3 minute read
The rail is out 6m from the 1350m to the winning post and 4m the remainder. The form has been done for a soft track.
Race 1 - 11:20AM BOWERMANS COMMERCIAL FURNITURE HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
7. Royalzel had no luck behind Park Avenue on debut at Wyong, having settled out the back. That winner has since franked the form by winning well at Randwick last Saturday, overcoming a slow tempo up front. Second up the Snitzel colt stepped out to 1300m at Kembla Grange on a heavy track and won comfortably. What the Gary Portelli-trained youngster beat there is a query, as the $3 favourite, but he did win by three lengths. That run gives him a great grounding out to 1400m. Earns a crack in town now. Impossible to be confident but Royalzel appeals each way.
Dangers: 1. Cape Breton did it the hard way on debut travelling deep throughout, yet he was in for the fight late. It was by far the slowest 1250m race of the four across the meeting, however, including the two-year-old fillies. 4. Sinba was rolled at $1.60 last start but perhaps the tight Gosford circuit was to blame. Well placed to atone against his own age group. Wary of the debutants 5. Dante Alighieri and 6. Raging Bull.
How to play it: Royalzel EACH WAY ($3.80 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 2 - 11:55AM TAB HIGHWAY CLASS 3 HANDICAP (1100 METRES)
1. Ice In Vancouver has a lot to overcome but he looks the one here destined for bigger and better things. We'll get the negatives out of the way first. He lumps 59.5kg, is 6 weeks between runs and has a lot of speed drawn underneath him from the wide draw. Not to mention he's rated an odds on chance. That's on the back of three wins from four starts, with his only defeat coming from being deep ended in the Kosciuszko in his first racing preparation. He resumed at Tamworth in late April and won with a leg in the air. The three-year-old is going to need a peach from Tim Clark but he's the best horse in the race.
Dangers: 6. Patino Ruby was brave first up over 1200m given she'd never even run past 1000m prior to that. Back to 1100m won't hurt her chances and she strips fitter. The set up here is better and she still ran second a fortnight ago so expect her to fight out the finish again. 3. Nicci Trix is another lightly-raced youngster winning three of her six starts, showing blistering sustained speed. On the back of a dominant Taree win she was kept up to the mark with a brilliant recent trial. If those up front overdo it, expect 8. Kattegat to smoke home late while 2. Anethole would also be suited if that eventuated.
How to play it: Ice In Vancouver WIN ($2 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 3 - 12:30PM BISLEY WORKWEAR HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
The way 13. Always On Show has hit the line all preparation suggests she wants this trip. Last start the Kris Lees-trained three-year-old ran on hard into third behind Easy Campese and 6. Too Much Caviar, who she meets 2.5kg better, despite the race being controlled by those two on pacers. Prior to that she was doing her best work through the line at Mudgee when a heavily backed $2.20 favourite. There is a sense of timing about this filly's preparation fifth up out to a suitable distance, particularly with just 51kg on her back after the claim of Louise Day and having drawn to settle much closer than the last time we saw her. Ready to win.
Dangers: Terrified of Chris Waller's import 10. Wicklow on the back of a strong maiden win at Newcastle where he beat subsequent winner Peekay's Legacy. That was the Wicklow's first run in Australia and generally when imports hit the ground running like that it suggests they've got a future. Too Much Caviar warrants respect but there shouldn't be such a big price discrepancy between her and Always On Show. Out of the three-year-olds coming through the Rebel Rama race, thought 12. Good Omens was the pick of them. Didn't get a clear passage. The drier the better for her. 11. Don Arcangelo comes off a dominant Hawkesbury win.
