3 minute read
Track Soft 5 and rail out 3m from 1200m to 350m & True the remainder:
Race 1 SUPER MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
We start with the maidens on a surface that should stay in the current range,with the rain not expected to arrive until Saturday. There clear chances early here all drawn well and alongside each other, so tactically the first furlong or two will go a long way to deciding the winner. Settled on progressive four-year-old 2. Naval Destroyer 12 days after he was collared in the last few strides resuming at Narromine as a hot favourite. Fitter now, he can go forward again, and pay back punters with a superior jockey taking over.
Dangers: Drawn one spot closer to the fence, early favourite 1. Wild Flash led for a long way second-up in deeper provincial company, and naturally will park right on speed as well. The third contender is 3. Bolt Away Now who only missed by a long neck on debut here and draws to land just behind the speed, but this is a shade tougher. Gap to the rest headed by 4. Tavros who hit the line hard at his second start in a weaker maiden.
How to play it: Naval Destroyer to win
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Plenty of chances in this sprint headed by debutant Star Turn filly 8. Star Bling who steps out for the Lou Mary stable at Scone behind two progressive trials, winning the latest at this track. Has the tactical speed to overcome a wide barrier.
Dangers: Tough and improving 2. Devoted Deputy is drawn to get a good run on or just behind the speed fourth-up. Expecting a much improved showing from home tracker 7. Pure Platinum who did plenty wrong and was caught wider out before pulling up with a slow recovery in a weaker affair at Armidale two weeks back. Keep safe 10. Super Trixie, resuming for only her second start off a steady trial; while must include local colt 3. Steel Claws on debut behind an impressive recent trial win; and two-year-old 12. Signatories with key gear changes; in trifecta and first four bids.
How to play it: Star Bling to win
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Out to the mile for a tricky, but moderate affair. Ex-Victorian filly 11. Relentless Ruby can strike third-up in her first NSW outing for the new Brett Cavanough stable, importantly with blinkers back on. Comes off two mixed efforts narrowly behind the placegetters in better races down south, and from a low draw here, she can push forward to sit on speed before producing a superior finishing burst.
Dangers: Big watch on 1. Calladus, a three-year-old by Mikki Isle who debuts as a gelding for a leading country stable behind two rock solid trials. Provincial-based 14. Tigon Princess can peak third-up in her first full prep with winkers going on. Expecting sharp improvement at second start from 5. Rhinestone Lad 24 days after a moderate debut in a better race when unwanted in betting.
How to play it: Relentless Ruby to win
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (2100m):
Tough staying battle here with several chances. Honest and hard fit 5. Subscribe Me finds a nice little class drop here coming back from provincial opposition deep into the prep. Was only plain finishing midfield in that race, but prior hit the line hard from further back to be beaten only a long neck at Scone. Draws to get plenty of cover a few lengths off the speed, and stays at the distance.
Dangers: Plenty of them starting with 1. Mindspace who draws to get a soft run aiming for a third consecutive win, although more depth in this race. Over the odds is inconsistent mare 6. Akauwheo who is very hard to catch, but has the ability, and comes through the same race as the former also rising in distance. Honest 4. My Sonny's Faith back from the tougher Mornington Prelude is well capable of running into the minor money.
How to play it: Subscribe Me to win
Race 5 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1600m):
Good depth at the mile here. Strong home track closer 9. Tyson's Dream is still lightly raced for a five-year-old, and is well placed to make it two straight on a quick 10 day back-up. Didn't have much luck when storming home late in weaker grade at Scone two runs back before rubber-stamping that progression with an effortless win at Quirindi after settling closer to the speed. Tougher and bigger field here, but drawn to get plenty of cover off speed, and only needs clear air from the 400m to produce that trademark finish.
Dangers: Naturally, they'll be queuing up headed by 4. Bold Hoi Ho who is good value coming off a fast-finishing win in weaker grade at Armidale 25 days ago. Keep safe ultra consistent 6. Tough Case who made it two straight, finishing hard to trounce a handy BM 58 field, and is right up to this level. Trained on the track, 1. Aesthete can peak over this distance third-up with a 3kg claim off-setting the weight, and coming back from a provincial BM 68. At big odds don't dismiss big finisher 13. Global Sensation who is ready for this tougher test after beating all but the winner in three runs this prep; while 7. Toulon Factor is the best of the rest.
