3 minute read
Track improving to Soft 6 and rail True
Race 1 2YO HCP (1250m):
The youngsters get us rolling in a tough opener, with most either early in their first prep or on debut. Duporth gelding and first starter 2. Apache Doc hasn't been seen publicly since a nice easy trial run behind a good speed nearly four months ago. Out of a Court Command mare who liked rain affected ground, and has been taken along slowly.
Dangers: Keep safe 8. Inspiration who did her best work late first-up at big odds, and drawn to get nice cover. Home track gelding and ex Qlder 12. Xtra Approval gets a soft trailing draw for his second run for the new stable. Watch the betting on Nicconi debutant 3. Luscinia after two quiet trials for the leading provincial yard. Include in exotics home track fillies, 9. My One at second start; and 10. Persian Beauty at third outing, who are both knockout chances.
How to play it: Apache Doc each way and first four 2,8,12/2,3,8,9,10,12/2,3,8,9,10,12/2,3,8,9,10,12. Odds and Evens: Evens
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1400m):
Several chances in this one too. Keen on improving four-year-old 6. My Sonny's Faith up in distance second-up. Worked home well resuming at Moree carrying 1kg more, and much better suited on a soft surface over more ground. Has a 50 percent place rate from 14 starts.
Dangers: Coffs three-year-old 2. Canyons is also suited going up in trip at his third start. Has worked home okay late in both runs, and the improving surface and softer draw are plusses. Rival three-year-old 1. Luz Long is drawn off the track, but will find this easier than his last few. Has placed in four of six starts so far, and the more the track improves the greater chance he has.
How to play it: My Sonny's Faith to win and box exacta 1,2,6. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 3 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
It's surely time for luckless local three-year-old 6. Zaru to break through second-up. Has been placed seven times from 10 starts, and should have at least won a couple. Relishes rain-affected ground, and the change of jockey was long overdue.
Dangers: Tough Canberra three-year-old 5. Ronny Rock Art has found one better in three of his last four, and boxed on for a long way on the synthetic last start. Drawn wide. Provincial filly 13. One Step Ahead was ridden closer at her second start, and has been freshened up for this little drop back in trip; while watching the market on 12. Shades Of Frisco fourth-up in ground she likes, and with a 3kg claim.
Race 4 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1300m):
Good sprint battle for this grade. Progressive provincial four-year-old 1. Fenech swept home for an impressive first-up win here in heavy ground, and can repeat the dose over a shade further. Content with him carrying 60.5kg after the claim, and has a touch of class on his side.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 2. Aheadofhistime will need to tuck in from a tough barrier, but searching for this longer journey third-up. Did his best work late in the deeper Casino Flying, although almost up to a career high weight. Honest five-year-old 4. Salsa Man likes to drift back and will need plenty of speed on, but draws a soft gate and has been freshened up for the drop in distance; while four-year-olds 8. Lord Avatar second-up; and 9. Lord Jaysea deep into the prep; are on the next line.
How to play it: Fenech to win. Odds and Evens: Split a special
Race 5 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Open affair, but keen on provincial five-year-old 2. Hillandale who can peak fifth-up. Has shown steady improvement on wet ground against deeper opposition, charging home from a mile back here in a BM 58 two weeks back, and regular rider sticks.
Dangers: Lightly rated three-year-old 4. Alastor gets nice weight relief out to this trip third-up. Tough five-year-old 1. Grand Anthem has much more to offer than his one win and five placings from 19 starts, and can make a bid second-up off a nine week break. Didn't run on resuming in a better race at home, but more likeable getting out to the mile. Keep safe last start heavy track maiden winner 5. Lincoln Park who is bred to get further; and local four-year-old ex-Victorian 9. Mr Eighty Eight who chased home Lincoln Park resuming here under a big weight, and is significantly better placed this time.
How to play it: Hillandale each way and trifecta 1,2,4/1,2,4,5,9/1,2,4,5,9. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 6 WINGHAM CUP (1600m):
Feature race of the day is typically open, but stacks up nicely for provincial four-year-old 4. Controlthewitness coming back in distance third-up and four weeks between runs. Is well weighted carrying only a kilo more than a metro BM 75 over the border two starts ago, and drawn to get an ideal trail just off the speed.
Dangers: Any number headed by local six-year-old 5. Texas Storm who has a near 50 percent winning strike rate at home from nine starts. Worked home strongly in the tougher Country Cup at Scone, and the winner has since won again. Tough five-year-old 2. Chamisal was close-up in a feature BM 81 second-up at Casino, and should be right at his peak out to the mile. Draws to get a soft run behind the speed, and has a sound record at this track. Working home late in that same race, seven-year-old 3. Evopex hasn't won for a while, but draws to get cover back in the pack, and this is also an ideal journey. Watch the betting on resuming three-year-old 8. Scorched Land who has had two progressive trials, and three of his four career wins have come on soft ground.
How to play it: Controlthewitness each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 COREY BROWN CUP BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m):
Back to a very competitive sprint to close the meeting. Home track five-year-old 1. Fair Dinkum can return with a bang on his pet soft surface, with a crucial 3kg claim. Dawn to stay off the fence and off the speed behind a good tempo, and can finish best.
Dangers: Plenty of them. Provincial six-year-old 3. Sausalito has a big weight and wide draw second-up, but drops in quality and a more experienced rider goes on. Port mare 5. Typhoon Bonny possesses a big finish and has been charging home in similar grade, but from the wide draw faces a task trying to run over this lot. Local five-year-old 6. Dr Demon; and last-start BM 58 winner here 8. Neretva; are both each-way chances.
How to play it: Fair Dinkum each way. Odds and Evens: Odds
