3 minute read
Tips and race by race preview by Ray Hickson for Wednesday’s Warwick Farm meeting. Selections based on a good to soft track.
Race 1 – 1:30PM YARRAMAN PARK EASTER YEARLINGS HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
6. Turgenev trialled very well behind Testimonial, who then was fourth in a G2, before an easy synthetic trial win last week. Each trial has seen an improvement and while he has to bring it to the races he'll be hard to beat if he does.
Dangers: 1. Fabulous Choice is by the same sire as the Golden Slipper winner and stablemate Stay Inside and he looked handy winning his latest trial in the blinkers albeit over a short course. Another improving type and bears close watching. 4. Lease found the line with a bit of purpose first-up from a spell three weeks ago and should appreciate the extra distance on that performance. Drawn to settle closer too and could easily be in the finish. 2. Fire was a $360,000 purchase and hard to get a line on him with just the one synthetic trial behind Turgenev to judge him on. If there's any support it'd be worth taking note.
How to play it: Turgenev WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 2 – 2.05PM HYLAND RACE COLOURS PLATE (1300 METRES)
5. Rubamos may have come back a better horse judging on his trials. He was in the market but a drifter on debut back in July and has since been gelded. Impressive winner at his first trial then handy second to Air To Air in the latest. No surprise to see him run well.
Dangers: 4. Raoul has been costly with four placings while well in the market on each occasion and it's fair to say he had every chance at Kensington last time when placed behind Rainbow Connection. Blinkers and Hugh Bowman go on so he may be worth one more chance. 1. Captivare lost on protest first-up last time in and had mixed results from two subsequent starts. Solid enough recent trial and he has the good gate and James McDonald to ride. Keep safe. 7. Zoudica disappointed in two Victorian runs last time in but he did show plenty of improvement into his second trial back and could be on the up. Each-way.
How to play it: Rubamos E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 3 – 2:40PM TAB HANDICAP (2200 METRES)
3. Toscanini looked very good winning off a break but might have been a little flat last time as he boxed on into third at Rosehill behind Welsh Legend. Runner-up at only start this trip and may still have more upside than most. Go well.
Dangers: 9. Alakahan has been threatening to win a race this prep and drops 3.5kg, plus gets blinkers on, after a close third at Kembla Grange last time. He'll be around the mark again and no surprise if he goes close. 8. War Baron is starting to come solid and backed up an opportunistic win at Hawkesbury with a closing second at Kensington out to 1800m. Should be effective over the extra trip and while in good form has to be included. 2. Heart Of Puissance jumps sharply in trip from his second at 1550m two weeks ago but he does get some weight relief. Doesn't need to improve any to win it's a matter of running out the distance.
How to play it: Toscanini WIN ($3.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 4 – 3:20PM PINATUBO NEW TO DARLEY HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
6. Blesk was a good thing beaten second-up at Kensington and has a big chance to go one better out to a mile here. Peaking now third-up and he may be able to settle that little bit closer from gate one but if he gets a clear shot from the turn he'll be hard to beat.
Dangers: 7. Highmaster comes through the same race as Blesk running third, a couple of lengths astern. He was also held up a little but not to the same extent. Still it was a nice return and he can only be fitter. Logical threat. 1. Relucent can be a little hard to catch but he resumed with a close up sixth in a blanket finish at 1400m and he tends to improve with a run. If that's the case here then he could be a danger. 3. Coterie is more than capable on his day of troubling this field, held his ground well behind Yao Dash at Rosehill last time and has won over the mile here.
How to play it: Blesk WIN ($2.80 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 5 – 4:00PM ROBRICK LODGE HANDICAP (1600 METRES)
9. Darling Diamond comes back in class after finishing close up in the G3 Kembla Classic earlier this month and looks ready to put in her best effort this prep. Races handy so the draw is ideal for her and she appeals as a good each-way chance in a winnable race.
Dangers: 1. Amitto only beat one home when resuming but was also only beaten two lengths and wasn't fully tested on the line. Fitter for that and her trials prior suggested she's come back pretty well. Last win was at this track and trip almost a year ago. Keep in mind. 2. Ruby Tuesday gave away too much start in a small field and hit the line strongly late when resuming. Straight to a mile and she has arguably the best closing sprint of anything in the race so if she's close enough on the turn she can be a threat. 10. Eleusa is an up and comer who finished too well second-up at 1400m to win a Class 1 at Hawkesbury. More depth here but has that upside and a softer draw too. Must be considered.
How to play it: Darling Diamond E/W ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
Race 6 – 4:40PM SKY RACING ACTIVE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
8. Le Gai Soleil looks the type who can graduate to better races this prep and she's kicked off her last two preps with a win so she fires fresh. Fitter for two trials and improved nicely into the second of them. This is a good field but she should take beating.
Dangers: 7. Saigon just missed when resuming in what has proven to be a good form race so far from this track four weeks ago. She does get back in the field, and should do that here from gate nine, but she's always strong late and will be competitive. 5. Super is getting out to his preferred distance range and drops in class on a very handy fifth at G3 level at Rosehill over 1100m. He may just need the one more run to be at his top but wouldn't be leaving him out. 1. Cristal Breeze hasn't raced since qualifying for the Polytrack Provincial Championships Final with a sound second behind Pandano at Newcastle a month ago. Trialled since and in this class he's capable of being in the finish, in fact he should be in the finish if he's a chance at Randwick in a couple of weeks.
How to play it: Le Gai Soleil WIN ($4.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 7 – 5:20PM VINERY STUD HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
6. Salina Dreaming does meet a handy field first-up but she did beat The Face first-up last prep and had excuses for missing a place before a spell on a heavy track. She's just not effective in that ground and her two trials back show she's in good order. Needs a little luck but sure to feature. Read trainer Angela Davies' comments here.
Dangers: 5. Ocean Emperor has the Lost And Running form through his promising first-up second four weeks ago and if he can match that performance he'll be a major player. Has been hit and miss in his short career to date but gets every chance here. 8. Chianti has won two races and both have been first-up from a spell so she's a big watch fresh. Chased home Written Beauty two starts ago and only unplaced runs have been in Group company. Respect. 4. Belluci Babe hasn't done a lot wrong and both her trials recently have had merit so she can be expected to run well. Was a beaten favourite before a spell at Randwick on a soft 7 so anything better than that rating would be to her advantage.
How to play it: Salina Dreaming E/W ($8.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: SPLIT.
Race 8 – 5.55PM XXXX HANDICAP (1300 METRES)
11. Born A Warrior is more than capable of winning a race like this and from an inside gate he might be worth another look. Beaten favourite at Canterbury a month ago but still attacked the line strongly, as he did here second-up from well back. Should have no excuses here.
Dangers: 1. Bentley Magic races well on his home track and this trip gives him a chance to fire first-up. Winner here at a mile in September and showed improvement in his second trial back a couple of weeks ago. Would be surprised if he's not hitting the line. 6. The Grinder is an ex-Kiwi now with Chris Waller and his latest trial suggests he will run well fresh. In his comfort zone distance wise and has gate three and James McDonald to assist. Keep very safe. 16. Green Flash looked a little green but ran right up to his short price when winning on debut at Newcastle earlier this month. An extra 100m will only be of assistance looking at how he finished off first-up and while up in grade would rather include than dismiss.
How to play it: Born A Warrior E/W ($9.00 TAB Fixed Odds). Odds & Evens: ODDS.
