3 minute read
Tips and race by race preview by Brad Gray for Forbes.
Race 1 - 12:20PM DAIKIN & POLYAIRE PTY. LTD. SHOWCASE MAIDEN HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
11. Miss Manzanilla was hard in the market on debut at Narromine but found the 1000m trip a touch too sharp, even on a heavy track. Jumps out to 1300m at start number two and Nick Olive finds Blaike McDougall to ride. This is a very winnable race for her.
Dangers: 1. Money Not My God is a seven start maiden but brings a strong SP profile and gets another chance. 6. Inzaghi improved sharply out in trip last start and can hold that form over 1300m here.
How to play it: Miss Manzanilla WIN ($3.70 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 2 - 1:00PM FORBES POST OFFICE HOTEL SHOWCASE MAIDEN PLATE (1600 METRES)
Have been waiting for 10. Brecourt to get out to the mile. Her breeding suggests she'll relish it. Has hit the line powerfully in all three starts this time back, the latest of those over 1300m at Dubbo. Gets her chance.
Dangers: 13. La Valkyrie has been working home strongly this preparation and has a very solid grounding for this mile being fifth up. Has had 12 chances to break her maiden now though.
How to play it: Brecourt WIN ($4.40 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 3 - 1:40PM COL HODGES 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SHOWCASE COUNTRY MAIDEN PLATE (1100 METRES)
Deep maiden but 4. Lockdown Gamble has as strong a claim as any of the favourites. Kept closing at start number two before the blinkers went on for the first time in a recent Scone trial and he bolted in.
Dangers: 11. Kelvedon Road ran fourth to Pretty Woman on debut before just missing at Albury first up. Deserved favourite. Hard to knock 3. Erwin either. Three of his four defeats have been by a length or less.
How to play it: Lockdown Gamble EACH WAY ($13 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 4 - 2:20PM SHEAD & NICHOLSON SHOWCASE CLASS 2 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
8. Testas Flower brings provincial form into this and strong form at that with placings behind Van Giz and Time For Victory. Was posted deep throughout at Grafton last start yet still boxed on to run fifth. Ran midfield at Warwick Farm only three starts ago.
Dangers: 5. Galactic Warrior came from the clouds to win on debut. Has been sighted at the trials since and matched motors with Man Of Peace! Just maps to give away another big start. 1. Amicus Curiae is the class runner.
How to play it: Testas Flower EACH WAY ($13 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 5 - 3:00PM BANKSTOWN SPORTS CLUB FORBES CUP (1600 METRES)
2. Nomaothaj can give this a shake at enormous odds. Forget her Gold Coast run on a firm track and she was posted throughout. Her New Zealand form is strong, the blinkers back on and out to the mile and back onto a wet track she'll improve sharply. Has the speed to offset the draw.
Dangers: 9. From The Bush had on speed favours in a Highway at Randwick last start but he won well and his two runs prior were great. The wetter the better for backmarker 6. Wild Rocket but the inside draw is tricky.
How to play it: Nomaothaj EACH WAY ($31 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 6 - 3:40PM SEELEY INTERNATIONAL SHOWCASE CLASS 1 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
3. Manadria was beaten by two handy ones at Dubbo first up before getting too far back last start where he had to make a wide looping run. Maps to settle closer in the run and should be at his top now third up. Ran second to Birdonawinningpost last campaign.
Dangers: 1. Super Chance got her dues last start and we'll get a line on the Brecourt form line earlier in the meeting. 7. Diamonds Are Good should still be able to carve across to lead despite the wide draw.
How to play it: Manadria EACH WAY ($7 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 7 - 4:15PM ARISTOCRAT BENCHMARK 58 SHOWCASE BENCHMARK 58 HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
2. Magic Merv brings recent Victorian form lines and despite having been up since January, he is holding his form. The other advantage he has, other than being rock hard fit, is that he is the likely leader. There isn't much between these so that could be key.
Dangers: 6. War Blues is relishing the wet tracks at the moment and the five-year-old finds herself in career best form. She rushed home from last to win at Narromine last start making it two wins from her past three starts. Only has to hold her form.
How to play it: Magic Merv WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 8 - 4:50PM AMAZING FORBES NSW SHOWCASE BENCHMARK 66 HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
The weight is the only knock for 1. Kattegat. The gelding won a BM74 last start from a seemingly impossible position at the top of the straight. Comes back to a BM66 with the trade off being an extra 6kg on his back. Still think that's fair. Too good.
Dangers: 9. Messy Miss returned with an encouraging second behind the speedy Classy Rebel at Warren. Prior to that she was tested in a Country Championships qualifier. Warrants plenty of respect.
How to play it: Kattegat WIN ($3.90 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