How to play it: Always On Show EACH WAY ($9.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 4 - 1:05PM FUJITSU GENERAL HANDICAP (1400 METRES)
Deep race but can't find anything that'll eye ball 1. Mensa Missile up front. The four-year-old was brave to finish second last start after 10. Born A Warrior carved out a crazy speed up front. He packed up to finish seventh but Mensa Missile still presented as the winner at the 150m mark before blowing up as he was entitled to do. The son of Smart Missile has been flying this preparation, beating Geist second up at Kembla Grange before two starts ago belting his rivals at Newcastle by near five lengths. There'll be no shortage of quality chasing him home but with any level of control and Tim Clark in the saddle, Mensa Missile is sure to give a sight.
Dangers: 11. Key was squeezed out at the start in the Denise's Joy and raced hard on the fence but like the way this former Kiwi hit the line over a trip well short of what she's used to. It was a hidden run. Jumps straight out to 1400m. Is Group Three placed out to the mile. 14. Dynamic Impact has come back a significantly better horse this preparation and will be strong late. 5. Tycoonist is ready to win third up but he can't draw a gate. Prefers firmer tracks. 6. Adelaide's Light had to make a wide sustained run at Warwick Farm last start, peaking on his sprint late. Forgive him. 15. Scream And Shout and 10. Astero have won two straight and deserve a crack at something harder. 7. Resilient Star is in the mix.
How to play it: Mensa Missile WIN ($5 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 5 - 1:40PM ACY SECURITIES HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
1. Snowzone holds the ace of a perfect draw in a race where a length could separate the first half a dozen home. There was merit in this four-year-old's return over 1100m, finding a couple too sharp and peaking on his run the last 100m or so. Dream Circle has since franked that form line by winning again, while the third placed Belluci Babe should have won subsequently as well. Snowzone is no star but he has built a handy record of 28:6-6-2 and the 1200m is his pet trip (12:4-3-0). He handles all surfaces and should get the camp on the back of likely leader 12. Rammstein . The little knock is that in his past two preparations he has taken two runs to find his form so he could still be half a run short. Each way.
Dangers: Can't bring myself to tip 9. Charretera on top but on the back of a sneaky first up run that was much better than it reads on paper, he's a knockout hope. Punters Intelligence reveals his last 600m split fresh was the third quickest across the entire meeting despite finishing closer to last than first. Rammstein will make his own luck again but may have been flattered by a brilliant front-running ride last start. Looks skinny in a wide open race. 8. Royal Banquet has an outstanding record and with any luck from the tricky draw, looks a big player. Anthony Cavallo heads to Randwick for just the one ride in 6. Jailbreak while 5. He's A Hotshot is capable on his day.
How to play it: Snowzone EACH WAY ($8.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: ODDS
Race 6 - 2:20PM THE AGENCY REAL ESTATE HANDICAP (1500 METRES)
This is an important race for 2. Love Tap. The jury is out as to how well he has returned but we can't sack him on the back of an inconclusive trial and a pass mark first up at Doomben. Perhaps a pass mark is generous in the context of him being backed into an even money favourite but he was first up after an injury enforced lay off. The 1350m was a touch too sharp as well. Shouldn't have any excuses in this, however, out to 1500m and stripping fitter second up. The three-year-old charged through the grades in his first racing preparation winning the G3 Gloaming as an odds on favourite despite winning three country races prior. Draws to camp midfield and Tim Clark rides. Was too impressive in his first campaign to not give him another chance.
Dangers: The appeal of black type has been too great to ignore with 10. Air To Air this preparation but back to benchmark company, she can bring up win number two. She possesses a big finish but no early speed, hence just one win from 15 starts. 1. Snowfire was caught outside the lead fresh and knocked up late. He easily beat 12. Wairere Falls when they met back in January. 11. Zing hit the line well first up and she tends to need a run to find winning form. As a general rule, Chris Waller's stayers run well fresh so couldn't discount 5. Great House but he's very well found for a 2000m plus horse. The blinkers are off too.
