3 minute read
Track improving to Soft 7 and rail True..
Race 1 MAIDEN PLATE (1000m):
Competitive maiden sprint to get us rolling. Keen on three-year-old first starter 2. Lockdown Gamble off a dominant trial win. Bred to handle the conditions being by Group 1 winner Casino Prince out of a Street Cry mare.
Dangers: Consistent filly 7. Mighty Minnie is still trying to break through deep into the prep, and gets her chance again from the inside draw. Will get a charmed run right behind the speed, and capable in wet ground. Another two-year-old, Sizzling filly 14. Sizzling Star also debuts off a sound trial, but a query on breeding in this going.
How to play it: Lockdown Gamble to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 2 MAIDEN HCP (1200m):
Another big field with plenty of chances. Keen on two-year-old Dubbo filly 11. Rubick Sun at only her second start. Hit the line well on debut over this trip, and will plough through these conditions.
Dangers: Must include three-year-old 2. Money Not My God who stuck on well after leading for a long way first-up. Draws to get a soft run, and form country rider sticks. The betting will tell a story on resuming four-year-old 3. Capital Venture who hasn't publicly trialled, but expected to come to hand quickly for a leading Scone stable. Was close-up in some deeper maidens through last prep. Rival Scone three-year-old 4. Dawn Strike was immediately spelled after a one-off fair effort five months back
How to play it: Rubick Sun to win and trifecta 2,3,11/2,3,4,11/2,3,4,11
Race 3 CLASS 1 & MAIDEN PLATE (1600m):
Doesn't get much easier here. Improving mare 7. Charlie Flyer comes off a dominant first-up maiden win, and can take the next step.
Dangers: Improving four-year-old 1. Rusty Hawk goes up sharply in weight, but is hard fit; while under-rated mare 8. Golden Eclipse is over the odds getting back out to her best distance.
How to play it: Charlie Flyer to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 4 BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1400m):
Open one again with the recent Winter Series BM 58 Final at Dubbo emerging as the pivotal formline. Big finishing five-year-old 9. Shwanky Doo should have won more races than only two from 23 starts. That said, he's made good late ground in last two runs including that Final, and extra trip and improving track are both in his favour.
Dangers: Capable mare 8. Music Miss finished just in front of Dusky Damsel fourth-up at Dubbo, although this is as far as she wants. Keep safe three-year old filly 14. Star Dreamer second-up; while 4. Bandahara looked in a suitable affair second-up, but was disappointing.
How to play it: Shwanky Doo each way. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 5 CLASS 2 HCP (1200m):
Keen here on lightly raced and progressive three-year-old 1. Remorseless second-up with blinkers added. Hit the line nicely in a deeper race at Muswellbrook, and ready now to make up for lost time since showing plenty of ability as an early two-year-old.
Dangers: This is as far as four-year-old mare 7. Tells Tales wants, but she was a dominant CL1 winner from the front two starts back, and if she can control the speed will take plenty of running down. Keep safe six-year-old 4. Skullharderson who is as tough as they come, and thrives in wet ground; while improving four-year-old 11. The Browzer is on the next line third-up.
How to play it: Remorseless to win. Odds and Evens: Odds
Race 6 BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1000m):
Liked the third-up placement here for improving Scone mare 8. Fox Spirit who can peak with a stronger rider back on. Was a dominant fresh winner in this grade, and won't be surprised if she's in Highway company later in the prep.
Dangers: Capable mare 9. Messy Miss hasn't publicly trialled but capable of producing a big run fresh from a soft gate. Must include honest six-year-old 5. Classy Rebel who bolted in a weaker Gulgong Cup before boxing on well in the stronger Cannonball at Coonamble. Included in exotics 6. Divine Jewel who resumes off an eight month break; and lightly raced five-year-old 3. Niccolon who also returns.
How to play it: Fox Spirit to win. Odds and Evens: Split
Race 7 CLASS 1 HCP (1000m):
We close over the five furlongs again, and progressive Dubbo three-year-old 1. Beau Factor can make it two wins from his last three. Relished the heavy ground and bolted in two starts back before close-up in a deeper Class 1. Has enough tactical speed, and claims 2kg.
Dangers: Improving mare 8. Sniper Excels steps up from a solid first-up run in weaker grade; while don't discard three-year-old filly 15. Mega Celebration who won her maiden two runs back, and gets in light with a 3kg allowance.
How to play it: Beau Factor to win. Odds and Evens: Split.
