3 minute read
Track Soft 5 and rail out 2m from 1300m to 1100m, 4m to 450m and 2m to WP.
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
We start with the maidens over the mile at set weights on a track continuing to dry out. Like the way lightly raced five-year-old 2. Inuwashi finished off resuming at Wyong in a maiden with plenty of quality. Bred to get much further, and this suits getting out to this trip on a track with a much longer run home.
Dangers: Provincial four-year-old 1. Dresden has had two runs back, improving sharply at Wyong 12 days ago, and should also enjoy the bigger circuit. Gap to the rest headed by 3. Maralago who is fit and drawn to get a trail; while at bigger odds 8. Blue Canasta can peak fourth-up.
How to play it: Inuwashi to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 4YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1300m):
Randwick-based Dundeel mare 10. Left Reeling is very promising, and resumes for a second prep behind two trials on an ideal spacious track. Did everything but win in four spaced runs last year to start her career, each time charging home from midfield to miss narrowly before holding her own when thrown into Group 1 company during spring. Off the scene for 10 months, but working well, and her flashing run from the back on debut at Canberra way back as a two-year-old is a subtle reminder she'll come to hand very quickly. Expect her to settle back with cover before producing a dominant final 400m.
Dangers: Big watch on progressive four-year-old 2. Avoidance who can improve sharply back on firmer ground second-up, with blinkers added. Another one on the rise is imported Irish-bred five-year-old 5. Father's Day who resumes behind two smart trials; while must include 11. Santorini Sun who resumes for a powerful stable off two trials, with key gear changes, and was preferred here to Monday's Goulburn meeting.
How to play it: Left Reeling to win and quinella 2 and 10
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 METRO & PROV MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
Trial watchers will again be rubbing their hands together with the debut of impressive Shalaa colt 5. Sir Ming for a leading metro stable-rider combination. Looked strong and ready to go in the second of two impressive hitouts on heavy ground, and bred to handle all surfaces.
Dangers: Naturally huge watch on talented four-year-old 1. Diamond Flare who resumes as a gelding behind two dominant trial wins on the synthetic. As promising as the top two are, can't dismiss 2. Boston City who rattled home late first-up here 23 days ago, and the second horse from that race then went to the country and beat a handy maiden field as a hot favourite. Another well bred first starter, 9. Junqueira is by Golden Slipper Capitalist and out of a strong US dam line, and fitted with two spaced trials.
How to play it: Sir Ming to win and trifecta 1,5/1,2,5,9/1,2,5,9
Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 4 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1500m):
Tactical middle distance affair, with a few chances, headed by progressive mare 4. Selfie Time who was a dominant maiden winner from the front second-up in heavy ground. Is by a Cox Plate winner, looks the natural leader, and very capable of stepping up to this level.
Dangers: Watch for 1. Mihocek hitting the line fifth-up in similar vein to last start here in the same grade. Improving 3. Pacific Warrior is also coming off a tidy second-up maiden win, and draws to get a cheap run behind the speed. Keep safe improving local mare 6. The Halo who rushed home to win a weaker country maiden 12 days ago, and was scratched from Goulburn on Monday to be saved for this; while 2. Upper House will also settle back from a wider gate and be charging home.
How to pay it: Selfie Time to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1800m):
Similar graded runners over 300m further, and it's the right recipe for underrated country five-year-old 1. Reach Beyond who drops significantly in class from a metro BM 78 where he floundered late. Naturally up sharply in weight, but back in this company from a softer draw is a huge plus, having thrashed a handy country BM 64 field two starts back.
Dangers: Naturally in-form and lightly raced local five-year-old 2. Sovereign Express is a big threat shooting for three straight wins. Has tracked the speed before taking over past the furlong in his last two, but threatens to go around under the odds in this company. Improving 9. Turnaround Time powered home to win a thinner race in the country only 12 days ago, and the third horse then bolted in the Dubbo Cup Prelude on Sunday. Gap to the rest.
How to play it: Reach Beyond to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1300m):
Keen on promising three-year-old 5. Communist making it two straight coming back a little in distance of an eight week freshen-up. Finished best as a two-year-old to beat a strong maiden field here last time, kept ticking over with a recent quiet city trial, and blinkers replaced winkers.
Dangers: Must respect progressive four-year-old 2. Roma Avenue who repaid punters with a dominant third-up provincial win after tracking the speed, and the third horse from that race is the top fancy in the opener here. Included in exotics 1. Concocted fourth-up; while both 4. Zeminnika second-up from the inside draw; and last start maiden winner 6. Verzenay, who is trained on the track; can both run into the minor end of the money.
How to play it: Communist to win
Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 BENCHMARK 68 HCP (1100m):
Good competitive sprint to finish, and like emerging mare 8. Euphrates Dream to make it two straight wins third-up. Did her best work late when resuming behind a smart CL1 winner before rushing home late to win a provincial BM 64. Carries the same weight, with a leading metro hoop taking over, and even better suited on a longer straight.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by talented frontrunner 5. Comonic who has been freshened since dropping out in Highway grade, but two provincial wins prior were impressive. Expect 1. Ceasefire to be hitting the line fifth-up down in class, with blinkers added; while 2. Tinka's Lad is a big market watch first-up from the inside gate behind a solid trial.
How to play it: Euphrates Dream to win and quinella 5 and 8
Odds and Evens: Split
