3 minute read
Track around soft 5/6 and rail true.
RACE 1 MAIDEN HCP (1300m):
The long stretch here augurs well for three-year-old filly 3. Latin Lyric who finished off impressively at Canterbury second-up, and prefers the sting out of the ground.
Dangers: Local three-year-old 1. Carlisle Bay with that extravagant action could easily have won both starts this year, charging late to just miss at Nowra after being held up, and the winner has since won again, then covering a heap of ground at Goulburn. Right at fitness peak, but not well treated at the weights stepping to provincial level. Improving filly 4. Loveland boxed on strong first-up at Goulburn, but the winner did little at the same track in a BM 58 on Sunday. Keep safe at her second start, 2. Belle Espoir who flashed home late on debut at Bathurst.
How to play it: Latin Lyric to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN PLATE (1500m):
Not much depth here. Talented filly 9. Blaze Seven seemingly only has to leave the barriers with them to gather this lot up. Has closed well in two runs back from a spell, and much better off here on the bigger track, with blinkers added, and a stronger metro rider going on.
Dangers: Another filly 11. Vintage Harvest is better placed here second-up after battling in handy metro company; while monitor betting on three-year-old 4. Oceanic Flash who hasn't shown a lot at the trials, but debuts in blinkers for a strong stable.
How to play it: Blaze Seven to win and quinella 9 and 11. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 3 F & M MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
Two first starters potentially hold the key. Really liked the latest trial of three-year-old Sebring filly 3. Hialoa who looks ready to go. Sat a long way off the flying Skedaddle who has since won on debut and worked home nicely from the 600m. Should relish the big track, and can find a nice trail from off the speed.
Dangers: Of the raced brigade, tough filly 8. Tight Ropes is by far the most experienced. Has been in and around the money all prep at Canterbury, and will find this a shade easier. Include in exotics Godolphin filly 4. Jadida who also debuts off two quieter trials.
How to play it: Hialoa to win and quinella 3 and 8. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 C, G & E MAIDEN HCP (1100m):
Now the boys' edition. Improving four-year-old 1. Green Kudos fought on well at Kembla in his first run for more than a year. Can progress over a little more ground, but won't want to do too much work early under 59kg.
Dangers: Short price punters were left empty-handed when three-year-old 7. Bullet Force disappointed on debut at Muswellbrook, but two previous sound trials were in Soft 7 ground, so he can bounce back here. Expecting a big run fresh from three-year-old 10. Legal Challenge who has trialled well and likes it soft.
How to play it: Green Kudos to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 5 CLASS 1 HCP (1100m):
Plenty of chances in this one headed by local three-year-old filly 11. Never Second who looks primed to pick up where she left off in spring cruising home for a dominant debut win at Gosford. Has trialled strong, and drawn to get the right run.
Dangers: Wyong filly 1. Barossa Rosa will appreciate dropping back in trip and from a metro BM 72 where she wilted late under pressure. Drawn to get a good run on speed, and very well in at the weights after a 3kg claim.
How to play it: Never Second to win and quinella 1 and 11. Odds and Evens: Odds a special
Race 6 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1400m):
Typical open contest over this distance. Smart and lightly raced filly 11. Land Ahoy resumes for only her fourth start, with blinkers coming off. Was a brilliant winner at Scone on debut last winter, and has been fitted with a quiet trial.
Dangers: Improving three-year-old 1. Land Of Valens came off a five week freshen-up to defy a betting drift and lead all the way at Kembla. More depth here and weighted to his best with 60kg, but draws to roll forward, and again has been given time between runs. Mudgee three-year-old 5. Amicus Curiae has held his own stepping up to provincial and Highway grade, but will need to produce a peak run to beat this lot under 58kg; while four-year-old mare 10. Satin Ruby can mix her runs, but is capable of attacking the line off a good trail if the tempo is strong up front.
How to play it: Land Ahoy to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 7 BENCHMARK 64 HCP (1800m):
We save the most open for last. Tough four-year-old 1. Donandkim hasn't won for a while, but is primed to strike after four spaced metro runs this prep. Gets in okay at the weights after the rider's claim, and this is a clear drop in class.
Dangers: Include home track value mare 16. Lexi's Choice who has been close-up in her last three finishing well from off the speed, and she can peak over this longer distance. Improving three-year-old 12. Yiyi also rises in trip third-up, with a little weight relief and significant gear changes. Talented three-year-old 3. Ahso pulled up with problems at only his second start after a flying debut win in heavy ground. First time out of metro company, but will need the breaks from a tough draw; while four-year-old 4. Mocambo is is hard fit, and comes back in trip fifth-up.
How to play it: Donandkim to win and Lexi's Choice each way. Odds and Evens: Split
