3 minute read
Track likely Heavy 8 and rail True.
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m):
Tactical middle distance affair to start, without much conviction around any runner. Kembla three-year-old 6. Satness hasn't missed a place all prep, and looks to have the bigger room for improvement. Gets a handy claim, and is drawn to park just behind the speed with cover.
Dangers: Trained on the track, 5. Mycah Leon is also hard fit, but mixing form. Provincial four-year-old 1. Blackall lines up for his fifth start in six weeks on a heavy surface and trying to break through at 17th start. Went down narrowly two starts back before disappointing as an odds-on fancy in a country maiden, and shoots back up to 59kg. Stablemate to the top selection 5. Powerbeel is best of the rest, with blinkers added.
How to play it: Satness to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 3YO MAIDEN PLATE (1400m):
Home track Medaglio D'Oro three-year-old 8. Tambourine Man makes his debut behind two solid recent trials. Was very strong winning the latest in heavy ground when coming from well off the speed after the leader had opened up a six length break on the turn. Been given plenty of time, and is clearly tuned up for this journey.
Dangers: Resuming metro three-year-old 6. Matlock (accepted for Warwick Farm on Wed) also looks ready for this trip behind two progressive trials, winning the latest over 1050m in heavy ground. Both improving 2. Feirme Prince (accepted for Warwick Farm) second-up off a long break; and 4. Globe Runner fourth-up; can run into the placings.
How to play it: Tambourine Man to win
Odds and Evens: Evens a special
Race 3 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):
Small field of maidens suits metro three-year-old 1. Sacred Alba who can bounce back at second start after flopping on debut in the country as a pronounced favourite. Rolls forward from a low gate, and bred to handle any sort of ground.
Dangers: Drawn the inside, 8. Uncaged is the likely threat with blinkers added third-up. Was heavily backed before compounding after leading here 12 days ago, and the drop back in trip is a plus. Include 8. Poppy's Girl (also accepted for Warwick Farm) who drops 2kg after working home okay second-up at Newcastle in a handy maiden. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Sacred Alba to win and quinella 1 and 8
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 PROVINCIAL & CTRY MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Market will be a big indicator here with a few either resuming or on debut. Like provincial filly 4. Cool Reception first-up from the inside gate. Found the line well in all three runs last prep, and while she hasn't publicly trialled, reportedly been working strongly.
Dangers: Country four-year-old 1. Pokerjack has been given nearly four weeks since sticking on well first-up in a handy provincial maiden; while local mare 7. Ma's Dream debuts behind two forward trials on Heavy 8 ratings.
How to play it: Cool Reception to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m):
There's generally never much between the girls at this level, although this is thin in depth, and a resuming pair can fight it out. Leaning heavily to metro filly 2. Decisive Move who has had two searching trials. Came to hand quickly last prep, leading all the way second-up at Warwick Farm before again leading for a long way over the mile. Controls the race from the inside draw, and will take plenty of running down.
Dangers: Home track mare 7. Kyalla returns off two controlled heavy track trials, and has more than enough ability when her mind is on the job, although yet to prove herself on rain-affected ground. Keeping safe Canberra six-year-old 8. Honeysuckle Choice who looks over the odds fourth-up in ground she likes despite stepping up from a weaker country race.
How to play it: Decisive Move to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1100m):
The boys' edition is a more tactical and deeper affair. Like the value of well-bred three-year-old 11. Saiko resuming for a leading metropolitan stable. Showed enough in and around this grade last prep, including a dominant BM 58 win from well off the speed, and like the way she's had two quiet trials over this sort of distance.
Dangers: Big market watch on ex-Hong Kong six-year-old 6. Green Reign first-up for a year for the new Warwick Farm stable. Form in HK was only fair in and around this sort of level, but has had plenty of time to acclimatise, although yet to start on genuine rain-affected ground. Two trials leading in were rock solid for a race like this. Watch the betting too on 3. Spectrometer who returns behind two progressive trials, and a 13-month absence. Does have a fresh win to his credit, and well in at the weights after rookie rider's 4kg allowance. Include both 10. Lady Shenanigans who hasn't missed a place in four of his last five; and 9. Elleves fifth-up; in wider exotics.
How to play it: Saiko each way and trifecta 3,6,11/3,6,9,10,11/3,6,9,10,11
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1400m):
Another fairly open affair headed by tough Canberra five-year-old 2. Cyborg who is hard fit, and never raced more consistently. Charged home to win a BM 70 Federal two runs back before settling closer and missing by a head in a similar race at Kembla. Bred to thrive in the wet, and drawn to get a handy trail a few lengths back.
Dangers: Keep safe provincial five-year-old and last-start BM 58 winner 7. River Mac who draws to get a soft run back in the field; while rival Kembla mare 8. Poseidon Jewel steps up from a dominant front-running maiden win carrying 2kg less. Include 6. Black Wand and 9. Roseiro in trifectas and first fours.
How to play it: Cyborg to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 8 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1600m):
An even contest over the mile to finish. Progressive home track mare 6. Stellar Performer is a superior wet tracker, and ready to win again fifth-up. Has kept finding the line impressively on rain-affected ground since a narrow BM 64 win first-up, and comes back to the distance over which she's won two from three starts.
Dangers: Metro four-year-old 1. Star Sparks compounded badly first-up in heavy ground when solid in the market, but he had played up in the parade ring. This is a drop in class and he did beat a good quality field in a similar grade second-up last time. Improving third-up runners 2. Fields Of Honour down in class; and lightly raced last-start BM 58 winner 5. King Of Spades; can both run into the minor end of the prize.
How to play it: Stellar Performer to win
Odds and Evens: Split
