3 minute read

Track likely Soft 6 and rail True:

We start the Showcase meeting with the three-year-olds, and keen at the valve on well-bred home track filly 9. Waipio who is hard fit deep into the current prep. Has run home into the placings in three of her last four, chasing hard at Coffs 10 days ago when she had to work well away from the inside "no go" zone, and finally gains a start on ground that's out of heavy range.

Dangers: Similarly, ex-Victorian 2. Toomuchinformation is on the cusp, and can hit the ground running for the new Coffs stable at his third start. Keep safe 1. Wizard Of Oz who was strong enough through the line first-up three weeks back; while 7. Crystal's Legacy and 14. Star Of Yamba are both each-way threats at longer odds.

How to play it: Waipio to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive home track filly 7. Our Kiwi Princess has been given 10 weeks since working home okay in two runs here, and can peak now at only her fifth start. Likes a soft rating, and outside of the highly-touted favourite there's not much quality or depth in this. Stronger rider takes over.

Dangers: Naturally, a big watch on the short-priced fancy, Russian Revolution colt 12. Brudenell on debut for the leading provincial stable behind two winning trials on heavy ground. Improving filly 14. Island Tide showed good speed on debut at Newcastle fighting on for a long way; while 5. Madiba Rose has placed in three of her last four, but draws very wide.

How to play it: Our Kiwi Princess each way and quinella 7 and 12
Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky maiden over the middle distance. Hard not to like how home track filly 3. Cherokee Cherry is working towards a win in and around this distance. Hit the line first-up at Taree before beating all but the winner in two handy form maidens here. Draws to get cover back in the field, and being bred to get over much further, nothing will be attacking the line stronger.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by honest mare 4. Gracious Gracie who looks well placed from a soft draw with a 2kg claim. Include as well 1. Starboard Light who can improve further behind a handy closing debut run. Provincial filly 5. Lady Audrey; 6. Canny Boy and 14. Thunder Knob are all worthy inclusions in trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Cherokee Cherry to win
Odds and Evens: Split

The addition of blinkers can do the trick for improving home track filly 8. Rapid Rose despite drawing wide. Worked home well to miss narrowly second-up, and is down a significant 3kg for this. Her best form is on soft tracks, and only needs to tuck in from the awkward barrier.

Dangers: Plenty of respect for tough provincial three-year-old 2. Test The Waters coming off a nice third-up win in weaker class, although this is the widest draw he's had in six runs. Another three-year-old fourth-up, 3. Evocator has taken big strides in only second prep, charging home to win two straight here up to this grade before again attacking the line when rock solid in the market. The wetter the better, although meeting a couple of better ones here. Included in wider exotics 7. Exolay who is over the odds returning from a six week break via a solid trial; while 6. Afewchoicewords overcame a wide gate to land her maiden last start, and drew inside here.

How to play it: Rapid Rose to win
Odds and Evens: Split

A stack of chances in this one headed by improving and talented home track mare 3. Leeside who is well into the most consistent prep of her career. Tracked the speed before finishing best to win a CL2 here three runs back, and was strong late in a better race here 17 days ago. Looks fairly treated after the claim dropping back to this level, and right at home on soft ground.

Dangers: Plenty of them starting with tough seven-year-old 1. Condover Hall who put two wins together earlier in the prep. Worked home okay in a similar race at Coffs 10 days ago, and significantly the second horse from that race won well on Friday. After winning two straight in weaker grade, 2. Flash Palace was only plain here 17 days ago, but this looks a shade easier. Keep safe five-year-old 4. Moyassar fourth-up from wide gate; while 7. Quick Nick and 10. Nevada Smoke both go through wider exotics.

How to play it: Leeside to win
Odds and Evens: Split

After three spaced runs back in deeper company, lightly raced five-year-old 4. Toto is ready to win again. Charged home from well back to claim all but the winner in the stronger Gunnedah Lightning three weeks back, and looks well treated carrying only 2kg more here. Stable has made key gear changes, and only needs a clear crack at them from the 350m.

Dangers: Capable local mare 6. Lucky Sham should get a charmed run from theis barrier right behind the speed, and drops down from a tougher BM 72 metro race. Gap to the rest headed by Coffs mare 8. Miss Baltimore who is well weighted second-up; while expecting local mare 9. In A Step to be running home strong also dropping sharply in weight.

How to play it: Toto to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

The feature race of the day shapes nicely for ultra tough seven-year-old 4. Texas Storm who shoots for back-to-back wins deep into the campaign. Overcame a wide run with no cover to dig in hard and land the Wingham Cup at Taree, and this is no tougher carrying only half kilo more after the claim. Over the odds.

Dangers: Talented five-year-old 2. Eiger has won his last two from just off the speed, and taken his winning strike rate to 30 percent from 26 starts. Finished best to beat a similar Beef Week Cup field at Inverell, although not convinced the inside barrier does him any favours here under 61kg. Include home tracker 6. Relucent who resumes from a seven month spell behind two forward trials. Honest local 7. Acoustix who has been close-up in two runs back; and 9. Big Surprise fifth-up from a good draw, and having been scratched from the Midway at Rosehill on Saturday; both go in exotic plays.

How to play it: Texas Storm each way
Odds and Evens: Evens

Plenty of chances in the closer as well, although this sets up nicely for progressive provincial mare 3. Dark Herring second-up. Was $5.50 into $4.20 when hitting the line well from midfield in a deeper CL1 at Dubbo, and the more the track dries out the better she's placed.

Dangers: Improving mare 8. Attestar comes off a dominant third-up maiden win; 6. Koondeeman can be ridden a little quieter fourth-up from a better draw; 9. Justadude is hard fit after finally cracking a maiden win 17 days ago; and 15. Xtra Approval resumes from the inside draw.

How to play it: Dark Herring to win
Odds and Evens: Split

BEST BETS:
R3 3. CHEROKEE CHERRY
R6 4. TOTO

BEST VALUE:
R8 3. DARK HERRING