3 minute read
Track Soft 7 and rail out 3m:
Race 1 BENCHMARK 82 HCP (2100m):
We start over the longer trip on a track continuing to dry out and could even start on a Soft 6. Home tracker 5. Zoffany's Gaze is well placed third-up from a low trailing draw and getting out over more ground. Hit the line late in a handy BM 58 at Scone before again getting home hard to beat all bar the winner over further at Armidale. Those runs read well for this carrying half kilo less.
Dangers: Topweight 1. Vincenzo comes off an impressive & fast-finishing win at BM 68 provincial level, but wouldn't be diving into too short a price up to 60.5kg on a tighter turning track here. Keep safe 2. Casarina who draws the fence third-up; while 4. Seahaven is honest and gets significant weight relief.
How to play it: Zoffany's Gaze to win
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Like the value here around improving and well bred three-year-old 5. The Favourite Son second-up off a five week break from a much softer draw. Missed narrowly from just off the speed in a handy country Super Maiden before a freshening and holding his ground at deeper provincial level. Gets the right run here right behind the leader.
Dangers: Naturally early hot favourite and progressive colt 3. New Pharoah is the clear threat third-up. Less depth this time around, and he gets an important 2kg weight drop. Be surprised if the winner comes from elsewhere, but over the odds is 10. Soul Taker back from provincial company, and with blinkers going on third-up. Both 4. Rockbarton Island fourth-up and a month between runs; and 6. Brief Song improving into her second start; can run into minor money.
How to play it: The Favourite Son to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
A few key first starters on show here over the sprint trip, and one of them is primed to strike. Merchant Navy three-year-old 4. A Patch Of Honour from the Scott Singleton yard debuts behind two very tidy trials up to 1000m, including a win on Soft 6. Draws to get the right sort of run, and few stables around country NSW are better at striking fresh or early in the prep.
Dangers: Big market watch on four-year-old 2 Great Siege resuming as a gelding off an 82 week spell in his first outing for the new local stable. Bred to fly, and can overcome a wide draw here with ease. Gap to the rest headed by 9. Poppy Boxer who was in the hunt on debut at Scone before her fitness gave out, and again drew to get crucial cover in transit. Her stablemate 12. Prosateur by Written By debuts off two steady provincial trials; while at bigger odds another first starter 6. Don'tknowyet by Santos can add value into trifecta and first fours.
How to play it: A Patch Of Honour to win
Race 4 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Emerging filly 6. Silent Tomahawk was good on debut at Armidale, finishing only a long neck from a promising one, and even better placed here over 100m further. That came off two winning trials, and she again draws to get the right stalking run just behind the speed.
Dangers: Banging on the door at her fourth start is 8. Isadami after finishing a whisker in front of the top selection in that same Armidale maiden, and a stronger rider takes over. Watch the market around resuming filly 7. Specula who hasn't started since early last spring, but progressed well enough through two trials. Home tracker and early favourite 1. Arctic Legend is also first-up off two trials, winning the latest here narrowly. Winkers come off, but looms under the odds from a tricky gate and under a career high 59kg; and 5. Irish Accolade down in weight third-up; and 11. Full Commitment at her fourth start; head the rest.
How to play it: Silent Tomahawk to win
Race 5 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m):
Open affair here headed by lightly raced three-year-old 5. Paris Lad who is ready to peak at his third start. Tracked the speed before sweeping home for an easy win on debut, then kept chasing to the line after doing early work in a handy Class 1 24 days ago. This isn't much harder, and should get a better run on the map this time.
Dangers: Local mare 8. Not In Doubt is a big threat from an ideal trailing draw second-up, and only third start. Led all the way here on debut in spring before being spelled, then returned with a fair effort across a bunched finish in a race with more depth than this. Capable 4. Ensign Park reloads off a dominant Class 1 provincial win a fortnight ago, but shapes under the odds from a tough and wider draw. Keep safe 2. Keikoku who will find this a little easier than a last start provincial BM 66; while 1. Magnus Red resuming off a long break; and 9. Corpsman down in weight fourth-up; both go into exotic plays.
How to play it: Paris Lad to win
Race 6 BENCHMARK 82 HCP (1400m):
Plenty of chances in the Cup Prelude, but no greater value than tough six-year-old 3. Poseidon Ruler who is primed to break a long wait for a fifth career win at good odds, importantly with blinkers back on. Found the line okay in a provincial BM 68 when coming off a five week turnaround before charging home from last in a similar line-up to this to finish right on the heels of the placegetters. Again drawn to slide back from a wider barrier, but with enough speed on he can relish the extra furlong and flood home over the top.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with 7. Our Boy Ollie who hasn't been far away this prep, the latest running home well just behind the placings in a deeper Country C'ship Wildcard qualifier. Evergreen local 4. Danza In The Dark has never raced better, winning two straight country cups from off the speed, although he goes up in weight here against a few smarter ones. Expecting sharp third-up improvement from 1. Royal Charge who draws the fence third-up coming back from metropolitan opposition. At bigger odds, 5. Smooth Esprit is also in each way contention second-up off a lengthy break; while 9. Olakau'atu draws off the track, and hasn't won since last spring, but has more than enough ability with blinkers back on if he can slot in and find a trail from the half mile.
How to play it: Poseidon Ruler each way
Race 7 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
Progressive mare 11. Royal Radiance is primed to claim her second win in four starts this prep at good odds. Has been close-up in her last two against similar opposition after a dominant maiden win fresh, and drawn to do a little less work early in the run here with further weight relief.
Dangers: Naturally, talented 10. Fuld's Doubt only has to slot in for a half decent run, and he's a serious threat after flashing home to win a good quality maiden first-up when heavily backed from $2.35 into even money favourite. Keep safe 7. Provencal third-up behind a tidy off-speed maiden win; while included in wider exotics home tracker 2. Exsensible and 5. Who Ever Thought, both second-up; and 9. Cool Fizz returning behind a forward trial.
How to play it: Royal Radiance to win
BEST BETS:
R1 5. ZOFFANY'S GAZE
R3 4. A PATCH OF HONOUR
BEST VALUE:
R4 6. SILENT TOMAHAWK
