3 minute read
Track likely Soft 6 and rail out 5m.
Race 1 4YO & UP MAIDEN HCP (1600m):
We start with the older milers on a track well into soft range, and it shapes as the right race for home tracker 3. Hellbetta second-up. Still lightly raced, and came off a lengthy break to do his best work late over 1400m when solid enough in the market. Gets a nice weight drop here over a furlong further.
Dangers: Well placed also is 2. Oakfield Echidna fourth-up after working home fairly in his last couple. Right at peak fitness now, and the addition of blinkers will sharpen him up. Hard fit as well is 6. Himeros after four mixed runs back, and also has blinkers back on, but must be under the odds from a tricky draw attempting to break through at his 14th start. Keep safe improving mare 8. Sanbano third-up.
How to play it: Hellbetta to win
Race 2 2YO MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Smart colt 3. Fearless will start a hot favourite here, with an edge in fitness and a huge drop in class. Hit the line hard in the Group 3 Canonbury when resuming before tackling the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and again ran home impressively just behind the placegetters. Drawn to get a soft run with cover, bred to handle the going, and only horror luck stands in his way.
Dangers: Talented stablemate colt 7. Media World resumes for only his second start, with winkers removed. Looked sharp in winning a soft track city trial, and was preferred here to Wyong on Wednesday. Big watch on debutant Fastnet Rock colt 8. Tenbury Wells off two progressive trials; while 4. Indecisive reloading off a first-up failure in the Group 2 Skyline; and well bred 5. Interjection on debut; can both add value into trifecta and first four plays.
How to play it: Fearless to win
Race 3 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1850m):
Plenty of chances here headed by tough home track mare 5. Dunaloce who is well placed fourth-up at the trip. Finished best to claim his maiden here over a shorter journey before close up in a deeper race than this over a similar trip 11 days ago. Just needs to slide across from a wider gate and take up a spot on speed, and is bred to thrive in soft going.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with import 3. Rattle And Hum who can improve sharply after holding his ground first-up for eight months over a mile at Kembla, and well treated at the weights after a 3kg claim. Keep safe improving filly 10. Bush Girl who gets a drop in weight and a softer draw second-ip off a five week break. Both 4. Zenmaster and 6. Long Memory who are well into their preps; are capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Dunaloce to win
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (900m):
Rain-affected ground over this short trip is music to the ears of tough and resuming provincial filly 5. Callistemon who has been fitted with the right sort of trial,and gets in light after the jockey's 3kg allowance.
Dangers: Naturally, big watch on well-bred gelding 1. Chocolate Isle who starts behind three trials, winning the latest with plenty in hand. Another one on debut 3. Bent As Hell has trialled well, bred to handle the going, and drawn to get a cosy run. Resuming pair 7. Queen Gee Em and 10. Russian Rose are the best of the rest.
How to play it: Callistemon to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (900m):
Talented provincial mare 9. Party Doll resumes in a very suitable short-course affair. Lightly raced with a gear change, gets in light after the claim, and will come to hand sharply behind two trials.
Dangers: Country mare 1. Outishka is a specialist over this flying distance, having won three from four. Is hard fit well into the prep, and will relish the drop back from tougher Class 3 Saturday Highway company where she showed tactical speed. Big watch too on 10. Split Decision resuming from a low draw off a quiet trial; while 6. Omar second-up and 5. Procrastinator back in grade with blinkers being added; both go into exotic plays.
How to play it: Party Doll to win
Race 6 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m):
Resuming filly 4. Left Field can cap a big day for the Brad Widdup stable. Charged home to win first-up at this track back early spring before finishing the prep with consecutive close placings up to BM 64 grade. Gets in light after the 3kg claim behind two trials, and crucially blinkers have come off.
Dangers: Lightly raced filly 2. Monte Kate is the clearthreat reloading off an eight week break behind a forward trial. Never missed a place in her first prep up to BM 72 metro grade, including a smart Midway Maiden win at second start in heavy going. Gap to the rest headed by improving mare 8. Zahdi who finished hard when resuming, and draws to get a charmed run with cover just off the speed; while 1. Lunartie resuming; and 7. Scholl Deep drawn inside third-up; can both figure in the minor money.
How to play it: Left Field to win
Race 7 3YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1200m):
Debutant metro three-year-old 2. I Am Breathing can start with a bang behind two very progressive Rosehill trials, winning the latest by a space. Has been gelded, winkers go on, and is bred to thrive in soft ground being by Delago Deluxe out of a Casino prince mare.
Dangers: Over the odds is smart four-year-old 1. Primo resuming for his third start, with winkers going on. Right in the market mix too is 14. Unique Ambition returning for a second full prep without the blinkers. Both 5. New Forest second-up and back down from metro company; and at bigger odds 3. Make A Call also second-up; are worthy trifecta and first four players.
How to play it: I Am Breathing to win
Race 8 CLASS 1 HCP (1400m):
The toughest and widest race on the program is saved for last. Keen at the value on ultra honest four-year-old 4. Tamaroa who is bursting for some more ground deep into the prep. Ran home late into a place in much deeper BM 72 city class two starts ago before again tracking the speed and working home okay in a provincial BM 64. Looks very fairly treated at the weights in this class, and is primed to strike again.
Dangers: There's terrific early value about progressive Godolphin filly 11. Pipistrelle 3rd-up, and 19 days after a dominant maiden win at this track. Big watch on 7. Sensory resuming for the Chris Waller yard behind two easy trials; while both 2. Piercing Arrow and 5. Venelope can improve sharply dropping in grade second-up.
How to play it: Tamaroa to win
BEST BETS:
R4 5. CALLISTEMON
R6 4. LEFT FIELD
BEST VALUE:
R5 9. PARTY DOLL