How to play it: Love Tap WIN ($3.30 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 7 - 3:00PM XXXX WINTER CUP (2400 METRES)
At the odds, am in the corner of the Kiwi raider 4. The Good Fight. He made the trip across the ditch back in 2019 and ran a cracker at Rosehill on a heavy track before finishing midfield in the Newcastle Cup as a $7 pop, finding the track a touch too firm. He has yet to win on a Good track. If Saturday's surface lands in the soft range it's a big plus for this six-year-old, who by all reports has returned better than ever. That was there to see last start in the Rotorua Cup over 2200m where despite travelling deep throughout and idling up the leaders a long way from home, he put a gap on his rivals to win by four lengths. It was an arrogant win. Drawn well, he'll park midfield and get his chance.
Dangers: 8. Parry Sound gets out to 2400m for the first time this campaign which sees him perfectly placed to turn a run of placings into an overdue fifth career win. The gelding made the leap from BM78 company into a Listed race last start but couldn't quite reel in Polly Grey. That looks the obvious form race for this. 11. Stockman was the eye catcher in fourth and has since run second to No Compromise. There won't be a fitter horse than him on Saturday, backing up for the third week in a row. Won't want to be last in running but the gate may dictate that which is the knock. 1. Inverloch pinched the Wagga Cup from in front last start but 3. Wu Gok and 12. Knights Order will ensure he doesn't get as cosy a time here.
How to play it: The Good Fight EACH WAY ($15 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
Race 8 - 3:40PM PRECISE AIR HANDICAP (1800 METRES)
2. Bottega's form has been a little patchy this preparation but there have been excuses and if he brings his best to his hometrack, none of these will beat him. He was too bad to be true at Randwick two back, where he raced keenly early, before boxing away hard against the fence in the Scone Cup. This is a step down from the level of horse he has been competing against all preparation, going right back to March first up where he split Gem Song and subsequent Doncaster winner Cascadian at Newcastle. Was a dominant winner his only previous 1800m start and maps to get every possible chance. Willing to take him on trust in this grade.
Dangers: Forget 7. Mr Dependable ever ran last start. The change of tactics in electing not to lead backfired. Prior to that the steely grey had won two on the bounce, the first of those knocking off Lina's Hero. He will be hoping 17. Monsieur Sisu doesn't make the field as far as early pressure goes. 12. Mubariz was in the right spot to capitalise last start over this same track and trip and Tommy Berry sticks. 15. La Grisa screamed home behind Mubariz but after the barrier draw beat her first up, she faces the same fate here from another horrible gate. 14. Welsh Legend is an honest mare but also faces a problematic draw while 6. Pandano is worth another chance.
How to play it: Bottega WIN ($6.50 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: SPLIT
Race 9 - 4:20PM ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP (1200 METRES)
10. Instant Attraction travelled into the Gosford straight like the winner last start but her wheels spun in the wet when asked to let down. She was still only beaten 1.3L at the finish. Prior to that she had no luck at Canterbury where she arguably wins if the gaps appeared at the right times. The four-year-old can mix her form a little but when it all falls into place for her, she's a handy galloper. This race sets up beautifully for her against her own sex and drawn low. Given the lack of obvious speed here that's a huge advantage. Have got her parked in behind the lead pair. Monitor the weather, however, as the drier the better for this John O'Shea-trained mare.
Dangers: 12. Expat was no match for Ballistic Lover's sustained speed first up, few mares would have been, but liked how she dug in to hold down fourth. The speed shouldn't be as frantic here. In fact, she could get control pending the tactics on 1. Switched. 4. Starla will need the leaders to overdo it but no mare will be finishing harder than her, which was also the case first up where she split 13. Hellenism and 8. Exotic Ruby, two key rivals again in this. 6. Majestic Shot hasn't won beyond 1000m but she kept chasing last start behind Ballistic Lover. Maps to be last though. 7. Bring The Ransom is first up after bleeding and can sprint well fresh.
How to play it: Instant Attraction WIN ($10 TAB Fixed Odds) Odds & Evens: EVENS