How to play it: Tyson's Dream to win
Race 6 COLTS, GELDINGS & ENTIRES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
It gets no easier here in a sprint of many chances. Like the value around emerging three-year-old 6. Golden Dubai, resuming for just his second prep from a low draw for a good fresh stable. Progressed okay in handy maiden company last campaign, breaking through with a dominant win fourth-up when backed from $2.10 into $1.90 before spelling. Significantly has trialled quietly at this track, and returns with key gear changes.
Dangers: Capable 8. Harbour Gold will need some early breaks to get in from the wide draw second-up, but will find this easier than an even effort when resuming. Another local 1. Panuara Boy also has a tricky draw and big weight, but a far stronger and more experienced jockey goes aboard in a race of less depth. Big market watch on local 10. Haiku Star, resuming behind a winning trial with the blinkers coming off. Include 4. Pyromania first-up from the inside draw; and 9. Pocket Picker who gets winkers added third-up; in exotic bets.
How to play it: Golden Dubai each way
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1200m):
Likely one of the toughest and most open batting affairs on the card, but the value is still there for resuming filly 8. Nyali Sands who kicks off her second prep behind two forward trials. was only out a place once in four outings last time, including a dominant third start win at Dubbo when she flashed home as a red-hot favorite. Is by a Group 1 mile winner, comes to hand quickly, and should settle a few lengths off speed before getting to the middle of the track at the 350m.
Dangers: A stack of them, especially promising 1. Rock 'N' Reign who defied a betting drift on debut here to charge home and beat a handy Super Maiden field. Despite the wide barrier, big watch on emerging 3. Water Lad at his fourth start. Cruised home to win his maiden at Mudgee two runs ago, and was scratched from Tuesday's Wellington meeting to be saved for this. Expect support from a big price for 5. Presswin who got under the market radar on debut finishing best in a thinner maiden at Quirindi. Keep safe too, improving 7. Who Ever Thought who charged home out wide second-up at Quindi under a big weight; while lightly raced 10. Toronado Express has drawn the extreme outside, but still capable of running into the finish, three weeks after flashing home to claim her maiden in heavy ground.
How to play it: Nyali Sands to win
Race 8 CLASS 3 HCP (1400m):
Play It again Sam, with many chances in a full field. Under-rated and tough 3. Hit The Rim is ready to break a lengthy drought and claim a fourth career win, 33 days between runs. Missed narrowly in a similar grade at Wagga three starts back before tackling tougher provincial company and running home just fairly after doing plenty of work from the gate. Was back to something like his best when flashing home late in a CL3 at Dubbo, and always performs best when his races are spaced.
Dangers: Home track mare 10. Not In Doubt is a serious threat if she can overcome an awkward draw. Finished hard to win fresh here at CL2 level before close up again in the Jardel Cup behind a smart one, and is down 2kg from that run. Don't underestimate talented closer 4. Don'Tcha Think who ran home hard into three straight placings up this level without much luck before outclassed in heavy ground at Saturday Highway level. With any sort of decent run in transit, 1. Assiduity can defy his big price second-up. Tried to lead all the way when resuming in a thinner race, but much more effective when he can take a trail. Both provincial filly 9. Lady Soames second-up; and 11. Eighty Eight Stars coming through the same formline fourth-up; can add plenty of value into exotic returns.
How to play it: Hit The Rim to win
Race 9 FILLIES & MARES BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000m):
The girl sprinters bring us home, and it shapes ideally for smart and progressive mare 1. Villa Treville, resuming for a second prep off a strong open class trial. Won three from five in her first campaign, including back-to-back BM 58 wins as an odds-on favourite, and with superior tactical speed she can carry the big weight all the way.
Dangers: Nice filly 2. Antisocial has enough ability and scope, and backs up quickly after flashing home to miss narrowly at Quirindi. Won her only previous start at this track in heavy ground. Keep safe underrated home track mare 10. Cool Fizz rising in class third-up; while underrated home track mare 4. Rapid Ruby who drops in class with gear changes; and 8. Lavish Lady who comes through the same formline, and all three career wins have come here at home; can both run into the money.
How to play it: Villa Treville to win
BEST BETS:
R5 9. TYSON'S DREAM
R9 1. VILLA TREVILLE
BEST VALUE:
R7 8. NYALI SANDS
