3 minute read

Track likely Heavy 9 and rail True:

We start over a very testing middle distance on a surface that will likely drop well into heavy range. Home track four-year-old 1. Fairness Is Best is a consistent and tough performer by Press Statement who has beaten all bar the winner in three of his last four. Loomed to win at Canberra before being edged out late, and is bred to thrive in any number of wet track downgrades.

Dangers: Keep safe improving 3. Twilight Rock who has been in the money last three, and can peak here at his fifth start. Rolls forward without the blinkers from a wider draw. Another one who has been in the placings last three runs, 4. Tot Of Rum is also comfortable in heavy ground; while improving provincial three-year-old 6. Mr Grey heads the rest second-up.

How to play it: Fairness Is Best to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Capable four-year-old 1. Inveterate should have finished much closer at Gundagai second-up after leading, but the rider made a poor "map" decision in the straight. Blinkers have been removed, and a far more experienced jockey takes over here in what is a very weak race.

Dangers: Watch the betting on home track three-year-old 2. Stun Gun first-up off a quiet trial; while expecting sharp third-up improvement from local and lightly raced six-year-old 4. Quizy with blinkers added.

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

The betting will have a say here, with a couple well in the market resuming. But it's one who showed speed in a dominant maiden win on debut who presents as the one to beat. Exciting metro filly 4. Frilled jumped to the front and gave nothing else a chance at Nowra, and like her staying at the trip. Bred to relish heavy ground being by Star Witness out of a Sebring mare.

Dangers: Keep a big watch on ex-Victorian filly 1. Amnesty first-up, and having her first run for the Annabel Neasham stable. Given a quiet trial nine days ago, and won easily from the front on debut last spring in heavy ground. Include honest colt 3. Battle Abbey fifth-up with a real leaning towards rain-affected ground; while both home track filly 6. Tablet reloading off a 10-week break and quiet trial; and improving mare 8. Miss Barty's Part second-up; go in exotics.

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

Tough race in the same grade. Improving city three-year-old 3. Johnny Dash can peak third-up here with blinkers back on. Hasn't attacked the line after travelling well in two runs back across deeper CL2 company, but this is a bit weaker and he's bred to relish heavy going. Was a dominant all-the-way winner only previous run at this track.

Dangers: Honest 4. Loafing will appreciate a big drop in grade second-up coming back from a BM 70 Federal, and reacts on heavy ground; while metro filly 6. Matronymic was a dominant last-start maiden winner in Canberra on soft ground. Included in trifecta and first fours 2. Frisson third-up; and 9. Really Serious resuming in suitable ground behind two trials.

How to play it: Johnny Dash to win
Odds and Evens: Split

From the same metro stable as the previous on top selection, improving three-year-old 2. Flashing Steel is primed to win again third-up. Did his best work late first-up in a tougher provincial race before narrowly being edged out in a country Class 1. Plenty of experience in heavy going, and there's not much depth here.

Dangers: Keep safe 4. Romeo's Choice who hit the line well in a CL1 after charging home to claim his maiden at the provincials. Improving four-year-old 6. Sennaprost fourth-up; and provincial filly 9. Shaday resuming with a light weight off a steady trial; head the rest.

How to play it: Flashing Steel to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

Tough and open race, with plenty of chances. Warwick Farm three-year-old 5. Deep Fury is ready to win after four runs back. Was close-up in a stronger provincial maiden before finishing off well at Muswellbrook. Drawn to stay well off the fence, and handles heavy ground being by prolific Deep Field out of a More Than Ready mare.

Dangers: Watch the betting big time on Lonhro colt 6. Jamaican who starts his career in blinkers for a strong metro yard behind two progressive trials up to 1210m. Respect any money for city four-year-old 1. Amadi at his fifth start after tackling stronger provincial opposition in his last three. Honest filly 11. Lalaguna is fit and comes through some handy metro and provincial formlines. Improving 4. Dark Vador ran well above his huge first-up price in a tougher provicial race, although a query in the going.

How to play it: Deep Fury to win
Odds and Evens: Split

We wrap the card over the mile, and content to be aboard progressive four-year-old 1. Snappy Jim fourth-up. Missed by a whisker in a handy BM 58 at the Sapphire Coast before surging over the top late in a CL2 on a bog track a fortnight ago. Suited over more ground now, and looms as the superior wet tracker.

Dangers: Plenty of them headed by reinvigorated six-year-old 4. Port Douglas shooting for three on the bounce after a dominant BM 65 win at Canberra. Keeping safe home tracker and last start BM 58 winner 6. Rent A Rock who loves wet ground; while 2. Enjolras drops in class fourth-up. Tough mare 7. Diamond Class also back in grade; and stablemates, heavy tracker 8. Ribeauville fifth-up; and last start BM 58 winning filly 11. Gypsy Romance; can all pump value into trifecta and first four plays.

How to play it: Snappy Jim to win
Odds and Evens: Split