3 minute read
Track likely Heavy 8 and rail out 3m from 1300m to 1100m, then 5m to 450m, and True the remainder.
Race 1 3YO & UP MAIDEN PLATE (1400m):
Expecting Press Statement three-year-old 5. Law Party to hit back hard here after doing some work first-up at Warwick Farm and failing to finish off. Better placed here over a longer journey, significantly with blinkers added.
Dangers: Improving three-year-old 6. Texcel is also advantaged over more ground after working home late first-up at Canterbury.
How to play it: Law Party to win. Odds and Evens: Split a special
Race 2 CLASS 1 HCP (1600m):
Another small but tricky field. Progressive filly 6. Light Up My World stepped up to the mile in dominant fashion third-up, stalking the speed before careering away to win her maiden by more than five lengths. Stays at the trip for this tougher, and draws the inside.
Dangers: Provincial colt 7. Thailand should have won a handy BM 64 when held up for a long way from the inside gate. Up sharply in distance, but less depth here. Keep safe lightly raced 4. Remus who steps up from a fast-finishing country maiden win, and looks a real wet tracker.
How to play it: Light Up My World to win and trifecta 6,7/4,6,7/4,6,7. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 2YO MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
The babies get their turn now on a challenging track, with the first starters holding the whip hand. Improving Fastnet Rock colt 1. Armour Force stuck on well as a short-priced favourite in only his second start, and can go one better here with blinkers applied.
Dangers: Big watch on Snitzel colt 6. Vyner who starts in blinkers off two progressive soft track trials. Watch for 5. On Bail running home late.
How to play it: Armour Force to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 PROV & CTRY MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
Promising Capitalist two-year-old 3. Sniper Legend resumes as a gelding for his first run on home track. Was good late on debut at Wyong in summer, and has been fitted with two trials. The one to beat.
Dangers: Rival local three-year-old 1. Pending is the immediate threat on an eight day back-up after hitting the line late here on debut in similar going; while another two-year-old trained on the track 10. Lady Lucilla is on the next line after a tough second start effort covering plenty of ground. Included in exotics home filly 7. A Land Of at her fifth start, with blinkers coming off.
How to play it: Sniper Legend to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 MAIDEN PLATE (1100m):
Open sprint with plenty of chances. Shalaa colt 9. Revivalist resumes off two quiet soft track trials. Was solid in the market on debut in a tougher metro maiden when struggling in the ground, but this is much more to his liking.
Dangers: Watch the market on consistent filly 4. Latin Lyric who resumes without any public trials, and the blinkers off. Another filly returning, 5. Tight Ropes has had two progressive trials and draws a soft gate. Improving three-year-old 1. Chalkley ran well above his market price in metro grade, and has an edge in race fitness. Dissident filly and stablemate to top selection 10. Distantness charged home late on debut in the country, but drew wide and is meeting some sharper ones here; while Foxwedge two-year-old 6. Fox Fighter is over the odds first-up from a nice draw and a forward trial.
How to play it: Revivalist to win and first four 1,4,5,9/1,4,5,9/1,4,5,6,9,10/1,4,5,6,9,10. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 3YO & UP BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1300m):
Tough five-year-old 3. Lord Zoulander hasn't won for a while, but can peak here 4th-up in suitable ground, with a crucial 3kg claim. Found the line hard from well back at Kembla carrying 3.5kg more, likes this track, and a little more ground is a further plus.
Dangers: Plenty of them headed by smart four-year-old 7. Command King who resumes for a new stable from an economical gate off two quiet trials. Was a smart debut winner last spring on a similar rating. Lightly raced three-year-old 1. Tags has put three convincing wins together up to CL2 country level, and primed for his first provincial assignment.
How to play it: Lord Zoulander each way and quinella 3 & 7. Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 7 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1800m):
We close with a similar graded race over further, and this stacks up nicely for Pierro three-year-old 6. Bob deep into the prep. Was three weeks into a strong closing effort here from a deeper metro race, and backs up in nine days. Good wet tracker who has only missed a place once from five starts at this course.
Dangers: Local five-year-old 3. Karmazone wasn't far away finishing late in that same recent race as the top selection; while included in exotics consistent six-year-old 5. Hendo's Magic back in grade; and 8. De Valera who flew home to win over further here two starts ago.
How to play it: Bob to win. Odds and Evens: Split
