bastida WIN ($3.10 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 2 - 1:35PM WYONG RACE CLUB FUNCTION CENTRE MAIDEN (1600 METRES)
7. Poetic Drama had no luck last start at Hawkesbury 21 days ago after being checked/blocked for the majority of the final straight. Punter's Intelligence recorded she still ran the race's second-fastest final 200m split in 12.76 and should've finished closer. In addition, that rated highly relative to the day, and there have been two subsequent winners to confirm the form. The Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes galloper can tend to overrace but expect an aggressive ride to find the lead in the anticipated slow/even tempo.
Dangers: 3. Duke Of Gordon who brings a strong profile for this assignment, travelled in the inferior ground throughout when brave in defeat last start at Scone. He has improved each run this preparation, maps to get all favours and is proven on rain-affected ground. 4. Blackall got too far back in a farcical tempo last start at Wagga and ran on well. The four-year-old gelding ran one of the quickest final 200m sectionals of the entire meeting in 11.62 and may have last shot under the strength of Keagan Latham. Irish import 1. Down Every Road is on his Australian debut and has been ridden out in two trials on the synthetic. He can improve out to 1600m and is a market watch.
How to play it: Poetic Drama WIN ($3.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 3 - 2:10PM DE BORTOLI WINES 2YO MAIDEN HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Tricky two-year-old race with first starters engaged and minimal disclosed form on heavy tracks. Debutant 1. Currency Lad was not extended in his first heat at Gosford over 800m and trialled well. Further, he then responded well under pressure at Randwick in a 736m heat and hit the line hard. The Kim Waugh trained galloper does have a tricky draw to overcome first-up, but he looks to have the ability.
Dangers: 5. Luna Rocks and 6. Diamond City come out of the same race at Newcastle 14 days ago which was run in torrential rain. Luna Rocks had a slight edge and started shorter in the market. 3. Red Cobra can improve second-up and 8. Kai Tak is down sharply in grade.
How to play it: Currency Lad WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 4 - 2:45PM HUCKEL EXCAVATIONS 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200 METRES)
1. Aircraftman had every chance but tried hard in a fast time race to finish second at Canterbury 15 days ago. The three-year-old gelding ran the fourth fastest final 400m split of the entire meeting in 25.08 and posted a dominant figure relative to his rivals for this assignment. That race rated the highest overall relative to the meeting when historically comparing time, class and additional factors with decisive margins. He has tended to overrace this preparation but has a fitness edge, a positive map, and will be strong on a testing track at the end of the 1200m.
Dangers: 11. Fearnought resumes after racing well last preparation in predominantly the metropolitan grade. She has trialled well and will undoubtedly be looking to have a last crack at them with her customary solid finishing speed, as she showed in her latest heat. First starter 2. Airraid who looks a nice type, has had two trials on the synthetic, with the latter being one of the quickest heats of the morning. Respecting 5. Brechen and 6. Echos Arrow who were both heavily backed on debut albeit failing and are again key late market watches.
How to play it: Aircraftman WIN ($2.20 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 5 - 3:20PM PBL LAW GROUP MAIDEN PLATE (1300 METRES)
4. Hollywood North is coming out of time/sectional merit races all preparation and has been unsuited in his last two runs. He was honest when finishing third in a high rating race at Canterbury 15 days ago and ran the equal second-fastest last 400m split of the entire meeting in 25.07. The three-year-old gelding has multiple winning ratings, a fitness advantage over some rivals and is proven on rain-affected ground. In addition, Lee Magorrian can have the option to roll forward and find a position due to a long run to the first turn coming out of the back chute.
Dangers: Stablemate 2. Antonio Giovanni contested Group races in the spring and brings a class edge relative to his rivals. Although he is more suited over a further distance, he has trialled well and can sprint fresh from the kind draw. Key late market watch 5. Oxford Vision who started $1.40 at this track seven days ago and was just beaten on the line with a gap to third. Add 6. Sir Savaluca and 10. Dubai Showgirl to trifectas and first-fours.
How to play it: Hollywood North WIN ($5.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: EVENS.
Race 6 - 3:55PM GO ELECTRICAL BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
Open race. 2. 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 will be running on strongly with the anticipated fast tempo.
Dangers: Forgiving of 11. Shotgun Alli last start at Scone where she raced flat second-up on an extremely heavy track and was in the inferior ground throughout. In her prior start, she ran the fastest 400m-200m split of the entire day in 10.95. The four-year-old mare can bounce back after racing against stronger opposition last preparation and has multiple figures that can put her in the finish. 5. Brillar had all favours winning at Hawkesbury first-up 21 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. 3. Never Cry is rock-hard fit and racing in career-best form. 7.Sliders and 12. Trinity Missile both come out of a fast time race and must be included in all exotics.
How to play it: Sing A Love Song WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Shotgun Alli WIN ($21.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 - 4:30PM CARLTON DRAUGHT BENCHMARK 64 HANDICAP (1000 METRES)
Tricky race. Forgiving of 10. Chimes second-up performance at Hawkesbury after heavily backed $2.10-$1.90 late in betting and weakened in the straight but was found to have a slow recovery. Prior to that start, she resumed at Newcastle Beaumont when leading at an even tempo and sprinted well before being swamped late in a high rating race relative to the day. The lightly-raced filly has a strong starting price profile, contested group races last preparation, can cross them with her early speed and will give a sight.
Dangers: Key market watch 3. 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. 12. 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, and the winkers go on for this. 5. Suprina is in career-best form and deserves her chance at this level. 6. Akasaki, who brings the highest last start figure, will be running on strongly. 11. Dollareuro is the knockout.
How to play it: Chimes WIN ($7.00 TAB Fixed Odds) & Coal Crusher WIN ($5.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 - 5:05PM WYONG'S NEXT RACE MEETING THURSDAY APRIL 28 PROV CUP (1600M)
Leaning towards 4. Highballer who is rock-hard fit and racing ultra-consistent on wet tracks. The four-year-old was specked $6.50-5.50 late in betting last start at Goulburn 12 days ago when running second. He led at a fast pace, raced in the slightly inferior ground, and never shirked the task to the line. Expect Rachel King to roll forward and use the gelding's fitness advantage to his strengths on the testing track.
Dangers: 3. Peekays Legacy returned well after being not suited and ran on strongly at Goulburn. The four-year-old gelding ran one of the quickest final 400m sectionals of the entire meeting in 24.06, and the step up to 1600m looks ideal. He will need some luck from the draw but has superior form-lines for this and may get the last shot. 1. Made By Khan resumes after trialling well enough over 1200m and went out a winner before spelling last prep. 8. Salsa Man is up in grade but drops 5kg, and all his peak figures are on heavy tracks.
How to play it: Highballer WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
